Rural non-profit, DIG receives $55,000 grant from Power:Ed to support more youth in STEMM skills and career discovery
February 17, 2026
Pictured L to R: SCSLC President & CEO Trey Simon, Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons, SCSLC Marketing & Outreach Director Destra Capers, and DIG CEO Steven Brown.
BARNWELL, SC – Dreams, Imagination, and Gift Development Program (DIG), has been awarded a $55,000 grant from Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan Corporation, to support DIG’s five existing afterschool and career development programs and to launch five one-week pilot programs in rural communities where DIG has seen interest and need for its programs such as Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell Counties.
“Lots of organizations that are small in size are having a huge impact in the communities they serve. Often these organizations go unnoticed by funders because their work is in small or underserved communities,” said DIG Founder & CEO Steven D.K. Brown. “We are honored that organizations like PowerEd are noticing and investing in us. With their support, we are able to prove Big Dreams do come from small places and that rural communities DIG STEM.”
The awarded funds will be used to purchase essential instructional equipment and curriculum to deliver high-quality, career-connected STEMM learning. This includes medical STEMM resources such as stethoscopes, anatomy models, medical simulation tools, and age-appropriate healthcare curriculum that introduce students to health and medical careers. We will also purchase a limited number of VR-based anatomy and physiology tools to enhance hands-on learning through shared, small-group instruction. To support workforce-aligned skill development, funds will also be used to implement targeted AI-supported instruction, including select AI software licenses, laptops, and instructional tools to teach coding, computational thinking, and introductory artificial intelligence concepts. These resources will support small-group learning, tutoring, and project-based instruction, while complementing DIG’s instructor-led enrichment model.
In addition, a portion of the funding will support professional development and instructional planning for educators, including training in medical STEMM content, introductory AI instruction, and inquiry-based teaching strategies. This investment strengthens instructional quality across existing sites and supports the startup planning, curriculum alignment, and staffing readiness needed for future program expansion. DIG hopes to expand to more rural communities throughout the state of South Carolina.
“Supporting great organizations in rural and underserved communities across SC is at the heart of what we do. DIG is working to address systemic barriers to education equity, build a pipeline of skilled talent, and boost economic opportunity in the communities it serves, and we are so pleased to support DIG with a second and larger grant award,” said Power:Ed Executive Director Claire Gibbons.
Power:Ed previously awarded a $40,000 grant to DIG in August 2023.
In FY 2025-26 Power:Ed will award $1,300,000 in grants to South Carolina education and career readiness organizations. In this third quarter, Power:Ed has awarded seven grants (including this DIG grant) totaling $270,000. Grants are administered quarterly, and the next grant funding deadline is April 1, 2026.
About DIG
Dreams, Imagination, Gifts Development (DIG), founded in 2014, is working to create a rural model for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STE(A)M) education in out-of-school time for students in rural communities to narrow the education and economic gap by providing after-school enrichment programs, summer enrichment camps, STEM festivals and career ready mentorship programs. DIG is looking to connect the dots between real-life application and STE(A)M education while fulfilling the workforce development needs for critical thinking, problem-solving, basic soft skills and technological literacy. DIG’s model is designed to spark students’ imagination through exciting STEM learning experiences and resources to prepare students for the 21st century workforce. To learn more on how to get DIG in your community visit www.digdp.org or email [email protected].
About Power:Ed
Founded in 2019, Power:Ed, the philanthropy of SC Student Loan is dedicated to creating opportunities for South Carolina’s youth and adults by supporting low-income, underserved, and first-generation students; improving access to college and degree completion; and creating pathways to quality workforce opportunities. Nonprofit organizations serving middle school through post-college talent who are interested in applying for a grant or partnering with Power:Ed, should visit power-ed.org.
