Community Grants Program

The 2026 Community Grants Program is a competitive funding opportunity administered by the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA). Established with the generous support of the Masters Tournament and additional regional funders, the foundation has awarded over $10 million in grants since its inception. The goal of this program is to address pressing and evolving community needs through strategic funding of nonprofit initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to residents in specific counties across Georgia and South Carolina. This grant program targets 501(c)(3) organizations and public entities that provide services to individuals living in Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie, and Burke counties in Georgia, as well as Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. Applications are considered across four main focus areas: Arts/Culture/History, Education/Youth Enrichment, Health/Environment, and People in Need. The foundation seeks innovative, high-quality proposals in these domains, with particular attention given to programs serving disadvantaged populations, enhancing community engagement, improving environmental and health outcomes, and supporting individuals in need, such as those experiencing homelessness or reentry from incarceration. The 2026 application cycle will open on July 1, 2025, and remain accessible until mid to late August, with final decisions announced in December. Organizations that have not applied previously or have not received funding in the past three years (2023–2025) must attend an in-person Grant Seeker Session to remain eligible. Applications must be submitted through the online Grants Portal and must include complete financials, project budgets, and all required documentation. First-time applicants must create an account in the portal, while returning applicants may use existing credentials. The foundation strongly encourages early submission for staff feedback. The grant awards typically do not exceed $15,000, and only one application per organization is permitted each year. Grants are intended to support programmatic initiatives rather than capital campaigns, endowments, or political activity. Additionally, the foundation will not fund programs that have already concluded, general operating support for educational institutions, or those primarily religious in nature. New organizations may be considered if they can clearly demonstrate measurable outcomes, organizational capacity, and a sustainable plan post-grant funding. Evaluation criteria include a project's capacity to generate meaningful community impact, the ability to address documented needs, leverage of external resources, and sound administrative and financial management. If selected, organizations will participate in an on-site visit by a volunteer panel. Final grant decisions are made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors in late November, with awardees recognized at a December press conference. Grantees are required to submit a six-month progress report by July 15 and a final year-end report by January 15. For summer-only programs, the final report deadline is August 30. For assistance, applicants may contact Lasima Turmon or Erin Starnes of the Programs Team at the Foundation’s Augusta, Georgia office by phone at 706-724-1314. Questions regarding outcome reporting can be directed to Rebecca Wallace. The foundation also offers detailed guidance and resources on budget planning, outcome articulation, and site visit preparation to support applicants throughout the process.

Attend a Grant Seeker Session if required; submit early for feedback; use Foundation tips on budgets and outcomes.