South Carolina nonprofits rank as state’s 5th-largest employment sector, new report finds

2026 South Carolina State of the Nonprofit Sector Report finds nonprofits employ nearly 195,000 South Carolinians, account for 8.1% of statewide employment and generate more than $34 billion in annual expenditures

South Carolina’s nonprofit sector is often recognized for feeding families, strengthening schools, expanding access to health care, supporting the arts and helping communities respond in times of need. A new statewide report shows nonprofits are also one of South Carolina’s most significant economic and labor forces.

Ahead of  National Nonprofit Day on August 17, Together SC released the 2026 South Carolina State of the Nonprofit Sector Report, prepared by researchers at the USC Upstate George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics. The report provides an updated examination of nonprofit employment, wages, expenditures, contributions and assets across South Carolina.

The findings put numbers behind a sector whose economic impact is often less visible than its community impact.

In 2023, nonprofit organizations filing the full IRS Form 990 employed approximately 194,501 South Carolinians, representing 8.1% of statewide employment. By employment, nonprofits rank South Carolina’s fifth-largest industry sector, behind Health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, Manufacturing, and Accommodation and Food Services.

“Nonprofits are often described by the services they provide, and rightly so. But this report reminds us that they are also employers, purchasers, economic anchors, and essential partners in communities across South Carolina,” said Karen Riordan, President and CEO, Together SC, “When we talk about South Carolina’s economy and workforce, the nonprofit sector belongs in that conversation.”

A sector with statewide economic reach

The report estimates that South Carolina is home to approximately 32,146 registered nonprofit organizations. Its detailed economic analysis focuses on organizations filing IRS Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF, which provide the financial and employment information needed for statewide analysis.

Among the report’s key findings:

Nearly 195,000 South Carolinians work for nonprofits, based on employment reported by organizations filing the full Form 990.

Nonprofits account for 8.1% of statewide employment, placing the sector among South Carolina’s largest employers.

South Carolina nonprofits reported approximately $9.09 billion in total wage expenditures in 2023, including roughly $8.7 billion in non-executive salaries and wages.

Total nonprofit functional expenditures exceeded $34.4 billion in 2023, up from approximately $22.4 billion in 2018.

Nonprofit assets remained above $56.4 billion, reflecting the substantial institutional presence of hospitals, universities, foundations, human service organizations and other nonprofits throughout the state.

Those expenditures extend beyond individual organizations. The report notes that nonprofit spending circulates through local and regional economies by supporting jobs, purchasing goods and services, contracting with vendors, and generating household income that is then spent throughout communities.

More than an economic impact

While the report depicts the nonprofit sector’s economic footprint, researchers emphasize that financial measures tell only part of the story.

Across South Carolina, nonprofits provide health care, education, food assistance, workforce development, arts and cultural opportunities, community development and other services that contribute to community well-being and resilience. The report concludes that nonprofits serve a dual role as both essential service providers and major economic institutions supporting employment, wages, purchasing activity and regional economic stability across all 46 counties.

“Every statistic in this report represents people and communities,” said Sam Cooper, PhD, USC Upstate College of Business and Economics “A job represents household income. An expenditure represents goods purchased, services contracted and programs delivered. The data help us understand the scale of a sector whose work touches nearly every part of life in South Carolina.”

Impact across South Carolina

The report also provides county-level insight into the nonprofit landscape.

Charleston, Greenville, Richland, Beaufort, and Lexington counties had the largest nonprofit presence among organizations filing in 2023. Together, those five counties represented approximately 48.3% of filing organizations statewide, while the eight counties with the largest nonprofit presence accounted for nearly 63%.

Researchers caution, however, that IRS data identify an organization’s headquarters rather than the full geographic area it serves. As a result, the data may understate the reach of organizations headquartered in metropolitan areas but serving surrounding rural communities.

The report also highlights disparities in nonprofit capacity between urban and rural South Carolina, reinforcing the need for continued investment in nonprofit infrastructure in communities where poverty, food insecurity and household financial hardship may be especially high.

Helping South Carolina see nonprofits differently

Together SC is releasing the report publicly as both a research resource and an invitation to broaden how South Carolinians understand the nonprofit sector.

“South Carolina knows nonprofits get important work done every day,” said Karen Riordan, President and CEO, Together SC. “Now we also have the data to show just how deeply nonprofits are woven into our workforce, economy and communities. They employ our neighbors. They buy from local businesses. They strengthen families. They respond when communities need them the most. South Carolina is stronger because of nonprofits.”

The 2026 South Carolina State of the Nonprofit Sector Report updates previous research conducted in 2023 and examines state- and county-level data from 2018 through 2023. The analysis draws primarily on IRS Form 990 data, supplemented by employment and economic information from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Download the Report

The 2026 South Carolina State of the Nonprofit Sector Report is available free to the public at: https://www.togethersc.org/scs-nonprofit-sector-impact

Organizations, policymakers, funders, business leaders, journalists and community members are encouraged to use and share the findings to better understand the role nonprofits play in South Carolina.

About Together SC

Together SC strengthens and unites South Carolina’s nonprofit network. Through learning, advocacy, partnerships and connection, Together SC equips nonprofit and philanthropic leaders to strengthen their organizations and increase their collective impact in communities across the state.

About the USC Upstate George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics

The George Dean Johnson, Jr. College of Business and Economics at the University of South Carolina Upstate prepares students to become innovative business leaders while advancing economic and community understanding through teaching, research and engagement. Through its Center for Business Analytics and Community Research, faculty and researchers use data and applied research to help organizations and communities better understand the economic forces shaping South Carolina.

Together SC extends its sincere appreciation to Sam Cooper, PhD, Brian Smith, MMIS, and the USC Upstate research team for their expertise, thoughtful analysis and commitment to helping South Carolina better understand the nonprofit sector. Their work on the 2026 South Carolina Nonprofit Impact Report provides nonprofit leaders, funders, policymakers, business leaders and the public with credible data to demonstrate the sector’s economic scale and community importance.

The report updates the previous statewide analysis and provides new data on nonprofit employment, wages, contributions, expenditures and assets at both the state and county levels.