Coastal Community Foundation works to create communities rich in equity, well-being and opportunity through industry partnerships, thought leadership and advocacy, and by engaging donors who wish to be part of positive changes in coastal South Carolina.
Coastal Community Foundation’s grantmaking is defined by place-based support across coastal South Carolina, with 74% of its grants going to recipients in South Carolina and a regional scope that includes the Lowcountry and Tri-County areas. The foundation’s recent awards show a strong mix of education, health, human needs, neighborhood development, arts, and environmental work, alongside scholarships and several county-specific grant programs. In education, it made large awards to the University of South Carolina Educational Foundation in Columbia and to Beaufort County School District in Beaufort. It also supported community infrastructure through grants to the Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce in Beaufort and Metanoia in North Charleston. Arts funding is another visible thread, including support for Penn Center Inc in Saint Helena Island and the International African American Museum in Charleston. The pattern is not limited to one institution or one county; it reaches schools, cultural organizations, community nonprofits, and human-service providers across the coastal region.
Education is a major part of the foundation’s portfolio. It gave $2,300,000 to Beaufort County School District for education and $1,062,826 to Ashley Hall Foundation for education. Scholarship support is also built into its programs, including awards for current high school seniors and other students through competitive scholarship programs. Health and human services are another clear focus: New Morning received $1,037,500 for health, while Lowcountry Legal Volunteers received $544,500 for human needs. The foundation also backs community development and small-business-related work, including $1,264,000 to Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce for neighborhood and community development and $525,000 to Entrepreneurship for All Inc (aka Eforall) for the same area. Arts and heritage organizations appear as well, such as Penn Center Inc and Spoleto Festival USA.
Typical grants cluster around a modest midrange: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the p75 is $28,000. The recent-grants list also shows a separate layer of much larger awards that reach into the hundreds of thousands and millions. Coastal Community Foundation operates as a mixed community foundation and makes program-related investments. Its giving is largely recurring and place-based, with annual regional grant cycles, county funds, scholarships, and competitive grant programs. Several recipients appear more than once across the recent-grants list, including University of South Carolina Educational Foundation, New Morning, Medical University of South Carolina Foundation, Spoleto Festival USA, International African American Museum, Communities in Schools of South Carolina, and Lowcountry Food Bank Inc.
$26M
$435.6M
$46.3M
$40.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $28K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$28K
JANE LITZ
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Grant dollars are concentrated in South Carolina, which accounts for 74% of grants in the recipient-state distribution. Recent awards cluster in Charleston, Beaufort, and North Charleston, with additional funding in Columbia and Saint Helena Island. The foundation also reaches beyond South Carolina in smaller volumes, including grants to organizations in Charlotte, Lowell, Oakland, and Rockport. Its regional focus is coastal South Carolina rather than the headquarters city alone, and the recent-grants list shows activity across the Lowcountry and Tri-County areas.
The foundation funds schools, universities, health organizations, human-service providers, arts institutions, and community development nonprofits. Recent grants include Beaufort County School District, New Morning, Lowcountry Legal Volunteers, Penn Center Inc, and Metanoia, showing a mix of education, health, human needs, arts, and neighborhood development.
Yes. It runs scholarship programs for current high school seniors and other students through competitive scholarship programs. The programs are part of its broader education work and include awards for college readiness and college success in the Lowcountry and nearby counties.
It uses a mix of competitive grant programs, county- and region-based grant cycles, scholarship programs, and donor-linked funds. The active programs list includes competitive grants, regional grant cycles, the Giving Back to Berkeley County Fund, and scholarship programs, and several of these accept unsolicited applications.
Its grantmaking is centered in South Carolina. The top state by grant count is SC, and 74% of grants go to recipients in the home state. Recent awards are especially visible in Charleston, Beaufort, and North Charleston, with additional grants in Columbia and Saint Helena Island.
The p25 grant size is $10,000, the median is $15,000, and the p75 is $28,000. Recent awards also include larger multi-hundred-thousand- and multi-million-dollar grants, so the foundation works across both smaller competitive grants and larger institutional awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Coastal Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Grassroots organizations serving African American communities in the Lowcountry; details on the giving circle page.
Who can apply: Nonprofits working on disaster relief and recovery in the nine coastal counties of South Carolina. At the time described, applications were accepted only for response efforts in Colleton County.
Deadline: No deadline stated; applications accepted for the activated response effort.
Who can apply: Teachers proposing classroom projects in the stated service area.
Deadline: Proposals are considered on a rolling basis during the fall semester.
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving Colleton County; specifics determined by the Colleton Fund governance.
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving the Southern Lowcountry; eligibility set by regional guidelines and supporting funds (e.g., The Beaufort Fund).
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving Colleton County; funding priorities guided by the local Colleton Fund advisory group.
Deadline: Awards made on an annual or periodic basis as determined by the Colleton Fund advisory group.
Who can apply: Nonprofits serving Allendale and/or Hampton counties.
Deadline: Winter cycle deadline is January 15 or the next business day.
Who can apply: Nonprofit organizations serving Berkeley, Charleston and/or Dorchester counties.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. January 15 or the next business day according to the process schedule; the Northern Lowcountry listing also states February 1.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | BEAUFORT, SC | $2,300,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | COLUMBIA, SC | $2,005,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | BEAUFORT, SC | $1,264,000 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY DEV. |
| ASHLEY HALL FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $1,062,826 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NEW MORNING | COLUMBIA, SC | $1,037,500 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| SEA ISLANDS HERITAGE ACADEMY | BEAUFORT, SC | $800,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| PENN CENTER INC | SAINT HELENA ISLAND, SC | $650,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| LOWCOUNTRY LEGAL VOLUNTEERS | OKATIE, SC | $544,500 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR ALL INC (AKA EFORALL) | LOWELL, MA | $525,000 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY DEV. |
| CHARMECK FAMILY JUSTICE CENTER INC(DBA THE UMBRELLA CENTER) | CHARLOTTE, NC | $500,000 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| INTERNATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM | CHARLESTON, SC | $417,800 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA | CHARLESTON, SC | $396,494 | 2025 | ARTS |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF SOUTH CAROLINA | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $338,436 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| LOWCOUNTRY FOOD BANK INC | CHARLESTON, SC | $334,630 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| METANOIA | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $326,467 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY DEV. |
| HILTON HEAD REGIONAL HABITAT FOR HUMANITY DBA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE | BLUFFTON, SC | $312,000 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY - HOPE LODGE | CHARLESTON, SC | $252,298 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| GREATER TOLEDO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | TOLEDO, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| CHARLESTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | CHARLESTON, SC | $243,154 | 2025 | ARTS |
| MEDICAL UNIVERSITY SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION - CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FUND | CHARLESTON, SC | $220,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| RADIO LOLLIPOP USA INC | NEW YORK, NY | $215,000 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| SOUTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM | CHARLESTON, SC | $209,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| SOUTH CAROLINA COASTAL CONSERVATION LEAGUE | CHARLESTON, SC | $208,500 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| HOPEFUL HORIZONS INC | BEAUFORT, SC | $178,342 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA SOUTH CAROLINA | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $174,167 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, SC | $139,722 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| CHILDREN'S RECOVERY CENTER | MYRTLE BEACH, SC | $134,000 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| CHARLESTON ANIMAL SOCIETY | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $129,403 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| EAST COOPER COMMUNITY OUTREACH | MOUNT PLEASANT, SC | $127,335 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| ONE80 PLACE | CHARLESTON, SC | $120,005 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| DEE NORTON CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER | CHARLESTON, SC | $115,195 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| CHARLESTON STAGE COMPANY | CHARLESTON, SC | $113,500 | 2025 | ARTS |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS - CAROLINA LOWCOUNTY CHAPTER | CHARLESTON, SC | $110,735 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| TARA HALL HOME FOR BOYS | GEORGETOWN, SC | $102,367 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| TRIDENT UNITED WAY | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $101,046 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY |
| THE VILLAGE REPERTORY COMPANY | CHARLESTON, SC | $101,000 | 2025 | ARTS |
| ST PAUL'S ANGLICAN | SUMMERVILLE, SC | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| RECONCILIATION MINISTRIES SC | COLUMBIA, SC | $100,000 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| CROSSTOWNE CHURCH | CHARLESTON, SC | $100,000 | 2025 | RELIGION |
| FRIENDS OF THE GRENADINES INITIATIVE | EVANSTON, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| CHARLESTON AREA SENIOR CITIZENS' SERVICES INC | CHARLESTON, SC | $98,035 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| BARRIER ISLANDS FREE MEDICAL CLINIC | JOHNS ISLAND, SC | $92,627 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| YMCA OF COASTAL CAROLINA | MYRTLE BEACH, SC | $85,100 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| WATER MISSIONS INTERNATIONAL | NORTH CHARLESTON, SC | $83,850 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| FRANCES P BUNNELLE FOUNDATION | PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC | $81,000 | 2025 | PHILANTHROPY - DISCRETIONARY |
| AMIKIDS GEORGETOWN | GEORGETOWN, SC | $80,000 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
| SOUTHERN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $79,500 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| THE GREEN HEART PROJECT | CHARLESTON, SC | $77,500 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC | CHARLOTTE, NC | $76,500 | 2025 | HEALTH |
| AMOR HEALING KITCHEN INC | CHARLESTON, SC | $75,640 | 2025 | HUMAN NEEDS |
BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$2,300,000EDUCATION
BEAUFORT COUNTY BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
$1,264,000NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY DEV.
SEA ISLANDS HERITAGE ACADEMY
EDUCATION
PENN CENTER INC
$650,000ARTS
SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA
$396,494ARTS
HUMAN NEEDS
HEALTH
RADIO LOLLIPOP USA INC
$215,000HEALTH
CHILDREN'S RECOVERY CENTER
$134,000HUMAN NEEDS
TARA HALL HOME FOR BOYS
$102,367HUMAN NEEDS
THE VILLAGE REPERTORY COMPANY
$101,000ARTS
ST PAUL'S ANGLICAN
$100,000RELIGION
CROSSTOWNE CHURCH
$100,000RELIGION
FRIENDS OF THE GRENADINES INITIATIVE
$100,000HUMAN NEEDS
CHARLESTON AREA SENIOR CITIZENS' SERVICES INC
$98,035HUMAN NEEDS
FRANCES P BUNNELLE FOUNDATION
$81,000PHILANTHROPY - DISCRETIONARY
AMIKIDS GEORGETOWN
$80,000HUMAN NEEDS
THE GREEN HEART PROJECT
$77,500ENVIRONMENT
AMOR HEALING KITCHEN INC
$75,640HUMAN NEEDS