Grants for South Carolina nonprofits address a wide range of focus areas, from education grants to human services. Learn more about grants for South Carolina with the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.
Giving Trends in South Carolina
With over 2,100 grantmakers, North Carolina has become a major center for philanthropic giving in the Southeast. Grantmaking has decreased in South Carlolina since 2014, but is slowly on the rise since 2017. In contrast with North Carolina, grants for South Carolina nonprofits tend be smaller, despite the immense private wealth concentrated in it’s cities.
Grants for education continue to dominate the South Carolina grantmaking scene — more than any other focus area combined — though human services, health, nonprofit management, religion and the arts garner funding attention. In contrast from giving in North Carolina, there are fewer South Carolina foundations that conduct work nationally, preferring to keep funding close to home.
South Carolina’s top funders include a mix of private, public, corporate and community foundations. Major funders in South Carolina predominately include those which keep their funding within the state like the Darla Moore and Richard Rainwater Foundation, Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, Central Carolina Community Foundation, The Community Foundation of Greenville, Spartanburg County Foundation, and New Morning, among others.
Foundations in South Carolina
ABNEY FOUNDATION
This funder primarily supports higher education but also funds local causes in Anderson, South Carolina, in the areas of education, health, culture, and social services. Letters of inquiry are accepted, and grants are awarded once per year.
ARRAS FOUNDATION
This funder focuses on building healthy communities in South Carolina, supporting youth transition to adulthood through education, and elevating philanthropy in Lancaster County, Fort Lawn, and Great Falls.
MARY REYNOLDS BABCOCK FOUNDATION
The Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation supports democracy and civic engagement initiatives, such as community organizing, voter education, and voter registration, in eleven southeastern states.
BAUGHMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Baughman Family Foundation supports health, the elderly, animals, arts, culture, humanities, education, environmental services, environment, medical research, patient and family support, shelter and crisis services, social services and youth services in South Carolina and other places of interest to the family.
MARY BLACK FOUNDATION
This funder supports healthy eating/active living, early childhood development, and community health programs in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Application deadlines are twice yearly.
BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION
This funder supports health causes in the state of South Carolina, including access to care, the healthcare workforce, and resources for children. Letters of inquiry are accepted within specified time frames.
BYERLY FOUNDATION
This funder supports nonprofits in the Hartsville, South Carolina, area in the fields of education, economic development, quality of life, and social needs. Grants are awarded once per year.
CAPITAL BANK FOUNDATION
The Capital Bank Foundation is a bank funder that supports Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia communities in the areas of arts and culture, education and leadership, environment, financial literacy, and health and human services.
CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This funder supports 11 counties in mid-South Carolina with grants. Discretionary grants mostly go towards community improvements, while other funds accept grant requests too.
COASTAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
CCF has two yearly grantmaking cycles to support a nine-county region of South Carolina. Topics of interest are community development, arts and culture, education, children, special needs, and the environment.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA
The Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area supports art, culture, history, health, environment, people in need, education, and youth enrichment in select counties of Georgia and South Carolina.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREENVILLE
This funder supports nonprofits in the Greenville, South Carolina, area through various funds. Funding goes to capacity building, arts and culture, education, environment, health, and human services.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE LOWCOUNTRY
This funder supports the South Carolina counties of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper. The foundation backs literacy, the environment, nonprofit capacity, and community building.
DUKE ENDOWMENT
Duke supports childcare, healthcare, higher education, and rural church causes in North Carolina and South Carolina. James Buchanan Duke established this foundation in 1924.
DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION
This funder supports programs for education, the environment, economic and workforce development, and community impact in counties in the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida.
FOOTHILLS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
FCF provides education, health, human services, youth, and recreation grants in Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties in South Carolina.
GREENVILLE WOMEN GIVING
GWG is a women’s giving circle that supports Greenville County, South Carolina, in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, and human services. Grants are awarded once per year.
HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH FOUNDATION
This band funder mostly supports children in South Carolina through education and the arts. It is managed by the Central Carolina Community Foundation.
THE JOANNA FOUNDATION
This funder supports education, community development, and conservation efforts in various parts of South Carolina. There are three pre-proposal deadlines per year.
PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS CHARITIES
This corporate grocery store chain funder supports efforts related to hunger, homelessness, youth, and education in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
SELF FAMILY FOUNDATION
This funder supports education, community wellness, and arts, culture, and history in and around Greenwood, South Carolina. Grant proposals are reviewed at quarterly board meetings.
SISTERS OF CHARITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA
This funder supports efforts to reduce poverty in South Carolina. It gives mostly to social services, followed about equally by education and health.
SPARTANBURG COUNTY FOUNDATION
This community funder supports nonprofits in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in the areas of education, arts, health, human services, historic preservation, and youth. There are usually two grant cycles per year.
SPRINGS CLOSE FOUNDATION
This funder awards basic needs grants in the South Carolina counties of Chester, Lancaster, and York. Food, shelter and basic medical assistance are top priorities.
TAYLOR FOUNDATION OF NEWBERRY
Taylor supports education, cultural, and humanitarian efforts in Newberry County, South Carolina. Grant requests are accepted by email.
WACCAMAW COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This community funder supports Horry and Georgetown counties in South Carolina with grants and scholarships. Competitive grants are awarded twice per year to local groups.
JUDITH ATKINS WALL FOUNDATION
The Judith Atkins Wall Foundation supports education, historical preservation and human services in South Carolina.
JERRY AND ANITA ZUCKER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Jerry and Anita Zucker Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, Jewish causes and community organizations.
