Best Grants for Seniors in South Carolina

Senior services organizations in South Carolina seeking capital funding for multipurpose senior centers can apply for the Senior Center Permanent Improvement Project Grant, with awards up to US $350,000. Grants from South Carolina Department on Aging support facility improvements that help centers serve as community focal points for older adults and aging-related services.

Public and nonprofit local agencies in South Carolina can receive support to provide USDA commodity food packages to low-income seniors through the South Carolina Commodity Supplemental Food Program. The South Carolina Department of Agriculture supplies food and administrative funds so agencies can distribute groceries, offer nutrition education, and connect older adults to other health and welfare services.

Nonprofits, congregations, and other tax-exempt organizations serving Jewish seniors in South Carolina and North Carolina can apply for Carolina Foundation for Jewish Seniors grants, with awards up to US $50,000 for direct services and programs. Funding may support case management, food distribution, transportation, dementia support, respite care, and other innovative senior services grounded in Jewish values.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities providing senior services and related human services in South Carolina can seek funding to expand programs, improve care, or strengthen operations. With a mission to create pathways to self-sufficiency and permanent change, Leon Levine Foundation provides Carolinas organizations with support across healthcare, basic needs, and aging-related services.

South Carolina organizations serving LGBTQ+ seniors can access funding through Leonard Litz Foundation to strengthen services and support systems for older adults. Grants back programs like social connection, healthcare navigation, housing support, and case management that enhance dignity, safety, inclusion, and long-term capacity for LGBTQ+ elders within the foundation’s Eastern U.S. footprint.

Nonprofit research organizations conducting applied studies on adults 60+ can use these grants for interventional trials, translational work, and health services or policy research with practical impact. Grants from RRF Foundation for Aging help U.S. and Illinois-focused aging and senior services programs, including those serving South Carolina, generate actionable findings for advocates, policymakers, and providers.

South Carolina senior services and aging-focused 501(c)(3) nonprofits can access funding through Friends Foundation for the Aging to run innovative, program-based support for older adults. Organizations serving underserved seniors, coordinating care, supporting family caregivers, or fostering intergenerational interaction may be especially competitive, with priority for Quaker-aligned groups and those in the PA-NJ-NY region.

Nonprofit organizations advancing advocacy for adults age 60+ can seek funding for regional or national policy-change projects benefiting seniors, including those serving South Carolina. Retirement Research Foundation supports efforts focused on issues like economic security, health care, and housing across the U.S. or within Illinois, excluding lobbying, individual grants, and projects outside the country.

U.S.-based nonprofits, government entities, and universities working on systems-level solutions to make aging more affordable can seek Changing Aging support, including work benefiting seniors in South Carolina. Grants from Next50 Foundation back innovative, collaborative efforts that support older adults’ economic well-being, end ageism, advance digital equity, and enable aging in place for marginalized older adults.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving Japanese American seniors and broader Asian American communities, including those in South Carolina, can apply for project grants of US $2,500 - US $50,000. Focused on senior health and services, history, arts and culture, and youth, JA Community Foundation supports time-limited projects rather than ongoing operating costs.

With a mission to support health and senior services, nonprofits providing aging, disability, hospice, hospital, or residential care can seek funding, including organizations in South Carolina. The Albert G and Olive H Schlink Foundation prioritizes Ohio, but considers U.S. charities broadly, offering flexible grant sizes without preset minimums or maximums.

South Carolina senior services organizations can access funding through the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement to support specific projects that help older adults stay healthy, active, and engaged. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits may seek support for programs such as adult day care, home health and wellness, dementia and stroke services, nutrition, mobility, and related geriatric research.

South Carolina universities and research institutions focused on senior services and aging research can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to establish Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers. These P30 centers support geriatrics research and research education aimed at maintaining or restoring independence for older adults, and the opportunity is part of a broader U.S. initiative.

Health care leaders working on age-friendly care for older adults can receive scholarships to join the AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship, implementing the 4Ms Framework in their organizations. John A Hartford Foundation covers the US $13,995 program fee for fellows across the U.S., which may benefit South Carolina hospitals and health systems serving seniors.

Eastern Carolina Community Foundation

Eastern Carolina Community Foundation, founded in 2006, is the newest community foundation in South Carolina. We have a permanent endowment to meet the changing needs of the Pee Dee.

Eastern Carolina Community Foundation improves the quality of life in our area of South Carolina through inspired philanthropy and innovative community programs. We serve Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg Counties.

Community Impact Grants

Grantmaking at Eastern Carolina Community Foundation promotes partnerships with communities – its nonprofits, workers, families, and leaders – to cultivate thriving communities.

An annual community impact grant cycle exists to advance the missions of local nonprofits through a competitive grant process. Relying on a trust-based philanthropy model, ECCF intentionally focuses on receiving applications to support capacity building and operational support to assist nonprofit organizations in strengthening operations and infrastructure, enhancing organizational stability, planning for strategic growth, and/or making critical improvements to their facilities.

Proposals to be considered might include (but are not limited to):

• Staff training and development
• Operational support
• Facilities expansion or improvement
• Equipment
• Technology expenses
• Strategic planning

Graduate students pursuing aging or gerontology research in South Carolina can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to support their transition into aging-focused postdoctoral positions. Focused on aging research training, this two-phase F99/K00 award supports late-stage doctoral dissertation work and provides training resources for emerging investigators interested in seniors’ health and aging-related topics.

Qualified 501(c)(3) organizations providing elder advocacy and care can seek project funding, primarily for work conducted in Utah, from the David Kelby Johnson Memorial Foundation; awards range from US $5,000 - US $100,000. South Carolina senior service nonprofits may be eligible if their programs fit the foundation’s priorities and geographic considerations.

Harry Kramer Memorial Fund provides South Carolina senior services organizations and other 501(c)(3) nonprofits with US $10,000 - US $25,000 for programs serving the sick or aged, education in South Florida, and Israel-focused welfare initiatives. U.S. charities significantly supported by religious organizations may also be eligible for this year-round funding opportunity.

With a mission to improve health and wellness, Michigan Health Endowment Fund provides South Carolina aging and senior-service organizations that are current or past Health Fund grantees with scholarships up to US $2,500 for conference and professional development costs. Funding covers registration, travel, lodging, and incidentals for health-related events within the U.S.

The Sephardic Home For The Aged Foundation offers grants focused on end-of-life care and preventing elder neglect. They encourage nonprofits with a 501(c)3 status, operational for at least two years, to apply for funding. The foundation prioritizes innovative programs that enhance the quality of life for older adults through education, advocacy, and community outreach. Interested organizations should submit a Letter of Inquiry before applying for the grant.

501(c)(3) charitable, benevolent, and religious organizations serving needy Christians, including seniors, can apply for the Robert J. Keown Trust’s US $10,000 - US $20,000 grants to provide financial aid and assistance. Based in Los Angeles County, this U.S. funder may support South Carolina programs aiding elderly Christian women and infirm Christians without support.

The Dementia Care and Brain Degenerative Diseases Grant, offered by the Sephardic Home For The Aged Foundation, aims to support innovative projects enhancing care and quality of life for older adults affected by dementia. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)3 nonprofits in operation for at least two years. The Foundation prioritizes proposals focusing on dementia care, promoting collaboration and resource access for aging individuals. Interested applicants should submit a Letter of Inquiry through the online application system.

The NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program aims to enhance the research workforce by providing intensive research experiences for recent graduates. This initiative supports early-stage investigators in Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias, addressing a critical shortage of researchers in the field. Participants engage in independent research, mentorship, and professional development, equipping them with skills necessary for advanced degrees and research careers in aging and dementia. The program fosters innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration essential for advancing AD/ADRD research.

The McKnight Clinical Translational Research Scholarship supports young investigators focusing on cognitive aging and age-related memory loss. Funded by the McKnight Brain Research Foundation, this scholarship offers $65,000 annually for two years, plus an education stipend. Eligible applicants should have completed their PhD or residency within the last five years and conduct their research in accredited U.S. institutions. The award emphasizes rigorous training and aims to foster careers in human cognitive aging research.

The JTMF Foundation Grant focuses on improving the lives of individuals in need, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. By partnering with organizations addressing immediate needs and long-term challenges, the foundation supports children, older adults, veterans, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Guided by Catholic values, JTMF aims to empower communities while seeking innovative solutions to societal issues. Organizations that align with these focus areas are encouraged to connect, fostering a collaborative effort towards meaningful impact.

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards aim to support innovative research in cognitive aging and memory loss, offering two 3-year grants of $750,000 each. Targeted at early-career investigators, the program encourages high-risk, high-gain proposals that explore clinical translational research and the biological mechanisms of cognitive aging. By fostering emerging scientific leaders, the initiative seeks to advance transformative discoveries in this critical area of aging research, enhancing understanding and treatment of age-related cognitive decline.

The Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty supports early career investigators in aging research, focusing on -omics studies related to biological aging and age-related diseases. Research areas include genomics, proteomics, and interventions targeting aging. Eligible applicants are independent researchers at U.S. not-for-profit institutions, with 10 years or fewer since their postdoctoral training. The award may cover overhead costs, promoting innovative research in the vital field of gerontology.