$16 Million in grants and scholarships distributed in the last year by Central Carolina Community Foundation
October 20, 2022
$16,003,031 in grants and scholarships were awarded during the last fiscal year (July 1 to June 30, 2022) by Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ leader in collaborative philanthropy.
Since the Community Foundation’s inception, more than $240 million has been awarded to the community. For the last 38 years, the Community Foundation has improved the Midlands region through strategic grant making, community engagement and inspiring philanthropy.
“We are grateful for the ongoing philanthropic support provided by our fundholders,” said JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “Our investments would not have been possible without our generous donors and Board of Trustees.”
The majority (63%) of funds awarded by the Community Foundation in the last fiscal year came from Donor Advised Funds.
$4.5 million, or 29%, of the $16 million was awarded through grants to educational organizations and scholarships to high school seniors and college students. $558,000 of the $4.5 million was awarded through scholarships to 214 students, representing the highest amount awarded by the Community Foundation in its history. 55% of scholarship recipients were from the Midlands. The median scholarship received for 2022-2023 was $2,000 and 30% of scholarship recipients were first-generation college students.
Other grant categories the Community Foundation supported this year include animal welfare, arts and culture, community improvement, faith-based, health and wellbeing, human services and youth development.
66% of grants in the last fiscal year were awarded locally across the 11 counties the Community Foundation serves: Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda and Sumter.
Connected Communities Grant Improves Livability
$366,704 in funds were given to 12 nonprofits specifically through the Community Foundation’s Connected Communities grant. This grant assists nonprofits that are looking to better the Midlands’ community.
The grant works to improve the Midlands’ connectedness, vibrancy, compassion and engagement through ideas that will enhance the community’s quality of life and livability. Selected projects increase Midlands residents’ access to safe places to live and work, healthcare facilities, quality job opportunities, affordable housing, high quality recreational areas, and arts and cultural events.
One SC Fund Provides Support in Times of Disaster
Another impactful grant provided by the Community Foundation is the One SC Fund: COVID-19 Response. The One SC Fund works to serve those impacted by past, current and future disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds go toward necessities like food, shelter, health needs, etc. This year, 62 One SC Fund grants were awarded totaling $1,102,704.
Midlands Gives Continues to Support Nonprofit Success
The year-round platform and annual 18-hour online giving event, Midlands Gives, helped raise more than $3.7 million for 540 nonprofits. Since the initiative began in 2012, more than $19.7 million for local organizations has been raised.
Visit https://www.yourfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/ to learn more about Central Carolina Community Foundation’s grants and scholarships.
About Central Carolina Community Foundation
Central Carolina Community Foundation, the Midlands’ leader in collaborative philanthropy, is a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the Midlands of SC by distributing grants and scholarships and linking the resources of donors, nonprofits and area leaders to communities in need. Major initiatives include the online giving challenge Midlands Gives, Connected Communities grants, the One SC Fund and annual scholarships. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.yourfoundation.org or call 803.254.5601.
