Our grantmaking responds to the needs in our communities. Grants include those which are available through application and those that originate at a donor’s request. Additionally, some of our individual funds practice grantmaking.

Grants Available Through Application

Impact Grants

Impact Grants are competitive grants in excess of $10,000. The purpose of these grants is to stimulate and help launch new programs or projects, help focus, enhance and/or expand on existing programs and services; or provide an investment in a large capital project that is a critical enhancement to the mission of the nonprofit organization. Our committee evaluates applications based on impact the project or program has on the Lowcountry. These grants are for organizations that support those who live and/or work in southern Beaufort County.

Opportunity Grants

Opportunity Grants are competitive grants for projects, programs or capital expenditures that are $10,000 or less. These grants mirror our larger Impact Grants, with the exception of geographic restrictions. Organizations within our four-county service area are encouraged to apply for Opportunity Grants.

Organizational Development Grants

Organizational Development Grants offer support for nonprofits to retain a consultant to help strengthen their organization, increasing their capacity to govern and achieve long term sustainability.

Grants Awarded in Fiscal Year 2023

Impact Grants

In FY23, we awarded a total of $736,000 in Impact Grants to the following organizations:

Beaufort Memorial Hospital Endowment Foundation

Lowcountry Legal Volunteers

Memory Matters

Meals on Wheels Bluffton-Hilton Head

Mental Health America-Beaufort/Jasper

Programs for Exceptional People

Affordable Workforce Housing Fund


Opportunity Grants

In FY23, we awarded a total of $118,830 in Opportunity Grants to the following organizations:

Aid for International Teachers

Arnold Fields Community Endowment Fund

Arts Center of Coastal Carolina

Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry

Bluffton Self Help

Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic of Beaufort

Hilton Head Chapter of the Links, Incorporated

Hopeful Horizons

Lean Ensemble Theatre

Learn Together Lowcountry

Mather School Museum and Interpretive Center of TCL

Memory Matters

Palmetto Project, Inc.

Polaris Tech Charter School

SCORE Lowcountry

Teach for America

The Thriving Place


Organizational Development Grants

In FY23, we awarded grants totaling $39,512.50 in Organizational Development Grants to the following organizations:

Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry

Bluffton Youth Theatre

Help of Beaufort

Hopeful Horizons

Mental Health America-Beaufort/Jasper

Operation Patriots FOB

Sea Turtle Patrol HHI

SCORE Lowcountry

The Children’s Center

The Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project

The Sandbox

The LEGACY Foundation of SC


Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Fund Grants

In FY23, we awarded grants totaling $16,517 in Community Foundation of the Lowcountry Fund Grants to the following organizations:

Women in Philanthropy Endowment Fund

HHI Martin Luther King Committee for Justice Fund

Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award

Thinking of applying for a grant?

If you're ready to apply for a grant, please visit our Grant Portal.

Please remember to read all of the grantmaking sections on this website. Some of our grant opportunities require a code to access the grant application and many require attendance at an Impact Information Session.

If you have additional questions, contact the Community Investment Office at 843-681-9100.

Grantmaking funds at Community Foundation of the Lowcountry

In addition to the grants available through our application process, a number of our individual funds practice grantmaking. Each has its own timeline and application process.

Grantmaking funds