SC Association for Community Economic Development announces voter engagement mini-grants & outreach
November 4, 2024
South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED), in partnership with Mary Reynolds Babcock Fund and SC Counts, announced forty-four (44) grantees of the 2024 Voter Engagement Mini-Grants who received a total of $35,500.
The grant awards, made possible through funding from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation and SC Counts, offered a new funding opportunity for South Carolina organizations and community groups to participate in voter engagement initiatives to educate, register, and mobilize voters for the 2024 election. Distributed in September 2024 to give awardees time to educate and register voters before the October deadline, the grant awards assisted organizations with the costs associated with voter engagement education and outreach.
Awardees span across the state and a variety of industries, ranging from community development organizations, nonprofits, fraternity and sorority organizations, community associations, and churches. Grantees used the funds to support voter registration drives, candidate forums, voter transportation to polls, canvassing, voter education and resource sessions, and meals and compensation for volunteers and poll workers. Grant funds were used to provide each of these resources, such as voter registration, education, and transportation, to approximately 4,200 people across South Carolina. This year’s awardees, listed alphabetically, include:
• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Tau Eta Chapter
• Beta Pi Zeta Chapter
• Build and Transform Inc.
• Carolina for All Education Foundation
• Carriage Oaks Homeowner’s Association, Inc.
• Centenary United Methodist Church
• Columbia (SC) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
• Columbia NOW
• Community Uplifting Alliance Project formerly Blackville CDC
• Distinguished, Empowered, Ladies Taking Action, Inc.
• Dorchester Manor Neighborhood Association
• EveryBlackGirl Inc
• First Impression of SC (FISC)
• Florence Section National Council of Negro Women
• Fountain Inn Chamber Foundation
• Francis Burns United Methodist Church
• Gospel in the Park Concert Series
• Grace Impact Development Center
• Grace Impact Development Center (Fiscal Agent Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Berkeley County Alumnae Chapter)
• Greenbrier Resources Community Development Center
• Habitat for Humanity of York County
• Homes of Hope
• Latino Community Development (LCD)
• LifeWorks SC
• Little Africa Community
• LiveWell Greenville
• Lydia’s Bowels of Mercy Home, Inc.
• Mary’s Angels Independent Living for Young Women
• Necessary Actions
• Nicholtown Neighborhood Association
• Pee Dee Healthy Start Inc.
• Richland County Alumnae Chapter Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
• SC Energy Justice Coalition
• SC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• SC Housing Justice Network
• Southern Carolina Regional CDC
• Trinity Transitional Housing, Inc
• Trinity U. M. C.
• Urban League of the Upstate
• Williamsburg Enterprise Community Commission
• Xi Phi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Gamma Zeta Chapter
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated the Phi Phi Zeta Chapter
To aid the grantees and further their voter engagement outreach efforts, SCACED hosted a training covering effective outreach strategies and the legal guidelines and best practices for voter engagement by nonprofit organizations. As SCACED and the grantee organizations engaged their communities to register and mobilize voters, SCACED developed a resource guide for the upcoming 2024 election providing deadlines, resources, and reminders as voters go to the polls.
SCACED encourages you to make sure you are ready to vote this year. After a 13.5% voter participation rate in the June primaries in South Carolina, and considering every South Carolina State Representative and Senator is up for re-election this year, it is imperative to exercise your civic duty and cast your vote. For those interested in learning how nonprofits can engage voters or what you need to be ready to vote this year, contact SCACED here.
About SCACED (www.scaced.org)
SCACED is a coalition of over 200 individuals and organizations who support the development of healthy and economically sustainable communities throughout South Carolina. For 30 years, SCACED and its members have worked collaboratively to build wealth and create economic opportunity for all SC residents including a focus on minority communities and other groups who have been left out of the economic mainstream. Learn more about SCACED here.
About SC Counts (www.sccounts.com)
SC Counts partners works to empower, educate, and engage local communities around civic activities like census completion and redistricting. These federally mandated activities impact the most basic parts of every person’s life ranging from school zoning to where emergency services are placed to who represents the community in every elected office. Strengthening avenues for participation ensures all voices are heard at the decision-making table.
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