The Community Foundation of the Lowcountry offers Opportunity Grants to nonprofit organizations within its four-county service area of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties in South Carolina. These grants are a form of Community Impact Grants, specifically for requests under $10,000, and align with the Foundation's mission to enhance community well-being. The program aims to stimulate new initiatives, strengthen existing programs, and invest in critical capital projects that advance the mission of local nonprofits.
The primary beneficiaries of these grants are the residents of the specified four-county area, served by eligible nonprofit organizations. The impact goals are broad, focusing on launching new programs, enhancing or expanding existing services, and investing in capital projects that are critical to an organization's mission. By supporting these efforts, the Foundation seeks to foster innovation, improve program delivery, and build the capacity of local nonprofits to better serve their communities.
The Foundation prioritizes proposals that demonstrate a clear strategy for stimulating new programs and projects, enhancing or expanding current services, or undertaking capital projects that are vital to an organization's mission. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, serve the designated four-county area, attend an Impact Information Session, maintain an up-to-date profile on GuideStar or The Giving Marketplace, and have a social justice statement in place. The Foundation generally does not fund general operating support, religious/political activities, direct grants to individuals, endowments, annual campaigns, special events, scholarships, or staff positions.
Expected outcomes include the successful launch of new community-benefiting programs, the measurable improvement and expansion of existing services, and the completion of essential capital projects that strengthen nonprofit operations. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed in the provided information, the focus on stimulating, enhancing, and expanding programs implies an expectation of increased reach, improved service quality, and enhanced organizational capacity. The Foundation's strategic priorities are centered on community impact, as evidenced by the nature of these grants and the requirement for organizations to serve its four-county service area. The underlying theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in local nonprofits, the Foundation can empower these organizations to address critical community needs and improve the overall quality of life in the Lowcountry.
