The Council of Foundations defines Community Foundations as “grantmaking public charities that are dedicated to improving the lives of people in a defined local geographic area.”
Since you are reading this article, there is a very good chance you know at least some of what we do at the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. However, you may not know about the entire impact the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has on our four-county service area of Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties.
Fortunately, there is a quick way to fill in the gaps about all that the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has to offer: our 2022 Annual Report! It is a concise, enlightening 23-page report that both informs and engages the reader. Readers of our Annual Report will get an inside look at the various ways in which Community Foundation of the Lowcountry partners with donors and nonprofits to help improve the lives of people living and working in the region.
Four groups/organizations are featured in the 2022 Annual Report, all of whom have funds administered by the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. These stories not only highlight the power of philanthropy, but also touch on very timely issues in the Lowcountry: a nursing shortage (SC Nurse Retention Initiative), a transportation issue (Antioch Educational Center), and educational challenges (William and Mary Cale Education Enhancement Fund). In addition,there is the story of one family who took an unthinkable tragedy and turned it into opportunity for others (Live Like D.J. – Dwon Fields Jr. Scholarship Fund). You will learn about themotivation for these giving, committed people to step up, and the important role the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry had in making their charitable objectives a reality.
If you are a numbers person, our Annual Report will not disappoint. Since our inception in 1994, the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has awarded over $95 million in grants to deserving local nonprofits and over $9 million in scholarships to dedicated Lowcountry students interested in continuing their education at a university or trade school. In fiscal year 2022, the Community Foundation awarded over $7.3 million in grants to nonprofits and over $836,000 in scholarships. The Community Foundation manages 445 active funds (and counting), including 37 new funds in FY22. The Annual Report also includes all of our grants awarded in FY22 (Impact, Opportunity, and Organizational Development) plus information on Touch Tomorrow Endowment Fund donors.
We hope we have piqued your interest in our Annual Report and you are now ready to read it! Please visit cf-lowcountry.org to read the digital version or stop by our Hilton Head office at 4 Northridge Dr, Suite A to pick up a copy. You can also call 843-681-9100, Mon-Fri from 8 am – 5 pm to schedule a meeting with a member of our friendly, informative staff to discuss your philanthropic interests or goals.
