The Citadel Foundation
The Citadel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises philanthropic funds for The Citadel military college, generating $52.5 million in 2024 from over 6,200 donors and managing $332 million in assets to support scholarships, academics, athletics, and leadership programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersCharleston, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Citadel Foundation does
The Citadel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1961 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, that serves as the primary fundraising entity for The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina. The foundation solicits philanthropic donations from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and private foundations to fund academic scholarships, faculty support, athletic facilities, individual academic schools, program enhancements, and expenses not covered by tuition. It operates a comprehensive giving platform spanning annual giving, class and reunion campaigns, young alumni programs, corporate and foundation relations, crowdfunding, and a legacy/planned giving program that includes a partnership with Free Will for estate planning.
In fiscal year 2024 the foundation raised $52,471,563 from 6,210 donors (including 4,356 alumni) across 12,927 individual gifts, with an operating cost of $0.19 per dollar raised. The organization is currently executing the $300 million "Our Mighty Citadel" capital campaign in support of The Citadel's strategic plan, scheduled to conclude in 2026, with $257,191,477 raised to date. Audited financials report total assets of $332,294,617 and net assets of $308,830,699 as of December 31, 2024, and the foundation distributes in excess of $10 million annually to The Citadel.
The foundation employs approximately 24 staff supplemented by an extensive development officer corps, and is led by Interim President and CEO Shannon Mease alongside a Board of Directors chaired by Luther C. "Luke" Kissam IV (Class of 1986). It coordinates with The Citadel Alumni Association on alumni engagement and with The Citadel Brigadier Foundation, a related entity that retains primary responsibility for athletic scholarships, and operates The Citadel Real Estate Foundation as a subsidiary for property holdings.
The Citadel Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Citadel Foundation
- Legal name
- The Citadel Foundation
- Website
- https://foundation.citadel.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Citadel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises philanthropic funds for The Citadel military college, generating $52.5 million in 2024 from over 6,200 donors and managing $332 million in assets to support scholarships, academics, athletics, and leadership programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Citadel Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education Philanthropy / Fundraising Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), Endowments (Universities, Foundations, Nonprofits) (FSAAAGAC)
Keywords
Where The Citadel Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Charleston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Citadel Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Philanthropic Donations: The foundation receives charitable donations from alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and foundations. Donations support academic scholarships, faculty support, athletic facilities, individual academic schools, program funds, and vital expenses not covered by tuition or fees. The foundation provides in excess of $10 million annually to support The Citadel's mission.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Citadel Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Citadel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising organization that solicits, processes, and stewards charitable donations in support of The Citadel (Military College of South Carolina). It manages annual giving, legacy/planned giving, corporate and foundation giving, and crowdfunding programs, directing funds to academic scholarships, faculty support, athletic facilities, individual academic schools, and leadership programs. The foundation currently operates the "Our Mighty Citadel" $300 million capital campaign supporting The Citadel's strategic plan through 2026.
Product overview
The Citadel Foundation operates as a comprehensive philanthropy and donor management platform supporting The Citadel military college. The organization provides a unified donation processing platform for various giving programs including annual giving, legacy/planned giving, corporate giving, and crowdfunding initiatives. Their portfolio includes scholarship management services, academic school-specific fundraising (such as Baker School of Business, Zucker Family School of Education, School of Engineering, and Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics), and leadership program funding. The Foundation is currently running the 'Our Mighty Citadel' $300 million campaign to support the college's strategic plan through 2026. The organization partners with the Citadel Brigadier Foundation for athletic scholarships and provides grant funding exceeding $10 million annually to support the college's mission of educating principled leaders.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Annual Giving Program
Quantifiable outcome
- $52.5 million raised in 2024 from 6,210 donors with only $0.19 cost per dollar raised
Companies that use The Citadel Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Citadel Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Citadel Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Citadel Alumni AssociationcoreAffiliated organization that works with The Citadel Foundation on alumni engagement and fundraising initiatives. The foundation shares certain personal information with this organization as part of its affiliated network.
- The Citadel Brigadier FoundationcoreSeparate foundation primarily responsible for athletic scholarships. The Citadel Foundation raises funds for all purposes except athletic scholarships, which remain under the purview of the Brigadier Foundation.
- The CitadelcoreThe Military College of South Carolina is the primary beneficiary of The Citadel Foundation's fundraising activities. The foundation provides over $10 million annually to support the college's mission and strategic plan.
- Free WillminorPartnership to offer free legal will drafting services to donors, supporting legacy giving initiatives and estate planning programs.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Citadel Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- University of South Carolina Foundations: Consolidated development and foundation operation for South Carolina's flagship public university; a broader regional incumbent whose alumni compete with Citadel alumni for in-state philanthropic capacity.
- Clemson University Foundation: Major public-university foundation in South Carolina running a substantially larger endowment and capital campaign operation; a broad incumbent peer that competes with The Citadel Foundation for South Carolina alumni philanthropic dollars.
Direct peers
- U.S. Air Force Academy Endowment: Independent 501(c)(3) that raises and manages endowment funds for the U.S. Air Force Academy, a directly comparable military-college foundation with similar scholarship, capital-campaign, and legacy-giving programs serving a relatively small alumni base.
- U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation: Combined alumni association and foundation for the U.S. Naval Academy, the closest direct peer to The Citadel Foundation in mission and structure: raising philanthropic funds, managing an endowment, and awarding scholarships exclusively for a federal service academy.
- VMI Foundation: Philanthropic foundation for the Virginia Military Institute, the most direct state-level military-college peer to The Citadel Foundation, operating annual giving, capital campaigns, and scholarship endowments for a comparably sized alumni body in the Southeast.
- West Point Association of Graduates: The alumni and fundraising foundation for the United States Military Academy at West Point, a direct peer to The Citadel Foundation as the dedicated 501(c)(3) philanthropy for a senior service academy, running annual giving, capital campaigns, legacy, and scholarship programs for a comparable military-college alumni base.
- The Citadel Brigadier Foundation: Affiliated Citadel entity that exclusively raises athletic scholarship funds; directly comparable to The Citadel Foundation in donor base, mission focus, and Southeast regional footprint, and the two foundations share donors and split giving designations.
- The Citadel Alumni Association: Sister Citadel-affiliated organization focused on alumni engagement that shares donor data and collaborates with The Citadel Foundation on fundraising — a directly comparable peer in mission, donor base, and beneficiary institution.
Regional players
- College of Charleston Foundation: Regional university foundation also based in Charleston, SC, competing with The Citadel Foundation for local Charleston-area donors, parents, and corporate matching-gift programs.
- Wofford College: Small private liberal-arts college in Spartanburg, SC, whose development office competes for South Carolina private-college alumni donors with the Citadel Foundation.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Citadel Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Citadel Foundation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Citadel Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Citadel Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Citadel Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
The Citadel Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Citadel Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Citadel Foundation
What does The Citadel Foundation do?
The Citadel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit fundraising organization that solicits, processes, and stewards charitable donations in support of The Citadel (Military College of South Carolina). It manages annual giving, legacy/planned giving, corporate and foundation giving, and crowdfunding programs, directing funds to academic scholarships, faculty support, athletic facilities, individual academic schools, and leadership programs. The foundation currently operates the "Our Mighty Citadel" $300 million capital campaign supporting The Citadel's strategic plan through 2026.
Is The Citadel Foundation a public or private company?
The Citadel Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Citadel Foundation founded?
The Citadel Foundation was founded in 1961. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Citadel Foundation based?
The Citadel Foundation is headquartered in Charleston, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Citadel Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: philanthropic Donations.
Who are The Citadel Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are University of South Carolina Foundations and Clemson University Foundation. Direct peers are U.S. Air Force Academy Endowment, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation, VMI Foundation, West Point Association of Graduates, The Citadel Brigadier Foundation and The Citadel Alumni Association. Regional players are College of Charleston Foundation and Wofford College.
Does The Citadel Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Citadel Foundation.
What industry is The Citadel Foundation in?
The Citadel Foundation's product category is Higher Education Philanthropy / Fundraising Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 6282.