The Foundation works with groups, organizations, and individuals to improve the quality of life in the Lowcountry. We have the ability to pivot and respond to needs, like natural disasters and pandemics as they arise. We bring people various stakeholders together to create awareness of important issues and to share opportunities and progress addressing these issues. An example of one of our recent initiatives is the Lowcountry Community Indicator Project.Click here to learn more!

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry is proud of the robust scholarship programs that we administer. Each of our programs was created by donors with a specific purpose and unique criteria. Promise of the Lowcountry Scholarship Fund was created in 2022 by a generous couple who saw that the needs for financial assistance for students throughout the southern Lowcountry were not fully met. They seeded Promise of the Lowcountry Scholarship Fund to provide support for students in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton Counties.

Promise of the Lowcountry is open to students graduating from a high school in the 4-county service area who demonstrate financial need and who will attend a public college, university or technical school in South Carolina.

The lack of inventory of affordable homes, the rising costs of rental properties and more families facing homelessness has become a critical issue in the Lowcountry.

Recognizing the burden this need has created for our residents, CFL created the Affordable Workforce Housing Fund. Through this fund the Foundation has given grants to organizations who are addressing this need. We are also working with individuals who are committed to solving the problem. These individuals represent nonprofit agencies, private developers, municipalities, faith-based organizations and other organizations, agencies and individuals who are working together to increase awareness and find solutions that will bring relief to the region.

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry serves four counties in the southern Lowcountry. Our neighbors live or work in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton and Colleton counties. Regional support and cooperation within these four counties are critical because growth and development impacts us all. We share work and workers. We also share tourists who are interested in our rich cultural heritage as well as our beautiful coastlines. As the cost-of-living increases in some areas, the commute for those who do not live where they work becomes more challenging.

While our physical location sometimes makes the Community Foundation seem removed from our neighbors, we are very committed to the region we serve. Our roots may be in southern Beaufort County having been created with funds generated through the sale of the Hilton Head Island Hospital in 1994, earmarked to support southern Beaufort County nonprofit work. That initial fund remains our largest grantmaking fund and its mission has not changed. Unfortunately, that limits the Foundation’s ability to respond to opportunities and needs of our neighbors. While the needs in each county may be unique, the ability to meet those needs is equally important. Our goal is to grow our unrestricted grantmaking funds to enable us to increase our ability to support nonprofit agencies who serve the larger part of our service area. To date, we have granted almost $300,000 to nonprofit organizations meeting regional needs through our Touch Tomorrow funds. We invite you to partner with us in our regional grantmaking through supporting the Touch Tomorrow Endowment of the Lowcountry.