Best Grants for LGBTQ Nonprofits in South Carolina

South Carolina LGBTQ nonprofits and grassroots groups advancing queer and trans liberation can access funding for community organizing and mobilization projects through Southern Vision Alliance’s Queer Mobilization Fund, with awards up to US $5,000. LGBTQ, BIPOC-led, community-led, new, or rural organizations in the Southeastern U.S. may be especially competitive.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations or fiscally sponsored groups supporting LGBTQ+ youth programs can access funding for programming and organizational support in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Alliance for Full Acceptance offers US $500 - US $4,000 for efforts like GSAs, trainings, speakers, resources, and collaborative projects that advance social justice and emotional health for LGBTQ+ youth.

Early-career LGBTQ+ performance artists in South Carolina can seek funding for new avant-garde performance work through the XENO Prize, awarded via the Franklin Furnace Fund. Focused on performance art, this US $5,000 prize supports non-student, vocational artists generating original work in states restricting gender-affirming care, including South Carolina.

Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as early-career researchers studying LGBTQ+ issues in the American South, can apply for Campaign for Southern Equality’s Southern Equality Research Grant, with awards up to US $2,000 for research expenses and conference travel. South Carolina LGBTQ-focused organizations partnering with eligible researchers may benefit from this support for data-driven projects.

Nonprofit charities managing humanitarian, educational, environmental, or arts projects in South Carolina and worldwide can seek philanthropic support for innovative, sustainable initiatives. La Roche supports accredited charities whose projects promote social development, science and education, community and environment, or contemporary arts, and that allow meaningful collaboration with local Roche affiliates and engagement of Roche employees.

LGBTQ-focused nonprofits in South Carolina can apply for Leonard Litz Foundation grants supporting programs for LGBTQ+ health and wellness, crisis intervention, racial justice, advocacy, and social assistance. Organizations in the Northeast U.S. are preferred, but U.S.-based groups serving LGBTQIA+ communities, especially people of color and transgender or gender-nonconforming people, may be competitive with specific, well-defined projects.

Nonprofit organizations advancing LGBTQ+ rights and services in South Carolina can seek project support for advocacy, health and wellness, crisis intervention, racial justice, community engagement, and social assistance. Leonard Litz Foundation prioritizes work benefiting communities of color and transgender or gender-nonconforming people, with a preference for organizations based in the northeast U.S.

Nonprofits and public or charter schools in South Carolina partnering with LGBTQ+ youth leaders (ages 13–18) can access funding through It Gets Better to run youth-led projects supporting LGBTQIA+ rights and services. U.S. grants from US $500 - US $10,000 back initiatives that make schools and communities safer and more empowering for LGBTQ+ students.

Nonprofits and community groups serving transgender, gender-nonconforming, non-binary, and intersex people in South Carolina can receive funding for health care, housing, legal, religious, and other critical supports. The Leonard Litz Foundation provides these LGBTQ-focused grants nationwide, so South Carolina LGBTQ nonprofits may be eligible for both program support and community-building initiatives.

LGBTQ-focused 501(c)(3) organizations in South Carolina working on social justice, mental health, arts, or basic needs can apply for the Looking Out Foundation’s humanitarian grants, awarding US $5,000 - US $25,000. Eligible charities may also propose projects for displaced people, immigrant communities, or Trans and Gender Expansive rights and support.

LGBTQ-focused 501(c)(3) organizations in South Carolina can seek project-specific funding for community support, public education, research, and HIV and health programs in rural or underserved areas. Gamma Mu Foundation supports U.S. nonprofits with grants up to US $15,000, prioritizing HIV/STD education, prevention, and treatment for LGBTQ communities.

LGBTQ-focused health nonprofits in South Carolina can benefit when honorees of this award direct a US $2,500 grant honorarium to a nonprofit health organization of their choice. The American Medical Association Foundation’s Excellence in LGBTQ Health Award recognizes physicians, residents, fellows, and final-year medical students advancing LGBTQ health policy, advocacy, care, and workforce diversity nationwide.

LGBTQ individuals pursuing post–high school education or vocational training that leads to financial stability, including those in South Carolina, can receive scholarship support for tuition and related costs. Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation’s We Rise LGBTQ Scholarship offers US $10,000 total in one-time awards for vocational, trade, and degree programs, with underserved LGBTQ+ applicants especially encouraged.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving LGBTQ communities in the Greater Bay Area can apply for Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation’s Tier B grants, with awards of US $10,000 to support their work. South Carolina LGBTQ nonprofits with relevant Bay Area programming may be eligible and should review the foundation’s mission and application process.

Youth leaders ages 13–23 in South Carolina running kindness-centered social impact projects can apply for Riley's Way Foundation’s Call for Kindness Fellowship, with startup grants up to US $5,000. Projects supporting LGBTQIA+ communities, social justice, or related causes may be eligible, with funds for supplies, events, or tools to expand their work.

The Betsy Frabotta Educate and Engage Scholarship provides Miami Valley LGBTQ+ youth, allies, and students of color with US $2,000 for college or trade school. Eligible applicants must be current residents, show academic success and community engagement, and be actively involved in LGBTQ+ or other equity-focused advocacy; Dayton Public School graduates receive preference.

The Pride in the Hills Scholarship, established by the Connecticut Community Foundation, offers a one-time award to graduating high school students who identify as LGBTQ+ or as allies of the LGBTQ+ community. This initiative, part of the Foundation's commitment to support local students, reflects over a century of dedication to enhancing educational opportunities in the Greater Waterbury and Litchfield Hills region. With generous donor support, this scholarship aims to help students achieve their college dreams.

Small 501(c)(3) nonprofits in South Carolina advancing LGBTQ+ rights, human rights, or girls’ and women’s empowerment can seek US $20,000 in unrestricted capacity-building support through the Alexandra Hallock Capacity Building Grant. Cause Strategy Partners also provides pro bono consulting, governance resources, and board training to strengthen organizational infrastructure and long-term impact.

Pride Foundation provides South Carolina LGBTQ+ students pursuing post-secondary education with scholarship support for tuition and related study costs. Eligible applicants must be residents of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington, though they may study elsewhere. LGBTQ-focused nonprofits may share this opportunity with student leaders engaged in justice and community well-being work.

Students and recent graduates planning unpaid summer 2025 internships in HIV/AIDS research, advocacy, or services at U.S.-accredited institutions can receive up to US $7,000 to support their work. Point Foundation’s Kadel & Gerhardt Internships may benefit South Carolina LGBTQ-focused organizations hosting qualified interns to expand culturally competent, affordable HIV/AIDS-related services.

Nonprofit organizations in South Carolina supporting sexuality and LGBTQIA+ rights can access funding via B.W. Bastian Foundation, with typical awards of US $100 - US $15,000 for general operating or project support. Eligible 501(c)(3) groups that explicitly commit to equality, including for gay and lesbian communities, may also be considered within the funder’s broader U.S. focus.

The Gender Justice Organizing Fund Grant supports initiatives led by women, girls, trans, gender nonconforming, and LGBTQI+ individuals to achieve gender justice. Organizations must prioritize community organizing and demonstrate an understanding of systemic oppression. Grants from the Bread & Roses Community Fund are crucial for groups that lack traditional funding due to their commitment to amplifying marginalized voices. The fund emphasizes long-term strategies that foster sustainable social change in the Philadelphia area.

The Mobilize Power Fund Grant, offered by the Third Wave Fund, supports youth-led gender justice activism. This rapid response fund targets organizations led by young women of color and LGBTQ+ youth, providing up to $10,000 for urgent needs. It prioritizes groups addressing recent incidents that threaten their work, fostering community power and leadership. Organizations with budgets under $500,000 can apply, aiming for impactful, time-sensitive initiatives that promote social change.

The Mary E. Kwiatkowski Social Services Scholarship Fund, offered by the Erie Community Foundation, supports female and LGBTQIA+ students pursuing social sciences and public service careers. In 2023, over $800,000 was awarded to more than 500 students for post-secondary education. This scholarship aims to eliminate financial barriers for diverse talents in Erie County's social services sector, requiring applicants to submit an essay on their public service aspirations and challenges in the Erie region.

The Eash-Potter Scholarship supports LGBTQ youth in central Pennsylvania, honoring Melinda Eash and Sharon Potter's legacy. It is available to graduating high school seniors from specific counties who demonstrate commitment to enhancing the community climate for LGBTQ+ individuals. Financial need is a consideration, and the scholarship is a one-time award. Students of color, transgender individuals, and children of LGBTQ+ parents are particularly encouraged to apply, promoting diversity and inclusion within the scholarship program.

Outreach Foundation Helen Bonser Scholarship

This scholarship supports the educational aspirations of individuals from Spokane and Kootenai Counties who identify as LGBTQA+ or Allies, helping them achieve their academic and career goals while fostering a sense of community engagement. 

Applicants should demonstrate exceptional character, leadership, and/or LGBTQA+ community involvement. Recipients are eligible to re-apply and compete for the Outreach Foundation Helen Bonser Scholarship after a waiting period of 5 years.

About Us

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County is a resource for local charitable giving. Created by and for the people of San Luis Obispo County, The Community Foundation is an enduring source of charitable funds to meet the changing needs and interests of the region. We envision San Luis Obispo County as an inclusive haven where everyone, regardless of background, feels free to fully participate. In collaboration with our community partners and donors, we seek to foster a safe, respectful environment with ample opportunity for all to reach their potential and contribute to the success of our community. We invite you to join us in celebrating diversity, making sure all of our neighbors feel seen, and free from dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, as we shape a future where all residents can flourish. 

2025-2026 Scholarship Applications

Big dreams start here! With support from generous individuals, families, and businesses, the Community Foundation offers scholarships that help San Luis Obispo County students reach new heights in their education and careers.

Alan D. Stephenson Scholarship

The Alan D. Stephenson Scholarship was established to support promising LGBTQIA+ students to achieve their academic potential.