Jolley Foundation

Vision

A just, compassionate and vibrant community

Mission

• seeking systemic and sustainable solutions to historically intractable problems
• investing in nonprofit organizations committed to building their capacity to serve community needs
• pursuing opportunities for collaborative philanthropic effort

Annual application deadlines

April 1, September 1

Program areas

Arts, culture, and humanities
Education
Environment, animals
Health
Human services
Public/society benefit

States served

South Carolina

Program limitations

The foundation primarily supports organizations located in and serving the residents of Greenville County, South Carolina and the upstate. 

Geographic limitations

South Carolina

Trustees

James McDuffie Bruce III
Jolley Bruce Christman
James McDuffie Bruce IV
Andrew Klepper Christman

The foundation primarily supports organizations located in and serving the residents of Greenville County, South Carolina and the upstate. Priority is given to special projects and capital improvements in the areas of human service organizations and education. Additionally, “Next Generation Grants” focus on the involvements of the fourth generation in their local communities. Applications for “Next Generation Grants” are by invitation only.

Requirements

• To be eligible, organizations must qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
• Applications must be submitted through the online grant application form or alternative accessible application designed for assistive technology users.
• When submitting a grant application to the foundation that requires additional attachments, please submit those attachments via email to grantadministration@wellsfargo.com in addition to completing the online grant application. Please reference your application when emailing this information.

Limitations

The Foundation normally does not fund requests for the following purposes:

• Annual appeals or membership drives
• Unrestricted endowment funds
• Operating expenses of established organizations
• Scholarships to individuals

All applicants must have the financial ability to sustain the funded program or project on a continuing basis.

Letter of Inquiry

• Charitable organizations seeking a grant in the amount of $100,000 or more must send a letter of inquiry by February 1 or July 1 by email to grantadministration@wellsfargo.com.
• The letter of inquiry should include the following information:  (1) the organization and contact information; (2) the title of the request; (3) the amount requested; (4) the total project budget amount (not an actual budget, just the amount); and (5) a brief description (not to exceed 350 words) of the organization's mission, grant request and intended outcomes.
• Charitable organizations will receive a response by March 1 or August 1, i.e. within 30 days from the letter of inquiry due date.
  

Annual application period and deadlines

Applications are accepted year-round. Applications must be submitted by April 1 to be reviewed at the grant meeting that occurs in the spring and September 1 to be reviewed at the grant meeting that occurs in the fall.

Communications

Applicants will receive an automated email confirming their submission. Grant decisions are generally communicated by June for the April application deadline and November for applications received by the September deadline.

Required agreements and reports

Periodic progress reports and final reports may be required for funded projects.

About the Foundation

The Jolley Foundation was established in Greenville, SC in 1947 by Robert Albert Jolley, Sr. and Rucker Tweedy Jolley.  Its original purpose was to offer financial assistance to Mr. Jolley’s employees in his broadcasting and wholesale beverage businesses in times of personal or family crisis such as illness, injury, or loss of shelter.  In later years, the Jolley Foundation assumed a community focus, reflecting Mr. Jolley’s civic leadership and the family’s commitment to social justice.

Mr. and Mrs. Jolley’s children, Robert Albert Jolley, Jr., Mamie Jolley Bruce, and  James Elmore Jolley, all of Greenville, SC, served as Directors until their deaths in 2002, 2014, and 2015, respectively.  Currently, third generation descendants James McDuffie Bruce III (Greenville, SC), Jolley Bruce Christman (Philadelphia, PA) and fourth generation descendants James McDuffie Bruce IV (Austin, TX) and Andrew Klepper Christman (Philadelphia, PA), are Foundation Directors.

The Jolley Foundation continues to focus its grant making in Greenville County and upstate SC and on the educational institutions that have been important to the family.  Additionally, “Next Generation Grants” focus on the involvements of the fourth generation in their local communities.