South Carolina Environment Grants

This grant provides financial support to local governments and special purpose districts in South Carolina for developing or renovating public recreational facilities accessible to the community.

This grant provides financial support to charitable organizations in South Carolina, focusing on a variety of program areas including arts, education, health, and human services, with a commitment to both Jewish and non-Jewish groups.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community-based nonprofit projects that promote civic pride, historical education, environmental stewardship, and veteran assistance in areas served by Duke Energy, in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to licensed dairy farms in the southeastern U.S. to improve their infrastructure and operational efficiency, enhancing profitability and sustainability in the dairy industry.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to licensed dairy businesses in the Southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico to adopt precision technologies that improve sustainability, efficiency, and profitability in dairy operations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community organizations and local governments working to address environmental justice issues and improve public health in underserved communities across the U.S.

This funding opportunity is designed to support producer groups, industry stakeholders, and community organizations in South Carolina that work to improve the competitiveness and accessibility of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in specific eastern U.S. states for projects that focus on human needs, environmental stewardship, education, and community vitality.

This program provides funding to small or disadvantaged communities in South Carolina to address emerging contaminants in their drinking water, helping them implement necessary treatment and protection measures.

This funding initiative provides financial support to K–12 educators in specific South Carolina and Georgia counties to develop innovative STEM projects, particularly those related to nuclear science, enhancing student engagement and scientific inquiry.

This grant provides funding to states, territories, and Tribes to monitor beach water quality and inform the public about safety during recreational activities in coastal waters.

This funding initiative provides financial support to community-based organizations, local and tribal governments in eight southeastern states to address environmental justice issues and promote healthier environments.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects in the Appalachian region that protect wildlife habitats and enhance ecological connectivity, targeting community organizations, municipalities, and tribal nations.

This grant provides funding to organizations, community groups, and schools in Upstate South Carolina for projects that protect and educate about native plants and ecosystems.

This grant provides funding to 501(c)(3) organizations for educational programs in hospitality, environmental conservation, and medical research focused on kidney disease and Alzheimer’s, specifically in Rhea County, Tennessee, and Oconee County, South Carolina.

The Charleston County Community Development Program has announced the opening of the application period for the 2025-2026 Urban Entitlement Funding Request for Applications (RFA). This program supports projects that align with the goals of the county's Consolidated Plan for Program Years 2021–2025. Applicants must clearly identify which goal their project addresses and include measurable outputs. Additionally, applications should specify whether the funding request is for Charleston County, the City of North Charleston, or both jurisdictions. The application window runs from November 25, 2024, at 4:00 PM EST to January 6, 2025, at 12:00 PM EST. Funding is available through several programs, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO), and Emergency Solutions Grant (HESG). Each program has specific requirements, and applicants must submit all documents electronically via the Urban Entitlement Application in Neighborly. Signed forms must include an authorized representative’s signature. HESG applicants must also obtain an endorsement letter from the Lowcountry Continuum of Care, with requests due by December 13, 2024, at 12:00 PM EST. The required documents vary by program and include forms such as the Application Certification, Financial Statement Form, and budget templates specific to each grant type. Additional details can be found in Section 5 of the RFA Instructions. Workshops will be held to assist applicants on December 3, 2024, at City Hall in North Charleston and December 5, 2024, at the Charleston County Council Chambers. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn more about the application process and ask questions. Applicants may also submit written questions about the RFA process to Community Development staff by December 13, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST. Answers will be posted in an addendum on December 20, 2024. Town hall meetings will be hosted in participating jurisdictions to discuss program funding and gather community input, with meetings scheduled throughout November and December 2024. Projects must align with the Consolidated Plan's goals and provide measurable results. All applications and supporting materials must be submitted by the January 6, 2025, deadline through the designated portal. Late submissions will not be accepted. For additional information or support, applicants can email [email protected] or call (843) 202-6960.

The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is offering the Breaking the Cycle Grant Program, which aligns with its mission to create and sustain pathways to economic mobility and self-sufficiency. This program targets organizations that deliver proven initiatives aimed at disrupting the cycle of poverty and fostering long-term, sustainable economic change. The grants are designed to support individuals, families, and communities in achieving greater economic stability and independence. The program's priorities and focus areas include supporting comprehensive, multi-layered programming that addresses poverty through integrated services and two-generation approaches. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding poverty in their communities, reflecting this understanding in their values, practices, and programming. The foundation emphasizes supporting initiatives that are informed by research, utilizing both internal long-term data and emerging best practice models. Expected outcomes and measurable results for grant recipients include clear short-term and long-term goals, distinct indicators for success, and the ability to demonstrate participants' progression out of poverty. Organizations are expected to carry out effective, ongoing program evaluation and adapt their strategies based on lessons learned and participant feedback. This commitment to continuous improvement ensures that programs remain effective and responsive to the needs of those they serve. The foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are centered on fostering economic mobility through collaborative and evidence-based approaches. They seek organizations that not only implement effective programs but also demonstrate effective formal and informal partnerships with other organizations. While the grant duration is not explicitly mentioned, the funding information indicates grants typically range from $15,000 to $20,000 within a broader possible range of $10,000 to $100,000, underscoring a commitment to significant, impactful investments in breaking the cycle of poverty across all counties in South Carolina.

The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for projects that protect or restore water quality in the Savannah River watershed, increase citizen awareness, and empower communities to collect and share water quality data, with priority given to proposals closest to the spill site.

The Anderson Water Council is currently accepting applications for grants focused on the protection and remediation of water resources within Anderson County, specifically within Georgia and South Carolina. This grant program is designed to align with the Anderson Water Council's mission to assist Savannah Riverkeeper and Upstate Forever in identifying, prioritizing, and funding projects that empower citizens to address existing and emerging threats to water resources. The core objective is to restore water quality in the impacted areas of the Savannah River watershed. The target beneficiaries for this grant funding include not-for-profit charitable corporations or trusts authorized to operate in South Carolina or Georgia with a mission aligned with the Water Council's goals. Additionally, the Georgia and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Forestry Commissions, and Departments of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism are eligible. Educators, municipalities, school systems, and any agency, commission, or instrumentality of such a municipality in the impacted areas are also encouraged to apply. The impact goals are centered on empowering local communities to take action and collect and publicly share water quality data, ultimately leading to improved water quality. The program prioritizes projects that empower local communities to actively participate in water resource management, particularly those focused on data collection and public sharing of water quality information. Funding is also available for water restoration projects. The Water Council is particularly interested in initiatives that foster citizen engagement and education around water resource issues. The expected outcomes include a more engaged citizenry, increased awareness of water quality threats, and the implementation of effective water restoration efforts. Measurable results for citizen empowerment and education projects typically see average individual grant awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, while water restoration projects can receive up to $100,000. Grants may also include multi-year awards, not exceeding three years. The Anderson Water Council's strategic priority is to support initiatives that contribute directly to the restoration and protection of the Savannah River watershed, with a strong emphasis on community-led solutions and data-driven approaches. Their theory of change suggests that by empowering local communities with funding and support for data collection and restoration, significant improvements in water quality and resource protection can be achieved.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is seeking proposals for its Southeast Aquatics Fund to voluntarily conserve aquatic habitats in the southeastern United States and Texas. This grant program directly aligns with NFWF's mission to sustain, restore, and enhance the nation's fish, wildlife, and plants. The fund's priorities are informed by the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, adopted in 2018 and updated in 2023, which aims to conserve the extraordinary biodiversity across the Southeast. The primary target beneficiaries of this program are aquatic ecosystems and the diverse array of species that inhabit them, particularly those identified as focal species in the Conasauga River (GA) and Middle Coosa (AL) watersheds. These include various endemic and native fishes like the Alabama shiner, banded sculpin, blue shiner, and trispot darter. The impact goal is to advance specific goals and objectives of the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan and other relevant conservation plans, ultimately leading to healthier aquatic habitats. The program prioritizes work in northern Alabama and Georgia due to measurement and monitoring constraints, with funding available for a wide range of activities in the Conasauga River (GA) and Locust Fork and Middle Coosa (AL) watersheds. Projects benefiting the focal species in these areas will receive priority. The strategic priorities of the NFWF, as evidenced by the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, emphasize a suite of aquatic species as indicators of healthy aquatic habitats in prioritized watersheds, reflecting a theory of change that by protecting these indicator species, the broader ecosystem health will improve. Expected outcomes include the conservation of aquatic habitat, the advancement of specific goals outlined in the Longleaf Forests and Rivers Business Plan, and positive impacts on focal species populations. While not explicitly detailed as "measurable results" in the provided text, the focus on indicator species suggests that the health and population trends of these species would serve as key metrics for success. Projects are anticipated to have a completion time of 24–36 months, with grant awards ranging from $150,000 to $500,000 from approximately $8.45 million available in 2024.