Best Workforce Grants in South Carolina

State and local agencies, local governing boards, nonprofits, tribes, and higher education institutions in eligible Appalachian counties in South Carolina can apply for Appalachian Regional Commission’s Area Development grants to fund critical infrastructure and workforce initiatives. Awards support projects like water and wastewater systems, transportation, broadband, entrepreneurship, worker training, and other business and human capital development efforts.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with innovative human services or social problem-solving programs in South Carolina can seek funding to develop or expand their work. Focused on fresh approaches to societal issues, the Creag Foundation invites smaller or evolving organizations to inquire about support, which may include workforce preparation and job readiness initiatives.

501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting youth development, education, or welfare, including in South Carolina, can apply for the Dan Paul Foundation’s grants of up to US $15,000 for programs serving children and young people. Funding may support early childhood development, scholarships, child advocacy, homelessness and poverty services, refugee enrichment, and related youth-focused initiatives worldwide.

The Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation provides grants to early-stage social entrepreneurs working on scalable solutions to pressing social and environmental issues. By supporting organizations with innovative approaches and proven impact, they aim to uplift underserved communities globally. The foundation offers operational support, funding of up to $300,000 over three years, and fosters a collaborative community among its portfolio organizations. They focus on candidates demonstrating measurable impact and sustainable growth potential.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities in South Carolina can seek up to US $20,000 for workforce development, economic mobility, and related community programs. Grants from Duke Energy Foundation help workforce preparation and job readiness initiatives, especially those tied to the energy economy and underserved communities, on a rolling basis in eligible counties.

South Carolina workforce and job readiness organizations, schools, government programs, and eligible nonprofits can access funding for safety, education, and community development initiatives. Grants from State Farm Companies Foundation support efforts like job training, financial literacy, STEM and K–12 education, affordable housing, disaster preparedness, and community revitalization across the U.S.

South Carolina nonprofits and other eligible charitable organizations can receive funding for health, education, and community programs that improve people’s well-being. Labcorp Charitable Foundation provides support for initiatives such as healthcare access for underserved populations, STEM education, food pantries, and healthy lifestyle programs, which may include workforce preparation and job readiness components.

The PNC Foundation aims to enhance the lives of individuals in local communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. Their focus includes promoting educational opportunities, particularly for early childhood education, and supporting economic development initiatives. Grants are available for organizations that benefit low- to moderate-income families and enhance community growth. The foundation prioritizes programs that foster sustainability and diversity, ensuring a lasting impact on the communities they serve.

The Semnani Family Foundation, established in 1993, is dedicated to supporting marginalized communities worldwide through health, education, and disaster relief initiatives. Founded by Khosrow and Ghazaleh Semnani, it began by funding an orphanage in Romania. The foundation also operates locally, providing free healthcare through the Maliheh Free Clinic in Utah. Its commitment to human welfare drives impactful partnerships in countries such as Afghanistan, India, and South Africa, focusing on the most vulnerable populations.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust Grant supports charitable, scientific, medical, and educational organizations that are 501(c)(3) certified. This private funder emphasizes impactful service to diverse populations without discrimination. Grants must be utilized within the United States and cannot be awarded to individuals, political candidates, or lobbying efforts. The Trust is dedicated to enhancing the general welfare through soundly-managed initiatives that contribute significantly to community needs.

Healthcare divisions and community organizations in South Carolina’s Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, and Greenville counties can apply for Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Foundation grants to support workforce development and related health initiatives. Funding prioritizes projects improving community health, including behavioral health, maternal health, adolescents, and uninsured or underinsured populations in partnership with Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System.

The Bank of America Foundation Sponsorship Program aims to enhance economic mobility and social progress in low- and moderate-income communities through partnerships with nonprofit organizations. This initiative focuses on critical areas such as workforce education, basic needs like food and housing, and community development. The Foundation invested $350 million last year and encourages employee volunteerism and giving, supporting nonprofits in various sectors, including arts, culture, and diversity initiatives.

Organizations and academic institutions improving education, career readiness, or workforce development for South Carolina residents can apply for South Carolina Student Loan’s Power: Ed Grant, awarding US $25,000 - US $100,000 for programs serving middle school students through adults. Workforce preparation and job readiness initiatives in South Carolina may be especially competitive.

South Carolina health-focused nonprofits, government agencies, and tax-exempt educational or research institutions can seek funding to improve health outcomes and expand access to care, especially for economically vulnerable residents. South Carolina workforce and job-readiness programs that address oral health, mental health, or broader community health needs may be eligible for support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina Foundation.

The J.W. Couch Foundation Grant focuses on supporting Wildlife Conservation nonprofit organizations that align with their mission of community betterment and environmental protection. The foundation seeks partnerships with organizations that promote animal wellbeing, early childhood education, teacher support, and outdoor activities. Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)3 nonprofits or for-profit entities aligned with their charitable programs. This grant emphasizes collaboration and community engagement to create lasting impacts.

The O'Reilly Automotive Foundation Grant focuses on enhancing community welfare through philanthropic initiatives that support economic stability, workforce development, health services, and disaster relief. Established in 2020, the Foundation seeks to empower underrepresented individuals and organizations in the U.S. by addressing vital community needs. It particularly aims to provide assistance to nonprofits that foster positive change and improve quality of life for those in need, ensuring a lasting impact in local communities.

New or early-stage charter schools in South Carolina can seek funding to plan, launch, and initially operate high-quality public charter schools, with awards ranging from US $850,000 - US $1,000,000. The South Carolina Department of Education supports planning, curriculum, materials, equipment, professional development, and outreach, prioritizing strong models that address achievement gaps and underserved students.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation provides South Carolina workforce preparation and job readiness nonprofits with US $1,000 - US $20,000 to support training, education, and related community programs. IRS-qualified U.S. organizations, including those serving youth, seniors, and people with disabilities, may be eligible if a relatively small grant would make a significant impact.

South Carolina workforce and housing organizations with ready-to-scale affordable housing innovations can seek US $2,000,000 grants to expand proven models. South Carolina workforce preparation programs that improve housing access may be eligible for Enterprise Community Partners’ national Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge, which supports design and construction, finance, and service delivery solutions for low- and moderate-income residents.

State government agencies in South Carolina can access funding to strengthen rural health care systems, including facility improvements and workforce training. South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services provides US $500,000 - US $3,000,000 awards to support operational and financial resilience, which may benefit workforce preparation and job readiness efforts within rural healthcare settings.

Fall 2026 Early Childhood Education Funding Cycle

Overall Early Childhood Education Program Blueprint

The Stranahan Foundation’s Early Childhood Education grant program supports efforts to improve access to high-quality early care and education for young children (birth to five), especially those from low-income families. We do this by investing in strategies that strengthen, support, and retain a high-quality, thriving early educator workforce.

The Foundation has a history of supporting professional development (PD) and learning systems through its Provider strategy (). We believe strong professional development systems are essential for building a skilled early childhood workforce and creating positive learning environments for young children.

The Fall 2026 funding cycle is available for organizations that align with this Provider strategy.

Funding Opportunity

This funding opportunity will provide up to $750,000 to support early childhood education providers in strengthening existing professional development (PD) systems. Funding is intended to improve a specific area of an established PD system—not to build a brand-new system from scratch or put the foundational elements in place.

What kind of improvements can funding support?

Organizations should focus their projects on strengthening their professional development systems. The Stranahan Foundation defines a strong professional development system as one that includes:

• Connect learning opportunities that build on one another over time.
• Use adult learning best practices.
• Align staff learning to educator competencies, credentials, career growth, or compensation.
• Provide learning experiences that are individualized, scaffolded, and responsive to educators’ needs, experience, and goals.
• Have dedicated leadership and organizational capacity to support ongoing implementation.

• Gather regular feedback from staff and families.
• Use standardized assessment and evaluation tools to understand what is working and where improvements are needed.
• Make ongoing improvements based on what is learned.
• Support reflective practice, peer learning, and collaborative inquiry among educators.

• Offer both individual and group learning opportunities, such as training, professional learning communities, coaching, and mentoring.
• Provide learning opportunities on an ongoing basis rather than in a one-and-done situation.
• Connect internal and external learning opportunities to make the best use of available resources.
• Support classroom implementation through observation, modeling, feedback, and continuous improvement cycles.

• Provide learning experiences that are practical, relevant, and easy to apply in daily work.
• Include fundamental topics such as family engagement, effective instruction, developmentally appropriate practice, and classroom management.
• Align with established standards, research, and effective practices in the early childhood field.
• Equip educators to support all learners, including multilingual learners, children with disabilities, and children impacted by trauma or adverse experiences.

Public school districts and schools in South Carolina can seek funding to pilot innovative programs that boost student achievement and readiness for college, careers, the military, and civic life. Grants from South Carolina Department of Education may benefit workforce preparation efforts through applied learning, workforce development, STEM/STEAM, literacy, and closing achievement gaps, especially in high-poverty, low-achieving schools.

2026-27 Career Cluster Partnership Program

Description

The South Carolina General Assembly has provided funds to the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) through a legislative proviso (H. 5126 General Appropriations Bill, Proviso 1A.27) for one year to award grants on a competitive basis to private-sector statewide trade associations that provide nationally certified programs in career and technical education representing the automotive, construction, engineering, healthcare, mechanical contracting/construction, and hospitality and tourism career clusters. The purpose of this program is to support instructor/student training and student testing in industry clusters to increase the state’s skilled workforce. The SCDE administers the program through its Office of Career Readiness (OCR).

Eligible 501(c)(3) charities, houses of worship, government entities, and fiscally sponsored programs in South Carolina can apply for Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation’s fall Grants for the Common Good, awarding US $2,500 - US $15,000 for general operating or special projects. Georgetown County organizations focused on workforce preparation, poverty, basic needs, or environmental preservation may benefit.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing workforce preparation, job readiness, and career pathways programming for adult workers can apply for US $10,000 - US $250,000 in Inspire Awards funding. Truist Foundation provides South Carolina and other eligible state nonprofits with support for training, upskilling, AI literacy, wraparound services, and career navigation in the evolving AI-driven economy.

The Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation Grant supports nonprofit charitable organizations recognized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Revenue Code. Established in 2002, the foundation aims to empower groups committed to positive change, fostering respect for life and the environment. Their vision emphasizes collaboration for a better future, encouraging applicants to embody these values in their initiatives. With a focus on impactful projects, this grant is an opportunity for organizations striving to make a critical difference in our world.

South Carolina workforce and job-readiness programs focused on manufacturing careers can apply for funding to train a future-ready workforce, including technical skills, data analytics, and automation. Focused on manufacturing workforce development, American Honda Motor invites U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations and eligible schools serving Honda communities to request US $25,000 - US $100,000 for hands-on education initiatives.