Grantmakers in the News
September 1, 2003
Name: The Springs Close Foundation, Inc.
Year Founded: 1942
Contact Person: Angela McCrae, Executive Director
Address:1826 Second Baxter Crossing
Fort Mill, South Carolina 29708
Phone: 803-548-2002 Fax: 803-548-1797
E-mail: amccrae@springsfnd.com
Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to improve the lifestyle and well being of the people
in Chester, Lancaster and York Counties. Grants are directed toward programs
likely to benefit the most people.
Background: Colonel Elliott White Springs established the Springs Foundation, Inc. in
1942. He had a deep and personal concern for the people in the areas where Springs Industries’
facilities were located. His early contributions and later estate planning provided the initial
funding for the Springs Foundation.
Frances Ley Springs was active in the work of the Foundation and her estate provided the means to
expand this philanthropic work over a wider geographic area. This was done through the Frances
Ley Springs Foundation established in 1968. She was the second major donor to the Foundation.
After the death of Colonel Springs in 1959, H.W. (Bill) Close was named President of the Springs
Foundation and was also the first President of the Frances Ley Springs Foundation. For over 30
years, he provided strong and effective leadership for the Foundations. In 1983 when H.W. (Bill)
Close died, Anne Springs Close, daughter of the founder, was named Chairman of the Board of both
Foundations. H.W. (Bill) Close became the first Close to be a major donor to the Foundation. As
a result, two years later, the Frances Ley Springs Foundation was renamed the Close Foundation.
In July 2003, The Springs Foundation and the Close Foundation merged into one single foundation
as The Springs Close Foundation, Inc.
What are the foundation's current priorities/programs?
The Springs Close Foundation, Inc. believes that the lifestyle and well being of the
people in its service areas have been significantly improved, in part, through its efforts in
education, recreation, community service and health.
Does the foundation have any new initiatives or directions you wish to share?
In 1992 as part of marking the 50th anniversary of the Springs Foundation, the Directors held
the first Foundation retreat to review past work and plan for the next decade. After easily
reaching a consensus that the Foundation had been successful and should be continued, the Board
tackled some key issues. The first – familiar to most family foundations at some point –
involved the reality that only Mrs. Close and three of her eight children continued to live in
the immediate area. Others had settled as far away as Seattle and New York. There was concern
about the Foundation’s ability to be aware of and respond appropriately to community needs. To
address this, a Community Advisory Committee was established. The objective was to seek advice
on community projects and review reactions to Foundation funding. This created a method for
getting suggestions about community problems and opportunities that needed attention. The
Committee has been functioning effectively since April 1993. It has 10 members, three each from
Chester County, Lancaster County and the Fort Mill area of York County and a chairman.
The second issue, support of higher education outside the Foundation’s service area, would be
phased out. Instead, the priority would change to programs for Early Childhood Education. It
was the Board’s desire to focus on preventing problems rather than dealing with the effects of
those problems after treatment becomes more expensive and less effective.
Third, there would be emphasis on programs benefiting “the lower 10% of the population”, thus
creating more impact on the area’s economically disadvantaged and minority residents.
Because the Foundation’s mission and direction had not been examined since 1992, another retreat
was planned in September 2000. This time the Community Advisory Committee was included. Board
participation was almost 100% and, unlike the 1992 retreat, there was no need to make major
sweeping changes in operations. The Board viewed this as validation that the direction taken in
1992 was working well.
Another program established in 1999, is the Close Scholars Program at Winthrop University. This
program provides scholarships to students who have demonstrated, and plan to continue, an
interest in community service. In return for financial support, the students agree to volunteer
an average of eight hours a week at a local nonprofit organization. The Foundation committed
$1 million over five years; plus a $1,000 grant at the completion of the program toward
repayment of any student loans. The first eight Close Scholars graduated this past May 2003.
The Foundation manages a no-interest student-loan program for students who attend a four year,
accredited, degree granting college in South Carolina or the local community college, York
Technical College. Loans are made to students who live in, or whose parents are employed in
Lancaster County, Chester County or Fort Mill Township, Since 1942, the Foundation has provided
funding for 7,522 for students loans totaling $5,564,814. Repayment begins six months after
completion of the student’s college education.
Since inception, the Springs Close Foundation has invested nearly $18 million in programs in
education. To strengthen its impact on this vital sector, the Foundation appointed a separate
Education Committee in 2003. This Committee is in the process of evaluating education
initiatives and ongoing programs and will make recommendations that will influence the
Foundation’s impact in the schools of the geographic area served.
Resources have been diverted to people whose lifestyle and well being are still marginal, those
with the greatest need in the communities. In the future, more resources will be devoted to
those in need and, where necessary, leadership will be provided to identify, develop and
support specific programs for the underprivileged.
Does your foundation have any new staff you would like to introduce?
The Foundation staff now includes three full-time employees in the Fort Mill office - Angela
McCrae as Executive Director, Tammy Whisenant, as new Program Officer and Judy Rowell,
administrative assistant and Manager of the Student Loan program.
Running the satellite offices and serving as part-time consultants are Charles Bundy in
Lancaster and Robert Holcombe in Chester. H.W. Close is consultant in the Fort Mill office.
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