South Carolina Local Grants

This grant provides funding to arts and cultural organizations in Greenville County to support projects that benefit the community through enhanced cultural tourism, artist support, and increased audience access.

This grant provides funding to nonprofits in the Tri-County area of South Carolina to strengthen their internal operations and enhance their capacity to serve communities effectively.

This grant provides financial support to schools, colleges, nonprofits, and workforce training centers in Hardeeville, South Carolina, to enhance education and promote workforce training initiatives for the local community.

This grant provides financial support to new and existing small businesses in Abbeville, South Carolina, to promote economic growth through startup costs, business improvements, and building enhancements, particularly in the Historic District.

This grant provides financial support to artists and arts organizations in South Carolina for quality arts projects, professional development, and capacity building, particularly in designated Opportunity Initiative Counties.

The Beaufort County Accommodations Tax Board is accepting its State ATAX grant applications from organizations in Beaufort County wishing to receive grants from the two percent (2%) state accommodations tax fund. Donor Name: Beaufort County Government State: South Carolina County: Beaufort County (SC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: South Carolina law allows for a 2% tax levy on the rental of all transient accommodations to help provide financial support to promote tourism and fund tourism-related activities in municipalities and counties within the state. As a result, individuals staying overnight in hotels, motels, inns, and vacation rentals pay 2% in addition to the statewide sales tax and any local sales and use tax applied to their lodging cost. Eligibility Criteria Non-Profit Organizations are eligible to apply For grants.  For more information, visit BCGSC.

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 City of North Charleston is seeking applications for its Accommodations Tax Grants. Donor Name: City of North Charleston State: South Carolina City: North Charleston Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/06/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Accommodations Tax Grants are provided through revenue received by the City for its share of the 2% lodging tax levied by the State of South Carolina. These monies can only be used for activities related to tourism, including: advertising and promotion of tourism promotion of the arts and cultural events support for facilities where civic and cultural activities take place additional health, safety and public services for tourists transportation shuttles visitor information centers waterfront erosion control and repair Criteria The funds are awarded to non‐profit organizations. An Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee, mandated by the State and composed of seven representatives of the hospitality industry, reviews applications for funding and makes recommendations to City Council for the award of these funds. For more information, visit City of North Charleston.

The City of Charleston is inviting applicants for its Accommodations Tax Grant Program. Donor Name: City of Charleston State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/22/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The City of Charleston’s Accommodations Tax (A-Tax) Grant Program is funded by the 2% lodging tax imposed by the State of South Carolina. A-Tax grants are awarded to non-profit organizations that propose projects that will positively impact tourism within the City of Charleston. The A-Tax Grant Advisory Committee, mandated by the State, reviews applications for funding and makes recommendations to City Council for final approval. Eligible Activities  Eligible A-Tax grant activities must be related to tourism such as: advertising and promotion, supporting arts and cultural events, maintaining facilities for civic and cultural activities, enhancing health, safety, and public services for tourists, providing transportation shuttles, operating visitor information centers, and addressing waterfront erosion control and repair. Personnel costs are ineligible. Funding is ineligible for an item that would normally be provided by the county or municipality. For more information, visit City of Charleston.

This program provides financial assistance to business owners and tenants in Newberry's historic downtown to improve the appearance of their building facades, promoting preservation and aesthetic enhancement.

Anderson Water Council is now accepting applications from the plaintiffs for the protection and remediation of Anderson County water resources. Donor Name: Anderson Water Council State: Georgia, South Carolina County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/29/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 3 Years Details: The Anderson County Watershed Protection Council is to assist Savannah Riverkeeper and Upstate Forever in identifying, prioritizing, and funding projects that empower citizens to take action on existing and emerging threats to water resources and to restore water quality in the Savannah River watershed’s impacted areas. The Water Council is particularly interested in funding projects that empower local communities to collect and share water quality data publicly Funding Information Average individual grant awards range between $10,000 to $50,000 for citizen empowerment and education projects, and up to $100,000 for water restoration projects, with occasional opportunities for multi-year awards, when necessary, not to exceed three (3) years. Eligibility Criteria  Entities eligible for grant funding include:  A not-for-profit charitable corporation or trust authorized to do business in South Carolina or Georgia  whose mission aligns with the goals of the Anderson Water Council. The Georgia and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources; Forestry Commissions; Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. Educators, municipalities, and school systems in the impacted areas. Any agency, commission, or instrumentality of such a municipality. For more information, visit AWC.

The Community Foundation of Greenville welcomes grant requests from established 501(c)(3) tax- exempt agencies, located within and offering services to the residents of Greenville County, South Carolina. Donor Name: Community Foundation of Greenville State: South Carolina County: Greenville County (SC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 07/19/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Capacity Building funding opportunities may include: Projects designed to improve an organization’s ability to monitor and/or respond to the needs of its clients and supporters Projects involving adoption of management innovation, process improvement and accountability Strategies to form collaborative ventures with public, private or other nonprofit institutions To support technology audits and analyses of information management systems Purchases of computers (hardware or software) or other equipment necessary to improve the organization’s ability to achieve its mission Efforts to diversify the organization’s revenue streams. Examples of Capacity Building include: Organizational assessment Strategic and long-range planning Program evaluation and planning Developing marketing plans Mergers/collaboration Feasibility studies Funding Information  Grant Award Budget: $100,000 (Award range from $5,000 to $10,000). Eligibility Criteria  The Community Foundation of Greenville welcomes grant requests from established 501(c)(3) tax– exempt agencies (operating two or more years), located within and offering services to the residents of Greenville County, South Carolina. For more information, visit CFG.

The Urban and Rural Grants Programs is to distribute the greenbelt portion of the Transportation Sales Tax proceeds in an equitable manner for the conservation of greenspace throughout Charleston County. Donor Name: Charleston County Greenbelt Program State: South Carolina County: Charleston County (SC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/26/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: In accordance with the Charleston County Comprehensive Greenbelt Plan, Transportation Sales Tax Greenbelt funds are awarded via financial grants through both a Rural and Urban Grants Program in order to equitably distribute funding for greenspace conservation throughout the County. Funding Information Approximately $28 million is available. Eligibility Criteria  Eligible Greenbelt Fund Recipients are: Charleston County or a municipality in Charleston County; any agency, commission, or instrumentality of the County or municipality within Charleston County; a not-for-profit charitable corporation or trust authorized to do business in this State and organized and operated for natural resource conservation, land conservation, or historic preservation purposes, and having tax-exempt status as a public charity under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and having the power to acquire, hold, and maintain interests in land for these purposes; an agency or instrumentality of the United States Government; and any other entities as may be approved at the discretion of County Council on a case-by-case basis. For more information, visit CCGP.

Continuous Improvement Grants of up to $25,000 will focus on the three amplified areas in the Foundation’ vision statement by which all Spartanburg County residents can reach their human potential quality of life, educational achievement, and economic mobility. Donor Name: Spartanburg County Foundation State: South Carolina County: Spartanburg County (SC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/10/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Focus Areas Quality of Life This area addresses opportunities to improve the overall well-being of Spartanburg County residents through access to community and cultural programs, activities, and green spaces; improvement of physical and mental health with cultural competence; and access to resources that provide household stability. Examples of these opportunities may include, but are not limited to: Community/cultural programs, physical activities that strengthen health and well-being, outdoor spaces accessible to the community Care for uninsured adults and children, Spanish speaking staff, programs to address mental health needs for diverse populations Mobile food markets, rent/mortgaging assistance, utility assistance, home repairs Educational Achievement This area is focused on reducing barriers to academic success and improving the educational achievement of Spartanburg County residents through supportive services and programs for K-12 students, access to post-secondary education and careers, and opportunities for return-to-learn adults. Examples of these opportunities may include, but are not limited to: Mentoring, out-of-school-time programs, summer learning/learning loss prevention Internships, programs for first-year college students GED completion, internet access, books and other academic materials Economic Mobility This area is focused on improving the potential for upward economic mobility in the Spartanburg County community through increased ability for financial self-sufficiency, opportunities for asset building, and access to affordable and reliable transportation. Examples of these opportunities may include, but are not limited to: Job training/certification, job search/placement, financial coaching Small/minority business development, home ownership assistance programs Supplements for transportation costs, transportation programs for rural areas, ride sharing Project Period Grants from the Spartanburg County Foundation are for a period of one year. Eligibility Criteria The Spartanburg County Foundation only considers organizations and institutions that are recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit and/or tax-exempt entities providing services to residents of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Institutions and organizations located outside of Spartanburg County may be eligible for funding; however, funding is restricted to benefit Spartanburg County residents only. Organizations that serve multiple counties must clearly show impact in Spartanburg County and that the funds will remain in Spartanburg County. Organizations must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal non-discrimination laws and policies. The Spartanburg County Foundation seeks to support organizations who can demonstrate the following: Alignment with the Foundation’s mission and vision. Services that help Spartanburg County residents achieve their human potential. Data-informed responses to one or more of the three Continuous Improvement areas (Quality of Life, Educational Achievement, & Economic Mobility). Comprehensive measurement and evaluation tools that track organizational and programmatic outcomes. Potential to leverage funding from multiple sources. For more information, visit SPCF.

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants of up to $10,000 are focused on strengthening the internal capacity or infrastructure of community-based organizations throughout Spartanburg County. Donor Name: Spartanburg County Foundation State: South Carolina County: Spartanburg County (SC) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  06/10/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: Nonprofit Effectiveness grants are designed to grow organizational capacity. Some examples of capacity building grants are increasing effectiveness in board governance, financial management, fundraising, partnering & collaboration, strategic communications, succession planning, and/or evaluation. It is encouraged, but not required, that organizations applying for funding complete the Nonprofit Capacity Building Assessment if applicable. Project Period Grants from the Spartanburg County Foundation are for a period of one year. Eligibility Criteria The Spartanburg County Foundation only considers organizations and institutions that are recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit and/or tax-exempt entities providing services to residents of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Institutions and organizations located outside of Spartanburg County may be eligible for funding; however, funding is restricted to benefit Spartanburg County residents only. Organizations that serve multiple counties must clearly show impact in Spartanburg County and that the funds will remain in Spartanburg County. Organizations must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal non-discrimination laws and policies. The Spartanburg County Foundation seeks to support organizations who can demonstrate the following: Alignment with the Foundation’s mission and vision. Services that help Spartanburg County residents achieve their human potential. Data-informed responses to one or more of the three Continuous Improvement areas (Quality of Life, Educational Achievement, & Economic Mobility). Comprehensive measurement and evaluation tools that track organizational and programmatic outcomes. Potential to leverage funding from multiple sources The Spartanburg County Foundation does not Generally Provide Funding for: Organizations that have been operating for less than one year.  Annual fund campaigns. Endowments. Film projects. Publication of books or reports. Fundraising events, celebrations, or dinners. Other grantmaking institutions. The Spartanburg County Foundation does not Provide Funding for: Lobbying activities, political organizations, or candidates for public offices. Individual projects. Organizations that require membership in certain religions, require participation in a religious activity, or advance a particular religious faith. (Faith-based organizations with a 501(c)3 status may be eligible if they welcome and serve all members of the community regardless of religious belief.) Research that is of a non-community nature or that does not have promise of near-term benefits to the citizens of Spartanburg County. Debt reductions, deficits, or previous obligations. Retroactive expenses/activities. For more information, visit SPCF.

Calling local organizations in Conway, SC! The City of Conway Economic Development Grant Program for 2024-2025 is now open for applications! Donor Name: City of Conway State: South Carolina City: Conway Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 05/06/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Are you passionate about driving economic growth in the community? This is your chance to make a difference! The grant program aims to support projects and activities that enhance Conway’s quality of life and stimulate economic activity. Let’s work together to make Conway thrive! Permissible Use of Funds Economic development programs (small business incubators, activities to expand or recruit new businesses, etc.) Economic development staff, including all salaries and benefits Special events in the City of Conway including festivals, parades, conferences, conventions, sporting events, arts/cultural events, etc. Travel for the purpose of recruiting business. Eligible Applicants Charities, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and similar organizations within Conway, SC, are encouraged to apply. Ineligibility  Please note that funds cannot be used for: Travel for training purposes Development of industrial parks -Incentives to private industry -Religious programs -Public infrastructure Political campaigns or activities to support political campaigns, or to lobby for or against a particular piece of legislation. For more information, visit City of Conway.

This program provides financial and technical assistance to property and business owners in Downtown Orangeburg for improving the exteriors of their buildings, including signage and historic details.

This program provides financial assistance to licensed business owners in Camden for improving the appearance of their building facades, with a matching reimbursement of up to $15,000.