Byerly Foundation

OVERVIEW: This funder supports nonprofits in the Hartsville, South Carolina, area in the fields of education, economic development, quality of life, and social needs. It makes grants once per year. 

IP TAKE: This is a hyper-local health legacy foundation that loves to fund construction and renovation projects. Grant seekers should call the executive director to discuss an idea before submitting anything.

PROFILE: The Byerly Foundation is based in Hartsville, South Carolina, and focuses grants on the local community here. It seeks to “support organizations that are seeking to create positive change in the Hartsville community.” It was established in 1995 and has been making local grants since 1998. Its origins go back to Dr. William Byerly, a Hartsville doctor who established a clinic in 1933. The clinic later became the Byerly Hospital, which was sold to a for-profit hospital company. Approximately $22 million was invested to create this health legacy foundation and give back to local groups.

Grants for Work and Economic Opportunity, Education, and Community Development

Byerly has made over $17.3 million in grants to the Hartsville community. Grantmaking prioritizes education, economic development, and quality of life and social needs. Much of Byerly grantmaking supports building construction and facility improvements.

Education grants typically support causes like the Foxy Leader Program at Hartsville Middle School and the Darlington County First Steps Countdown to Kindergarten program. Economic grants have funded the entrepreneurial pilot program LiftUp Hartsville and residential demolition assistance. Social needs and quality-of-life grants support city playground upgrades and a computerized surveillance camera system in the city.

One big Byerly beneficiary is Coker College, which received a $1.5 million grant to build a 71,000-square-foot athletic facility called the Harris E. & Louise H. DeLoach Center. Byerly also awarded $650,000 to improve what is now called Byerly Park with a major soccer and sports complex. A $75,000 grant went to a business incubator and advocate called Startsville which seeks to launch entrepreneurs’ careers and promote business in Hartsville.

Important Grant Details

In recent years, the foundation has accepted grant applications in May and June, with grant announcements made in September. Grants are only made to groups that benefit the Hartsville area. A grant seeker’s first step is to contact the foundation’s executive director to discuss the idea. Applications can be submitted by email, mail, or hand delivery. As a rule, this foundation does not fund technical or specialized research, teams, events, memorials, advertising, political causes, sectarian religious programs, or anything that does not have a Hartsville focus.

Direct general questions to byerlyfdn@yahoo.com. The funder’s address is 101 North 2nd Street, Hartsville, South Carolina 29550.

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