Coastal Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: CCF has two yearly grantmaking cycles: one for specific funds and interest areas and the other for more general causes, all within a nine-county region of South Carolina. Funding priorities include community development, arts and culture, education, children, special needs, and the environment.
IP TAKE: CCF has streamlined and simplified its grant cycles recently, so now is a great time for grant seekers to apply for funding. It supports a wide range of topics.
PROFILE: The Coastal Community Foundation (CCF) is headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, and was founded in 1974. It seeks “to help create vibrant communities by uniting people and investing resources.” It focuses on giving in coastal South Carolina and has a competitive grants program for nonprofits. It serves the counties of Charleston, Beaufort, Berkeley, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, and Jasper. The foundation has offices in Charleston and Beaufort.
Grants for Disaster Relief, College Readiness, Higher Education, and Community Development
CCF has historically been very responsive to local needs, such as hurricanes and mass shootings. It has over $290 million in assets and awarded more than $22 million in grants in a recent year.
Two competitive grant programs per year contribute operating funding, capital grants, and program funding. The application deadline for one competitive grant cycle is January and the other is in June. The January grant cycle supports specific issues and geographical areas; these cycles support education, children with special needs, local visual artists, and neighborhood strengthening.
The June regional grants cycle is open to a wider variety of nonprofits. Both Tri-County and Southern Lowcountry nonprofits are eligible. Other grant opportunities here include the Cooper River Bridge Run Fund, the Donors Choose Teacher Mini Grants, and Social Venture Partners Charleston.
To begin the application process, set up an account on CCF’s online portal. Grant seekers should expect to receive a response within two months of the application deadline. Donor-advised grants are not open to applications.
CCF also funds special strategic projects, such as the Medical Society of South Carolina and the Discover St. John’s High School Initiative. The Griffin-Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year Award and Expansion Arts Program makes grants to individuals in the community. CCF also handles management and grantmaking and technical assistance for affiliate foundations, such as the Jewish Endowment Foundation of Greater Charleston, the Saul Alexander Fund, the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, and the Waccamaw Community Foundation.
There has been a big push with this funder lately to educate a new generation of philanthropists and connect potential young donors in the area. This network is called Bridge Philanthropists. CCF also awards scholarships to local students.
Important Grant Details
Darrin Goss, Sr. is the president and CEO of CCF, and there are five staff members on the grantmaking and community leadership team. Staff information and current financial data can be viewed here.
Direct general questions to info@coastalcommunityfoundation.org. The main office is at 635 Rutledge Avenue, Suite 201, Charleston, South Carolina, 29403, and the regional office is at 1 Beaufort Town Center, 2015 Boundary Street, 2nd Floor, Beaufort, South Carolina, 29902. Keep up with funder news and grant announcements on CCF’s Our Impact page.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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