Springs Close Foundation
/OVERVIEW: 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.
IP TAKE: SCF grants are not large, but this is a funder that human services organizations in South Carolina should know. It also makes small grants throughout the year.
PROFILE: The Springs Close Foundation (SCF) is based in Fort Mill, South Carolina. It seeks to “help support and improve the communities that once housed the textile mills of Spring Industries in Chester, Lancaster and York counties of south Carolina.” The foundation was established in 1942 following the success of the Springs Textile Mills and Colonel Elliott White Springs’ tradition of giving to the surrounding communities.
Grants for Community Development, Public Health and Access, and Early Childhood Education
The foundation has recently prioritized critical basic support to people in need. This means grants for food, shelter, and medical assistance. In addition to basic needs, the foundation has also prioritized early childhood and the birth-to-age-five demographic. It has supported Chester Park School of the Arts and Chester Park Elementary School.
SCF and its predecessor foundations have awarded over $104 million to local nonprofits since inception. There are three community boards in place, one in each of the counties where it makes grants. These boards review grant applications, do site visits, and make final grant decisions for their counties. The foundation has an executive committee that reviews proposals that serve multiple counties.
To apply for an SCF grant, grant seekers will need to download the online application form, complete it, and then mail, fax, or email it to the foundation. Grant seekers requesting more than $2,500 will need to submit your grant request by March 1 for the spring board meeting or by October 1 for the fall board meeting. Requests up to $2,500 can be submitted at any time.
In a recent grant cycle, the foundation awarded a total of $786,680 to 41 organizations and agencies. All of these grants went to emergency needs and early childhood education.
SCF supports a Weekend Backpack Program that provides nutritious foods for children. Grant seekers can learn more about SCF community awards here. The foundation has a no-interest student loan program to help local students afford post-secondary education; SCF has loaned more than $9 million to over 8,400 students.
Important Grant Details
Direct general questions to the staff at info@springsfnd.org. The address is 168 Skipper Street, Fort Mill, South Carolina 29715. Keep up with foundation news and events on the blog.
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