Nonprofits

Commitment to building community vitality throughout coastal Carolina is one thing that unites our nonprofit partners. It is your important services that encourage donors who care to give back through funds at Coastal Community Foundation. We are proud to have worked with nonprofit organizations of all kinds for over 35 years and to have awarded over $75 million in grants to programs throughout the eight counties we serve.

Photo: Children experiencing the joys of baseball during a Charleston Miracle League game.

List of Grants



The vast majority of Coastal Community Foundation's grants, roughly 80 percent, are derived from funds that do not accept grant requests. Such grants are made by donor recommendations, either upon their fund's creation or over time as they work with the Foundation.

The remaining 20 percent of our grantmaking results from funding applications submitted to us, including grants targeting specific fields of interest or geographic areas, and scholarship funds. Coastal Community Foundation is not able to provide "seed" funding to launch new nonprofit organizations.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications are updated with current instructions three months prior to each program's application deadline.

BAKKER FAMILY FUND
Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties
Grants up to $10,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations addressing all charitable areas, with particular attention to basic human needs and education.
Deadline: October 4, 2010. Click here for an application.

THE BEAUFORT FUND
Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties
Grants up to $15,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations addressing all charitable areas.
Deadline: August 20, 2010. Click here for an application.

THE BLACKBAUD FUND
Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties
Grants up to $5,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations serving disadvantaged and/or minority youth by providing educational opportunities.
Deadline: December 1, 2010. Click here for an application.

FRANCES P. BUNNELLE FOUNDATION
Georgetown County
Grants are available annually to citizens dedicated to improving the quality of life for Georgetown citizens in four areas consistent with Mrs. Bunnelle's values: meeting basic human needs, addressing the root causes of poverty, advancing equitable economic growth and environmental conservation, and encouraging positive youth development.
Deadline: Varies by program. Contact: Executive Director, Geales Sands, Geales@CoastalCommunityFoundation.org or 843-237-1222 or www.bunnelle.org.

CHARLES WEBB- ED CROFT ENDOWMENT
Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties
Grants up to 10,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations serving children with special needs.
Deadline: April 16, 2010, by invitation only.

COOPER RIVER BRIDGE RUN FUND
Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester Counties
Grants up to $1,500 are available annually to nonprofit organizations that promote regular physical activity for a healthy lifestyle.
Deadline: January 8, 2010. Click here for an application.

DARBY FAMILY FOUNDATION
The greater Charleston area
Grants are available annually to nonprofit organizations and causes about which the family members care passionately. To date, grants have primarily supported programs in health and in education.
Deadline: By invitation only.

DONOR-ADVISED FUNDS
Entire Coastal Community Foundation service area
Grants are made by recommendations from donors who have established Donor-Advised funds through the Foundation.
Deadline: By invitation only.

DONORSCHOOSE/ TEACHER GRANTS
All of South Carolina
Grants are available year-round for teacher-initiated classroom projects. Teachers post proposals on the DonorsChoose website and donors fund those most appealing to them.
Deadline: Year-round acceptance. Click here to visit the site.

EXPANSION ARTS FUND
Entire Coastal Community Foundation service area
Grants, up to $2,500 for individuals and $5,000 for organizations, are available every two years, depending upon geographical residence, to new and emerging artists and arts groups with an emphasis on rural and minority talent.
Deadline: January 2011 for Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties. Click on the following for: GUIDELINES, INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION, ORGANIZATION APPLICATION.

GIVING BACK TO BERKELEY COUNTY FUND
Berkeley County

Grants up to $5,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations addressing all charitable areas.
Deadline: January 11, 2010. Click here for an application.

HOME COMMUNITY FUND
Berkeley County

Grants up to $3,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations addressing all charitable areas.
Deadline: August 20, 2010. Click here for an application.

THE JEWISH ENDOWMENT FUND
Grants are made throughout the year to organizations to address charitable needs, with an emphasis on Jewish causes.
Deadline: By invitation only.

GRIFFITH/REYBURN LOWCOUNTRY ARTIST AWARD
Charleston County

A grant of $5,000 is made annually to a visual artist -- a fine art sculptor or someone who works in oils, acrylics, watercolors, or pastels. The grant will provide funding to support the artist during the creation of a work of art that reflects or depicts "the look and feel" of the Lowcountry.
Deadline: March 19, 2010. Click here for an application.

LOWCOUNTRY CONSERVATION LOAN FUND
Allendale, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry, and Jasper Counties
Loans up to $500,000 with repayment of up to two years are provided to pre-approved nonprofit conservation organizations to protect lands with significant ecological, wildlife, scenic, and recreational value.
Deadline: No Deadline. Call 843-723-3635 to apply.

OPEN GRANTS
Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties
Grants up to $10,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations that enhance the arts, education, the environment, health, human needs or community development.
Deadline: June 1, 2010. Click here for an application.

REALTORS HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties
Grants up to $5,000 are available during spring, summer, and winter cycles to nonprofits that focus on affordable housing including education, development, maintenance, or repair.
Deadline: April 29, August 30, December 27, 2010. Click here for an application.

SAUL ALEXANDER FOUNDATION
Charleston County and the Town of Summerville
Grants are available annually to nonprofit organizations, with 50 percent of available funds awarded to Jewish causes, 15 percent to Summerville causes, and the remainder to other nonprofit organizations.
Deadline: September 3, 2010, by invitation only.

THE N.E.W. FUND (NEIGHBORHOODS ENERGIZED TO WIN)
Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, and Dorchester Counties
Grants up to $2,500 are available annually to low-to-moderate income neighborhood groups which address key issues in the neighborhoods and strengthen residents' leadership skills.
Deadline: February 26, 2010. Click here for an application.

WINTHROP FAMILY ALLENDALE/HAMPTON FUND
Allendale and Hampton Counties
Grants up to $5,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations addressing all charitable areas, with particular attention to education, health, and conservation/ preservation of the built and natural environment.
Deadline: September 7, 2010. Click here for an application.

WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE FUND
Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties

Grants up to $10,000 are available annually to nonprofit organizations whose work is consistent with Women Making a Difference's mission of addressing the well-being of women and children.
Deadline: August 2, 2010, by invitation only.

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