SC Student Loan Corporation launches a new employee-directed mini grants program
May 1, 2025
South Carolina Student Loan Corporation (SCSLC), a nonprofit with over 50 years of experience in educational loan lending, has launched a mini grants program awarding a total of $25,000 to six SC nonprofits nominated by SC Student LoanTM employees. Over the past six weeks, its employees nominated education-related SC nonprofit programs/organizations, those organizations were invited to apply, and they all presented during the April monthly staff luncheon. Afterwards, each SC Student LoanTM employee ranked and allocated funding to the presenting organizations. The average combined ranking and allocations directed the grant awards decisions. All six nominated organizations received a mini grant and were notified this week via joyous Teams meetings attended by the whole company.
“We’re excited to roll out our new employee-directed mini-grants program, giving our team the chance to make a real difference in their communities. It’s a meaningful way for them to support causes they care about while staying connected to the mission, vision, and values of SC Student Loan Corporation,” said SCSLC President & CEO Trey Simon. “Our team embraced this opportunity, and their enthusiasm shows in the way they’re using the program to create positive change. We plan to continue this program annually.”
2025 SCSLC Mini Grant Recipients:
- Liberty STEAM Charter School – Sumter County – $7,500
Million Word Challenge & Project Lead the Way
- Andrews Woman’s Club – Lexington/Richland 5 – $2,500
Stock “Inchy, the book vending machine” at Seven Oaks Elementary
- USC TRIO Program – Richland 1 & 2 School Districts – $5,000
Summer Residential Program scholarships for middle & HS students
- Midlands Education & Business Alliance – Midlands – $4,000
Teachers in the Workplace participant stipends
- Richland Library – Richland County – $3,000
Purchase 4 laptops for Career Online High School program
- Southside High School – Greenville County – $3,000
Pathways to Success workforce training
According to Liberty STEAM Charter School’s Executive Director Dr. Trevor T. Ivey, “This grant from the SC Student Loan Corporation recognizes the vision for growth and commitment to underserved students in a community with limited access to high-quality public education options with a laser sharp focus on closing the gap in workforce development needs. The Project Lead the Way curriculum that LSC intentionally uses is internationally vetted and is geared into four main units that correlate with Sumter’s four greatest workforce needs: health sciences, business technology, industrial technology, & engineering technology.”
“Thank you to South Carolina Student Loan Corporation for honoring the request from St. Andrews Woman’s Club. We are so excited to be able to continue our support to Seven Oaks Elementary School and the ‘Inchy the Book Vending Machine’ project!” said SAWC President Debbie Bell.
Breaking down economic barriers to education access is at the heart of what SCSLC does, whether through student loans, BOLDTM Career Pathways, or awarding grants to outstanding SC organizations preparing the next generation of talent. We believe equipping students for the future strengthens our workforce, our communities, and our state.
In 2019, South Carolina Student Loan Corporation established its philanthropy, Power:Ed, launching a quarterly grantmaking program (for grants $25,000 and above) aimed at assisting first-generation students residing in rural and underserved regions of the state, particularly individuals from marginalized populations; supporting workforce development, promoting equity, and driving systemic transformation for the betterment of all South Carolinians. To date, Power:Ed has awarded 104 grants totaling over $4.8M and has impacted an estimated 138,000+ South Carolinians through its grantmaking. 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.
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA STUDENT LOAN
Since 1973, South Carolina Student LoanTM has helped make education more accessible to South Carolina residents and students attending schools in the state by offering financial support to help cover the cost of tuition, books, housing, meals, and other educational expenses. As a nonprofit, South Carolina Student LoanTM is invested in the outcomes of its borrowers and the workforce in South Carolina, which is evident in innovative programs like BOLD™ Career Pathways that connects students with statewide employers who help cover education costs and provide those students with jobs. Learn more at scstudentloan.org.
