The Foundation
The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation was born out of a deeply personal community response to the Emanuel Nine tragedy
About the Foundation
The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation was born out of a deeply personal community response to the Emanuel Nine tragedy. In the weeks following the tragedy, surviving Mother Emanuel AME Church leaders met with a small group of devoted individuals who felt called to serve. Together, they worked to ensure that the lives of the Emanuel Nine would be forever honored and that the families’ extraordinary grace would be permanently enshrined.
Our Mission
The mission of the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation is to honor the legacies of the Emanuel Nine and the resilience of the survivors.
Our Vision
Our vision is a world freed from hatred, racism, and division, by elevating empathy, forgiveness, and enduring love.
As an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the foundation operates as a separate legal and administrative entity from Mother Emanuel AME Church while remaining deeply rooted in the church’s history.
Today, its work is guided by a collaborative Board of Directors that bridges the broader Charleston community with representatives from the church congregation.
The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to build, support, and preserve the Emanuel Nine Memorial.
Operating as a separate legal entity from Mother Emanuel AME Church, the foundation was formed by community and business leaders who were inspired to act following the 2015 tragedy in Charleston, South Carolina. The foundation oversees the permanent care of the memorial grounds, manages charitable contributions, and develops community programs rooted in healing.
Core Pillars of Action
To turn this vision into a lasting reality, the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation focuses its everyday work on three primary areas:
— Preserving a Sacred Space: Leading the physical design, construction, and long-term maintenance of the Emanuel Nine Memorial campus on Calhoun Street.
— Sharing Our History: Developing straightforward educational resources that share the deep historical journey of the Mother Emanuel congregation and its historic role in the American story.
— Healing Community Division: Creating workshops, neighborhood forums, and learning tools that help foster deep reconciliation, inspire collective forgiveness, and build an inclusive society.
Contact and Governance
The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation maintains full administrative and financial transparency as a registered tax-exempt entity.
— Mailing Address: Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 242, Charleston, SC 29402
— Physical Location: 110 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401
— Federal Tax ID (EIN): 82-1776426
