Search Through Cycling Grants in South Carolina in the U.S.

Charitable Contributions

Costco Wholesale’s primary charitable efforts specifically focus on programs supporting children, education, and health and human services in the communities where we do business. Throughout the year we receive a large number of requests from nonprofit organizations striving to make a positive impact, and we are thankful to be able to provide support to a variety of organizations and causes. While we would like to respond favorably to all requests, understandably, the needs are far greater than our allocated resources and we are unable to accommodate them all.

Warehouse Donations:

Warehouse donations are handled at the warehouse level - please consult your local warehouse for up-to-date information regarding their donations contacts and review process.

Grant Applications

If the request is under consideration, you may be contacted by staff for any additional information needed. Applications are reviewed within 4-6 weeks, and decisions are made based on several factors, including: type of program; identified community need not otherwise available; indication that evidenced based data will establish measurable results of intended outcomes; community collaboration; broad base of financial support; project budget and operating expenses.

Our MissionAdvancing Southern vitality through the arts.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, South Arts is a nonprofit regional arts organization empowering artists, organizations, and communities, and increasing access to arts and culture.

In partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee — with additional funding from other public and private donors such as the Doris Duke Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and Mellon Foundation — South Arts supports artists and organizations through a rich and responsive portfolio of grants, fellowships, and programs.

Why? Because South Arts believes that the arts elevate the region, increasing connectedness and inspiring meaningful change in the process. 

Professional Development Grants for Arts Organizations

Program Description

South Arts strongly believes that skill and knowledge building for arts organizations are integral to success and sustainability. These grants are designed to support the professional development needs of Southern arts organizations for increasing organizational capacity to achieve long-term sustainability, growth, and/or operational stability. This grant program is open to film, visual arts, performing arts, traditional arts, literary arts, and multidisciplinary arts organizations.

Funding can support staff or board participation at conferences, workshops, and other professional development opportunities and events. In addition, these grants can support expenses for in-person and virtual professional development for organization-wide staff learning and training. Funds support travel expenses (for example, lodging and air/ground transportation), admission/registration fees, or other related expenses (for example, consultant/service fees for staff learning/training sessions). 

Program Area: Child & Family Well-being

We fund implementation support for public and private child- and family-serving agencies to adopt and sustain evidence-based and evidence-informed programs shown to prevent or treat child maltreatment.

Challenge

Several programs in the United States regularly gather and share evidence of their positive impact and outcomes for children. Historically, replication of these evidence-based programs in communities has failed to reproduce the outcomes or local capacity to sustain the programs. We believe that failure often can be traced to inadequate implementation support and inattention to continuous improvement.

Approach

Child and Family Well-Being has adopted the implementation framework developed by the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) to sustain and scale evidence-based programs for preventing and treating child abuse and neglect. Implementation support consists of activities designed to help put defined programs into practice.

Strategies

Support Implementation for Tested Programs: We fund implementation support for projects that adopt and sustain evidence-based or ‑informed models shown to prevent or treat child abuse and neglect and enhance well-being. ​“Implementation” refers to activities that are designed to put defined programs into practice. An active implementation framework answers the questions of what needs to be done (effective interventions), how to establish what needs to be done in practice, who will do the work to accomplish positive outcomes and where will effective interventions and implementation thrive. Rather than letting change happen, we work with organizations and agencies to make change happen for children and families of all races and ethnicities.

Commit to Innovation: We recognize the lack of evidence-based or ‑informed models for the range of issues children and families face and the diverse populations served. If we did not commit to innovation, we would miss opportunities to identify programs that improve outcomes. We support grantees in developing and testing innovative, tailored, data-driven approaches. We encourage models that specifically look at risks and solutions through the lens of race.

Advocate for Improvement: Many dedicated, knowledgeable professionals work in the child welfare system, but systemic challenges can inhibit their effectiveness. We use our resources and relationships to support advocacy and communications strategies that speed improvement of the prevention, early intervention and foster care systems. We believe that by working closely with government agencies and nonprofit organizations that reflect the communities served, we can enhance the spread of information and facilitate conversations within communities.

Mission

Our mission at the SC Bar Foundation is to promote justice by funding legal access and education with the goal of providing grants to non-profit organizations that support those in need in South Carolina. In order to be eligible for funding, the grant request must meet at least one of the criteria listed:

• Civil Legal Services
• Law Related Education
• Administration of Justice
• Provide services that meet the above criteria in Horry County

Guidelines

General Factors:

• Advance the Foundation’s mission to promote justice by funding legal access and education.
• Priority may be given to applicants requesting funds for the direct representation of clients or client groups.
• Demonstrated plan to carry out the program for which funds are requested.
• Must provide financial statements required by the grant agreement as well as IRS 990 forms.
• Grant applications should be made for no more than a 12-month budget period. There is no assurance of funding in subsequent grant cycles.
• The Foundation may decline to grant any and all grant applications or award less than the total amount of funds requested.

Civil Legal Aid Factors:

• Must provide free legal representation or access to free or low-cost legal representation to the poor or disadvantaged persons within a geographical area in the State of South Carolina
• Employ a needs test consistent with income eligibility requirements of 125% of the official poverty guidelines, defined annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Applicants need not apply this needs test to all clients served by their organizations. However, delivery of legal aid supported by Foundation grant must be restricted to clients eligible under those poverty guidelines.

Administration of Justice Factors:

• Demonstrate how legal services to the poor through innovative or cost effective means are enhanced.
• Provide civil legal aid either to groups of clients currently underserved such as the elderly or the disabled, or in an area of representation, whether substantive or geographical, that cannot be or is not effectively served by individual qualified legal aid providers; or, provide legal management or operational training, or legal, management, support service, or technical assistance, or direct legal assistance, informational advocacy or litigation support to qualified legal aid providers.
• Promote the improvement of the administration of justice.

Law Related Education Factors:

• Demonstrate how the program provides educational opportunities for students to learn about the practice of law and develop an interest in the law.
• Demonstrate how law students’ legal education is enhanced and how legal non-profits benefit through the program.

Other Factors:

• Multiple Funding Sources: The Foundation recommends that all applicants have income in addition to Foundation funds requested. Priority will be given to requests from applicants who leverage Foundation funds with multiple other funding sources.
• Cooperative Efforts: Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with other service providers. Joint proposals from multiple, qualified applicants area will be accepted as well.

Rent and Equipment: Requests for equipment purchases may be eligible for funding. If seeking funds for equipment, applicants should demonstrate that the new equipment will result in significant productivity enhancements and increased services, and other avenues of funding for equipment purchase have been pursued without success. Rent is an eligible funding category. 

Background

We invest in a broad range of efforts organized by South Carolina organizations and academic institutions.

Focus Areas

We value grant applications that target our focus areas, as well as those which include funding from similarly focused organizations, but we accept applications that target any education challenge.

Our focus areas include:

• Supporting low-income, underserved, and first-generation students
• Improving access to college and degree completion
• Creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities

Funding Amount

Applicants may request $25,000 to $100,000.

Grants for the Common Good

The Bunnelle Foundation offers Grants for the Common Good in two cycles every year, Spring & Fall. This is a competitive program for organizations working in Georgetown County, South Carolina.

Requests may be made for up to $15,000. Funding is available for general operating or special project support. 

• General Operating support is funding directed to an organization’s operations rather than to particular projects.
• Special Projects launch new programs, or help secure support from other funders.

Fall Cycle- Focus areas

Addressing the Root Causes of Poverty

• circumstances or inequities such as low literacy, teen pregnancy, inadequate parenting, or catastrophic life events;

Meeting Basic Human Needs

• subsistence needs such as food, clean water and sanitation, shelter, health care, safety, and clothing;

Promoting Economic Vitality

• promoting stable families, workforce development, and community wealth-building;

Preserving the Environment

• the protection, preservation, management or restoration of natural resources.

Grants for the Common Good

The Bunnelle Foundation offers Grants for the Common Good in two cycles every year, Spring & Fall. This is a competitive program for organizations working in Georgetown County, South Carolina.

Requests may be made for up to $15,000. Funding is available for general operating or special project support.

• General Operating support is funding directed to an organization’s operations rather than to particular projects.
• Special Projects launch new programs, or help secure support from other funders.

Spring Cycle

Focus area: Encouraging Positive Youth Development: access to opportunities, programs, and resources that help youth reach their full potential.

About the Foundation

The Joanna Foundation was established in 1945 as an eleemosynary corporation in the State of South Carolina with broad charitable purposes. At that time, The Joanna Foundation operated primarily for the benefit of the citizens of Joanna, South Carolina, home of Joanna Cotton Mills Company. The founders were Mr. Walter Regnery, president of Joanna Cotton Mills Company, and Mr. William H. Regnery, president of the parent company, Joanna Western Mills of Chicago. Our Purpose and MissionThe Foundation is “dedicated to community betterment … promoting the causes of health and education, and other worthwhile improvements.” Our purpose is to support organizations and programs that strengthen community capacity and enhance individual involvement in achieving a better quality of life. The primary beneficiaries are residents of the following areas in South Carolina: Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester Counties as well as the communities of Newberry and Joanna, SC. Types of Support The Joanna Foundation will consider requests for general operating support or to help launch a new program, support specific projects conducted by the organization, match funds to leverage the impact of a challenge grant, and/or advance capital campaigns.Grant AmountThere is no set limit that an organization may request. Most grants made by The Joanna Foundation are in the range of $1,000 to $3,000 for one year. Larger grants in the $5,000 to $10,000 range are less common and grants exceeding $10,000 are exceptional.The Foundation will consider requests for:

• Seed money
• Special projects
• Matching funds
• General operations
• Technical/administrative support
• Capital campaigns

Background

Greenville Women Giving (GWG) is a women’s collective philanthropic organization that serves Greenville County SC. Funding for grants is made available through the annual donations of GWG members and from other donor-directed contributions through the Community Foundation of Greenville. Grants are awarded once a year (in May) and are selected based on the cumulative voting of the entire GWG membership.

GWG seeks to fund worthy projects that have the potential for high impact and significant positive change in our community. The application deadline for new grants is at the end of November each year. Annual GWG grant cycles run from May (when grants are awarded) until June of the following year (when the completion of grant assessments are required). 

Funding Priorities

The intent of Greenville Women Giving is to award grants that have the potential for high impact and significant positive change in the Greenville Community. Therefore, GWG gives priority to grants that:

• Focus on funding areas of Arts, Education, Environment, Health and Human Services
• Support an organization’s mission
• Address high impact community needs
• Offer opportunities for collaboration and foster partnerships, as well as leverage other funding sources
• Demonstrate the ability to achieve measurable results, provide clear action steps and a reasonable timeline
• Clearly reflect how the grant funds will be used to accomplish the outlined goals and objectives

Target Areas

GWG intends to award at least one grant in each of our five focus areas: Arts, Education, Environment, Health, and Human Services. The top-ranked grant request in each of the five focus areas will be awarded, but we will not attempt to fund each category equally.

Arts & Culture

GWG seeks to strengthen our community through arts by supporting projects that promote the creation of, access to, and appreciation of the arts, as well as programs that incorporate the arts as part of a multidisciplinary teaching program.

Education

GWG promotes lifelong learning by supporting projects that educate individuals for a productive life from early childhood through higher education as well as those providing for teacher development, access to quality educational programs and job training.

Environment

GWG seeks to enhance our community by supporting projects that protect and preserve natural areas and resources, that improve outdoor recreational opportunities and parks, and that teach conservation, protection and the responsible use of natural resources.

Health

GWG seeks to improve the overall health of the community by supporting projects that promote health, wellness and access to high quality healthcare for everyone, as well as projects that assist individuals in changing or avoiding unhealthy lifestyles or behaviors.

Human Services

GWG seeks to address inequities within our community by supporting projects that address every individual’s needs for food, clothing, shelter and safety as well as projects that address underlying social problems.

Trust Overview

The Trust for Civic Life is a cross-ideological team of philanthropy and private sector funders making critical investments in the communities that will define the future of the country.

The Trust runs two grantmaking cycles every year:

• Civic Hub Grants and Civic Experiment Grants.

Through a community-led nomination process, local leaders help us identify and direct resources where they are needed most. This process leads to faster, more effective investments that can drive meaningful progress in our local communities.

Civic Experiment Grant

Civic Experiment Grant grants are for individuals and small organizations leading experimental new programs that get their community actively participating in shaping a community vision, identifying challenges, and working together to solve them.

Civic Experiment grant funding goes toward specific programs.

What we look for

The Trust for Civic Life funds a wide range of non-partisan entrepreneurs, programs, organizations and innovative digital leaders who play a key role in their local and regional civic ecosystems. Selection is informed by these key characteristics:

• Embedded in Community: Lives within the communities they serve.
• Rural Focus: Focuses on rural communities specifically in the Black Belt, Central Appalachia, Tribal Lands, Southwest Border, and communities in transition in the rural U.S.
• Community-Led Action: Leads or supports community members to identify problems and work toward solutions.
• Inclusive: Brings together the voices, views, experiences, and participation of the entire community.
• Community Champions: Identifies and celebrates the solutions, innovations, and programs doing great work.
• Bridge Builders: Builds and strengthens community networks by regranting, connecting people to resources, supporting new ideas, leveraging digital tools, and working across sectors.
• Long Lasting: Focuses on programs that create long-lasting civic infrastructure and a thriving community that all residents feel welcome to participate in.

Funding

• Grants Available: ~100
• Grant Amount: Up to $25,000

Our Work

The BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation was established in 2003. The Foundation issues grants to support projects that aim to promote the health of South Carolinians and to increase access to health care for the economically disadvantaged. 

Our Vision

To bridge health and health care in South Carolina. 

Our Mission

The mission of the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation is to promote and support healthier South Carolinians, particularly the economically vulnerable, by supporting solutions to address gaps in health care and serving as an agent of change to support innovation and value-added public-private partnerships. 

Our Values

We have a unique position as a statewide health funder that allows us to support select systemic population health issues and approaches across South Carolina.

• We look to partner with grantees to both increase effectiveness towards better health outcomes and contribute to organizational and programmatic sustainability.
• We seek to support efforts that represent community and statewide priorities that are locally determined, culturally relevant and data-informed solutions.
• We support efforts that generate data, connect learning to action, and use data for continuous improvement.
• We recognize that improving health is complex and is influenced as much by one's environment as it is by the individual therefore we look to have an array of projects that are designed to provide direct care to the economically vulnerable and address policy, systems, and environmental changes.
• We prioritize efforts that will support future generations of South Carolinians.
• We are a catalytic funder, supporting projects as they gain sustainability by leveraging funds from key partners and we value innovative projects that can expand to multiple geographic areas in South Carolina.

Grants

We support projects that improve health outcomes and increase access to care here in the Palmetto State.

We have a unique position as a statewide health funder that allows us to support select systemic population health issues and approaches across South Carolina.Funding PrioritiesThe Foundation focuses on programs and initiatives that are closely aligned with our health priorities and evolving approaches. These areas have been identified to improve health outcomes and decrease health disparities in the Palmetto State. Health PrioritiesMuch of the Foundation’s current funding falls within the health priorities identified here. Projects outside of these three conditions are considered as they relate to evolving approaches and select initiatives.Improving the oral health care system by increasing access, enhancing workforce development and supporting quality and innovationBuilding resilience and well-being for youth and families by strengthening the mental health workforce, improving quality and coordination of mental health care and enhancing collaboration in communities to support familiesPlease see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Grants Overview

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation supports the vision and legacy of Mr. Van Every by making meaningful gifts to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in North and South Carolina which strengthen our communities, demonstrate fiscal responsibility, exhibit strength in leadership and have a proven track record of success.

Human and Community Service, Education, Healthcare and Rehabilitation and Arts, Culture and History are the Foundation’s primary areas of focus. A very limited portion of our funding supports organizations that fall outside these perimeters.

Areas of Focus

Education

As Americans, we find ourselves living in an increasingly competitive global economy. Students are entering a highly competitive job market. The unemployed and underemployed are seeking new career opportunities that require enhanced skills.

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation is addressing these issues by supporting colleges, universities and nonprofit organizations that provide quality affordable education and job re-training programs for individuals seeking degrees or certificates. We believe that education is critical to the future success of our children, families, communities, state, and nation.

Healthcare/Rehabilitation

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation is committed to improving the health and quality of life for individuals residing in North and South Carolina.

We respond to our commitment by investing in programs and services that focus on medical innovation, research, education, rehabilitative care, prevention, wellness and substance abuse.

Human & Community Service

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation is committed to improving lives and strengthening communities in North and South Carolina.

We support organizations that address the underlying causes of a myriad of social issues, meet the critical needs of people in their service area and focus on creating financially stable and healthy families.

Arts, Culture, History

Arts, culture and history promote creativity, innovation, exploration and diversity while improving the quality of life for residents of our communities. Dynamic performances and museums as well as other cultural and historic venues engage and inspire audiences, building bridges throughout our region. Arts education plays a pivotal role in enriching the lives of children and provides them with a well-rounded education and the creativity they will need to lead in a global economy.

The Philip L. Van Every Foundation recognizes the important role that arts, cultural and historic organizations play in our communities and supports select organizations that provide quality experiences for residents of North and South Carolina.

Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

Grants from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation are distributed in four focus areas (human needs, environmental stewardship, education, community vitality) and are limited to organizations defined as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

Grant applications will be accepted online during two annual grant cycles, one in the spring and one in the fall.

Funding

Most grant awards range from $1,000 to $15,000, while higher amounts may be awarded when a program is an exceptional fit. We often receive funding requests far in excess of our Foundation budget. Regrettably we must often decline support for otherwise worthy proposals. Such a response does not reflect on Dominion Energy's view of the value of the organization or its services.

Trust Overview

The Trust for Civic Life is a cross-ideological team of philanthropy and private sector funders making critical investments in the communities that will define the future of the country.

The Trust runs two grantmaking cycles every year:

• Civic Hub Grants and Civic Experiment Grants.

Through a community-led nomination process, local leaders help us identify and direct resources where they are needed most. This process leads to faster, more effective investments that can drive meaningful progress in our local communities.

Civic Hub Grant

Civic Hub grants are for organizations that play an important role in bringing people together across different communities and sectors to create shared vision, solutions and distribute resources. We welcome you to nominate organizations that align with our Civic Hub grant focus and criteria. Civic Hubs are locally embedded groups that rally community members together around a shared vision, create the capacity and opportunities for people to gather and collaborate, and distribute resources where they are needed most.

​​Our Civic Hub grants will focus strongly on our priority regions (Black Belt, Central Appalachia, Southern Border, and Tribal Lands), with a portfolio target of ~75% from these regions and ~25% from other rural communities in transition

What we look for

The Trust for Civic Life funds a wide range of non-partisan entrepreneurs, programs, organizations and innovative digital leaders who play a key role in their local and regional civic ecosystems. Selection is informed by these key characteristics:

• Embedded in Community: Lives within the communities they serve.
• Rural Focus: Focuses on rural communities specifically in the Black Belt, Central Appalachia, Tribal Lands, Southwest Border, and communities in transition in the rural U.S.
• Community-Led Action: Leads or supports community members to identify problems and work toward solutions.
• Inclusive: Brings together the voices, views, experiences, and participation of the entire community.
• Community Champions: Identifies and celebrates the solutions, innovations, and programs doing great work.
• Bridge Builders: Builds and strengthens community networks by regranting, connecting people to resources, supporting new ideas, leveraging digital tools, and working across sectors.
• Long Lasting: Focuses on programs that create long-lasting civic infrastructure and a thriving community that all residents feel welcome to participate in.

Funding

• Grants Available: 20-25
• Grant Amount: $250,000-$500,000

Aflac prides itself on being a vital part of each of the communities its team members call home. 

Aflac Group’s grant program focuses on supporting organizations with a local, rather than a national or international, perspective. Aflac Group primarily accepts grant proposals from nonprofit organizations serving South Carolina. 

The Aflac grants committee is comprised of a dedicated group of community-minded employee volunteers. Central Carolina Community Foundation staff supports the Aflac grants committee.

Eligible Programs Areas

• Health & Well-Being (Preference will be given to pediatric cancer and services for their families)
• Education (Preference will be given to life skills and traditional educational programs)

Research & Education Grant

Southern SARE is requesting pre-proposals for either Systems Research Projects or for Education Projects and Activities that address issues of sustainable agriculture of current and potential importance to the region and the nation.

Maximum funding amount for Systems Research Projects is $400,000, and maximum funding amount for Education Projects and Activities is $50,000. Pre-proposals with smaller funding requests are welcomed and encouraged.

Southern SARE accepts proposals from applicants in the Southern region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Proposed projects must focus on Southern SARE’s program objectives in developing sustainable agriculture systems or moving existing farming systems toward sustainability, as defined by the Congress in the 1990 Farm Bill. Under that law, “the term sustainable agriculture means an integrated system of plant and animal production practices having a site-specific application that will, over the long term:

• Satisfy human food and fiber needs;
• Enhance environmental quality and the natural resource base upon which the agricultural economy depends;
• Make the most efficient use of nonrenewable resources and on-farm resources and integrate, where appropriate, natural biological cycles and controls;
• Sustain the economic viability of farm operations; and
• Enhance the quality of life for farmers and society as a whole.”

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

About Us

Founded in 1974, Coastal Community Foundation works with people and organizations who want to make a lasting difference through philanthropy. We are rooted in the community from 40+ years of experience in the Lowcountry. Our proactive approach to donor services, fund flexibility and opportunities to engage with the community make us the partner of choice for hundreds of donors in coastal South Carolina.

Southern Lowcountry Grants

Competitive grant programs are for organizations serving Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Unless otherwise specified, organizations are allowed and encouraged to apply for general operating support.

The Beaufort Fund

CCF’s largest grantmaking program in the Southern Lowcountry has three categories intended to suit the needs of small, large and first-time applicants.

Since it was established in 1998, The Beaufort Fund Grant Program has distributed more than $11 million in the Southern Lowcountry region across Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. Applications are accepted in three categories, a structure intended to suit the needs of small, large and first-time applicants. This approach allows the selection committee to evaluate organizations that are similar in fiscal scope, life cycle and programmatic impact within each category.

Grant Categories

Requests for each of the following categories may be for programmatic or general operating support:

Genesis Grant

This grant supports strategic growth and/or expansion to increase the impact of a program that has already been proven successful. This grant may also support a project that addresses a community need in a new or creative way. Applicants may request up to $10,000 of support from this category.

Operational Grant

This grant is only available to organizations that have applied to The Beaufort Fund previously. Nonprofits may request up to $25,000 of support from this category.

First-Time Grant

This grant is only available to nonprofits that have not applied to the Beaufort Fund previously or have not received funding in the last five years. Nonprofits may request up to $15,000 of support from this category.

Who We Are

The roots of the Community Foundation for the CSRA run deep in Augusta and its surrounding communities. For more than 25 years, we have faithfully connected the philanthropic spirit of our community members with nonprofits and community initiatives throughout Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie and Burke counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. All of our work is grounded in our collective desire to enhance the quality of life for all residents of our region — for today and tomorrow.

Inspired by Mission – Succeeding Through Action

Long supported by the generosity of the Masters Tournament – as well as other organizations and individuals throughout our region – the Community Grants program provides dependable funding for necessary and outstanding philanthropic work by local non-profits. These grants are distributed through a competitive process designed to help nonprofit organizations meet their mission.

Funding Priorities

Arts/Culture/History:

Recognizing the positive impact arts, cultural and historical organizations have on a community, we welcome innovative and high-quality applications in this area.

Education/Youth Enrichment:

We welcome applications from organizations that provide enrichment and educational opportunities to disadvantaged children, youth and adults. Examples include: job skill training and/or placement, after school or summer programs, leadership, tutoring, GED and literacy programs.

Health/Environmental:

Some examples of programs in this funding area include: environmental research or management, animal services, programs that support sustainable community and backyard gardens, medical clinics, drug rehabilitation programs, medical programs for persons with disabilities, and mental illness.

People in Need:

This category is generally, but not exclusively for human service programs that work with people in need. Examples include feeding, housing, financial assistance, programs serving the homelessness, and programs for recently incarcerated individuals.

Funding

We do not set a minimum amount for grant awards. We ask that requests not exceed $15,000. We will only accept one grant application per 501(c)(3) per Community Grants Program cycle.

South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism

South Carolina is blessed with an abundance of natural and man-made gifts – historic cities that attract visitors from all over the world, pristine beaches that stretch for hundreds of miles, small towns that offer a unique glimpse into days gone by, blackwater rivers for a peaceful day of kayaking or canoeing, and spectacular golf courses that wow the avid amateur and challenge the best touring pros. Those gifts and more helped fuel a seasonal business called tourism and turned it into a powerhouse that now ranks as the state’s number one industry. No one could have predicted such a rosy future when the General Assembly created the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism in 1967.

Legislators assigned the agency three very specific tasks:

• To help foster and promote the state’s emerging tourism industry,
• To protect and promote South Carolina state parks, and
• To help communities plan and develop recreational opportunities for local residents.

Destination Specific Tourism Marketing Grant

The funding for this program is governed by Proviso 49.2 and Proviso 49.16 in the Appropriations Act for Budget Year 2024-25.Recurring Destination Specific Funds will be available for disbursement at the time of award. If the Appropriations Act includes nonrecurring funding for Destination Specific, grantees will be notified by SCPRT once those non-recurring funds become available for disbursement. Non-recurring funds are usually available for disbursement by October 31.

Breaking the Cycle grants are designed for organizations creating and sustaining pathways to economic mobility and self-sufficiency. Eligible organizations deliver proven programs that disrupt the cycle of poverty and support long-term, sustainable economic change for individuals, families and/or communities.

Funding Parameters

Organizations should request the amount that meets their needs and will make the most impact on the proposed program, taking into consideration the median grant size for grants in this focus area is typically $25,000. Staff will work with eligible applicants to determine the best request amount.

Criteria for Organizations

• A deep understanding of the complex, multi-faceted issues that surround poverty in the community they serve is reflected in the organization’s values, practices and programming.
• Programming is comprehensive and multi-layered in its approach to breaking the cycle of poverty.
  • Examples include integrated services and two-generation approaches for families.
• Programs have clear short and long-term goals, distinct indicators for success, and can clearly show how participants are moving out of poverty.
• Program is informed by research — using long-term data gathered from successful internal implementation and/or based on emerging/best practice models.
• Organization carries out effective, ongoing program evaluation and adapts based on lessons learned and participant feedback.
• Organization demonstrates effective collaboration and partnerships (both formal and informal) with other organizations.

Cross-Sector Impact Grants

South Arts’ mission is advancing Southern vitality through the arts, and this program addresses a strategic goal to cultivate and strengthen deep, cross-sector partnerships that are artist and community centered. As our communities continue to change, the arts play an incomparable role in addressing many of our communal and individual challenges and strengths. The value of partnership and working together across sectors brings new opportunities, increased effectiveness, and greater depth to our collective work. Through this program, South Arts seeks to provide significant support to projects developed by partners that harness the power of “Arts & …” (these are projects at the intersection of arts and other sectors). This year, we are shifting to a new program model.

Over the next three years, South Arts is committed to one community impact area – Health and Wellness. Eligible projects must focus on the “Arts & Health and Wellness” theme - for example, arts & mental wellness or arts & physical health. Matching grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded to support approximately 18 projects. We anticipate funding these 18 projects for three grant cycles and expect applicants to commit to the collaborative work for a three-year duration. Funding will be awarded in three separate fiscal years with streamlined, grant renewal forms submitted for cycles two and three. Matching grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to continue or advance the project with the same two partners in cycles two and three.  

South Arts’ mission is advancing Southern vitality through the arts. This program addresses two of South Arts’ strategic goals:

• Connect artists and arts professionals in the South to resources that will increase opportunities for success within and outside the region
• Advance impactful arts-based programs that recognize and address trends and evolving needs of a wide range of communities in the South

Project Requirements

SSouth Arts welcomes applications from partnering entities working together on a project that addresses Arts & Health and Wellness through cross-sector partnerships. Projects must utilize the arts as a tool in creative approaches to address and advance a health and wellness issue that is of importance in their community. Projects should also establish or advance relationships across at least two different sectors, one being in the arts. 

Arts disciplines may include, but are not limited to:

• Performing arts, including dance, music, theater, musical theater, opera;
• Literary arts, including fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry;
• Visual arts, including craft, drawing, experimental, painting, photography, sculpture, mixed media;
• Film or media;
• Traditional and folk arts, including music, craft, storytelling, dance; or
• Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary artforms.

Community impact areas may include, but are not limited to:

• Physical (overall well-being and the ability of the body to function properly);
• Mental/Emotional (overall well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life and their emotions);
• Social (overall well-being that stems from connection and community); or
• Occupational (overall physical, mental, and social well-being of workers). 

Matching Requirements

The minimum grant request is $5,000 and the maximum request is $15,000 (subject to funding availability). A match of at least 1:2 is required; meaning for each grant dollar, the grantee must provide $.50 towards the project expenses. For returning grantees, in cycles two and three, the maximum request is $10,000 (subject to funding availability).

Up to half of the match may be comprised of in-kind contributions such as donated materials, donated services, or other contributed non-cash assets or staff time diverted to this project. At least half of the match must be cash. For staff time diverted to this project, up to 10% of the total project expenses, but no more than $5,000 can be included as a cash expense or cash match for staff time. The remaining staff time must be an in-kind contribution. Contracted individuals and services specifically for this project are eligible cash expenses. 

ABOUT ROOTED IN JUSTICE

“Rooted in Justice” is a funding program designed to help amplify youth voices and actions in the environmental and food justice movements.  Rooted in Justice supports community-based organizations and groups that manage established, youth-led, urban greening programs within a justice framework as a core part of their work, with two-year grants of $25,000/year.  

Rooted in Justice recognizes the importance and undeniable right of every young person to have the ability to develop their own relationship with the environment, be it through growing food, spending time with nature, creating community green spaces, or becoming environmental stewards. Rooted in Justice also honors the power and possibilities that arise when young people collectively work to be change-makers in their communities.

Rooted in Justice supports organizations, groups, collectives, and programs that work with young people between the ages of 12 to 20 in youth-led programming for communities or cultures which have historically or currently experience:

• A lack of access to land or nature;
• Agricultural oppression and/or neglect;
• Food apartheid; and/or
• Other forms of injustice based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics and disability.

Rooted in Justice awards a small number of grants each year with applications due in the fall and decisions made the following spring. Final grant decisions are recommended to the Cedar Tree board via a participatory grantmaking process with outside reviewers who have experience in youth-led urban greening, as well as food or climate justice programming. So far the program has awarded multi-year grants to 21 organizations and one-time grants to 10 additional organizations since 2021. 

Definitions

Rooted in Justice grants support organizations or programs that include all four of the elements described below: social justice, youth-led, urban greening, and cohort-based youth work. We articulate our understanding of those terms below in an effort to provide a guide for prospective organizations to use in determining whether their program is a good fit. However as we continue our work towards questioning and dismantling some of our preconceived notions, we recognize that these are not finite definitions and encourage prospective applicants who still feel their work may be a good fit to describe in their proposals why this is the case.  

Social Justice-Based Programs

Programs dedicated to creating equitable outcomes for communities directly affected by different aspects of injustice by:

• Sharing and redistributing power and resources;
• Amplifying voices and leadership;
• Tackling root problems through ongoing engagement and collaboration to find solutions, organize against oppression of all kinds and create mechanisms for change; and
• Developing a critical analysis with youth and community members.

Youth-Led

The development of youth leadership skills is a core part of programs funded by Rooted in Justice. Young people have the opportunity to play a role in the planning and decision-making for their program and may help shape the internal workings of the organization. Examples of youth-led programs include programs where participants: 

• Managing a portion of their programming budget;
• Co-facilitating program activities, meetings and gatherings;
• Shape their own programming and/or organizational strategic planning;
• Have regular and end-of-program opportunities to provide program feedback and evaluation; and
• Have opportunities for personal and/or professional growth within the program and organization.

Urban Greening

For the purpose of this grant we define “urban greening” as any activity that creates a mutually beneficial relationship between city dwellers and their environments. Programs that are a strong fit for Rooted in Justice will have many opportunities for youth to be outdoors.  Project settings can include, but are not limited to: 

• Urban and aquaponic farms
• Greenhouses and rooftop gardens
• Community gardens, green spaces, and rain gardens
• Composting sites
• Land conservation efforts
• Urban forests
• River or other water restoration  

Cohort-Based Youth Works

Rooted in Justice looks to fund organizations that build community with cohorts of youth through intentional, recurring programming. This grant is intended to support programs that offer youth significant learning and leadership opportunities as a group and as individuals. Priority will be given to organizations that have program infrastructure that supports a cohort of youth over time.  Drop-in programming, one-time conferences, or individual internships are not a good fit for Rooted in Justice.  

Youth Budgeting

As part of grant proposal, all Rooted in Justice grantees must share a plan to allocate a portion of the grant funds for youth participants to manage. What do we mean by this? We ask applicants to specifically set aside some amount of grant funds for youth to allocate to priorities of their choosing.  For example, youth participants can use their allocated funding to:

• Fund an entrepreneurial endeavor;
• Design the brand or swag for their group;
• Hire a speaker or outside expert to teach a new skill;
• Purchase supplies for a community-based art project;
• Host a celebration for their families, friends and neighbors;
• Pay for transportation to programming, special events, or conferences; and/or
• Any other youth-led activity the group may find beneficial.

Use of Funds

Rooted in Justice funding must be used for project support of existing youth led, urban greening, social justice work and associated general operating expenses. Operating expenses can include anything from program costs like staff salaries and youth stipends to organizational sustainability needs like major equipment purchases and leadership/staff training. If your organization’s entire mission is youth led, urban greening, social justice work, the Rooted in Justice grant can be general support. 

Funding

Two Year Grant

• Rooted in Justice Grant awards are two-year grants of $25,000 per year.
• After the initial two year grant, grantees may be eligible for a third year of funding at the same or lower level through a simple renewal process.
• In the 2025-2026 grant cycle, the Cedar Tree Foundation expects to support 4 organizations with multi-year grant awards.

Funding for Professional Development

• Each Rooted in Justice grantee organization also has access to an additional $6,000 to support professional development opportunities identified by each organization.  Half of these funds must be used to directly support the professional development of youth. 
• Rooted in Justice grantees can request reimbursement from this professional development fund to attend conferences, hire consultants, purchase equipment or software that increases organizational capacity, or participate in any activities that strengthen youth programming or justice practice of program providers in support of their youth development programming. The funds set aside for youth professional development can be used for youth exchanges or youth participation in conferences and other professional development opportunities directly for youth.  

Community Professional Development Calls

• Cedar Tree works with grantee partners to assess their professional development interests and facilitates on-line gatherings of staff or youth for skill shares, trainings, and networking opportunities.
• These network calls will likely happen 2-3 times per year. 

In 2024, the US Department of Health and Human Services Family and Youth Services Bureau awarded the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) a federal Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) grant to support a state subgrant program. The purpose of South Carolina’s federal SRAE subgrant program is to provide support to eligible organizations to implement education exclusively on sexual risk avoidance that teaches youth to voluntarily refrain from sexual activity. The program is designed to teach youth personal responsibility, self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, a focus on the future, and the prevention of youth risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol use without normalizing teen sexual activity.

The SCDE solicits applications from non-profit organizations that can document their capacity to implement SRAE programs that promote abstinence-until-marriage program services for youth ages 10-19. The SCDE will fund competitive subawards to support projects to implement sexual risk avoidance education that teaches participants how to voluntarily refrain from non-marital sexual activity.

Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) programs also teach the benefits associated with:

• self-regulation
• success sequencing for poverty prevention
• healthy relationships
• goal setting
• resisting sexual coercion
• avoiding dating violence
• resisting youth risk behaviors such as:
  • underage drinking
  • illicit drug use

Subgrantees will use an evidenced-based approach and/or effective strategies to educate youth on how to avoid risks that could lead to non-marital sexual activity.

Approximately $1,110,000 will be available for new subawards in this 2025-26 funding cycle. The SCDE anticipates awarding more than one subaward. The minimum amount to be awarded is $100,000 and the maximum award cannot exceed $600,000. Award amounts will be determined based on the quality of applications received and total funding requested. The final budget may be negotiated based on the necessary needs. The subgrant period is October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, and is subject to the availability of funds and the funded project(s) meeting all federal Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) subgrant program requirements.

Subgrantees will be issued a subaward document. Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis upon the receipt of expenditure reports with all supporting documentation; subgrantees are not permitted to pick up their reimbursements from the SCDE office. Applicants should have at their disposal at least three months of sustainable funds to implement the program prior to SCDE reimbursement. No expenditures obligated or incurred prior to October 1, 2025, will be reimbursed.

Fighting Litter for 20 Years

Our primary goal is to engage citizens to take responsibility for litter prevention, but our experience has taught us that we need our elected officials to support our initiatives, support litter-pickup infrastructure, and support law enforcement efforts. 

Levels of Funding:

The Enforcement Grant is a competitive grant that provides litter control and enforcement agencies with up to $5000 for the purchase of equipment and resources for use in litter control cases. It is funding for law enforcement agencies to help enforce state and local litter laws.

Mission

The mission of Southern Partners Fund (SPF) is to serve rural Southeastern communities and organizations seeking social, economic and environmental justice by providing them with financial resources, technical assistance, training and access to systems of information and power. There are two central ideas embraced in the democratic philanthropy of Southern Partners Fund: compassion and community. Compassion implies an understanding or concern for community members lacking local political power to impact the decisions that affect their lives. Community relates to the things that bring us and hold us together.

Purpose

The Purpose of SPF Grantmaking is to:

• Develop and nurture grassroots community-based leaders and organizers.
• Build the capacity of rural, grassroots community organizing groups and leaders.
• Strengthen rural communities and people.
• Develop equitable peer relationships, which support real transformation toward a just society.

Hubert E. Sapp Regular Grants Cycle

Hubert Ellis Sapp, a transformative visionary and grassroots organizer, was instrumental in turning the concept of Southern Partners Fund, a democratically led foundation directed by grassroots leaders, into a reality. To honor his legacy in the wake of his passing in February of 2021, we are honored to add his name to our Regular Grant Cycle, which from here on, will be referred to as the Hubert E. Sapp Regular Grant Cycle. 

• Applicants may request general support or project support.
• Applicants must have operating budgets of $350,000 or less to receive general support.
• Organizations with operating budgets over $350,000 can apply for project support only.

Members of SPF’s grants committee will contact organizations being considered to schedule a site visit, required for new applicants, or phone interview. SPF’s grants committee, made up of SPF members, makes grants decisions during a September grants panel meeting, which are then ratified by the Board. Groups will be notified of grants decisions after October 1st, 2024.

If an organization has received five consecutive years of regular grant cycle funding, it must take a year off before making a new RGC grant request.