Grantmaking Partnership Opportunities

Community Foundation of the Lowcountry has completed its Fall (competitive) Impact Grant cycle for the current fiscal year. We are excited to share opportunities for joint funding of applications that we were not able to fund fully. Please review the chart below to see the original request. You will also see the amount that CFL has funded. We invite you to partner with us, to enable the organization's listed below, to receive full funding for their project or program!

Donations can be made to support the Grant Applications below from November 25, 2024 through January 30, 2025. Organizations will receive funding when the opportunity closes, or when the grant is fully funded, whichever comes first.

This process is managed by the Community Investment Office. If you have any questions, please email Debbie Cahoon or call 843-681-9100 and ask for Debbie.  

Organization 
Amount of Request
Amount Funded
Amount Available
Bluffton-Jasper County Volunteers in Medicine
$78,000.00
$70,000.00
$8,000.00
Lowcountry Council of Governments
$150,000.00
$100,000.00
$50,000.00
Public Tennis, Inc.
$16,000.00$13,000.00$3,000.00
Waddell Mariculture Center Fund
$25,732.00$15,000.00$10,732.00

Lowcountry Council of Governments

Workforce Development

Training Individuals with Barriers to Employment
The Lowcountry Council of Governments (LCOG) is requesting $150,000 to support the "Training Individuals with Barriers to Employment" initiative. This program aims to provide occupational and on-the-job training in fields such as manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, and culinary arts to low-income and unemployed individuals in the southern Lowcountry. The goal is to help participants gain skills that align with current job market demands, boosting their employability and economic self-sufficiency. The program is expected to reduce unemployment, provide local businesses with skilled labor, and enhance economic stability in the region. The funding will specifically target individuals living or working in Southern Beaufort County. The program will offer two main types of training: up to 60 individuals will receive Occupational Skills Training, and up to 20 will receive On-the-Job Training. LCOG will track the program's success by documenting the skills participants acquire, the credentials they earn, and through pre- and post-training assessments. Job retention will also be monitored through SC Works Online systems and employment status follow-ups at designated intervals.

Public Tennis, Inc.

Education / Youth

Coach Training for PTI’s Team of Volunteer Coaches
PTI’s outreach and adaptive programs depend on training 75+ volunteer coaches!

PTI operates as a charitable tennis association, focusing on inclusive community engagement through tennis for children, teens, and adults, including those with disabilities. This project involves developing and updating training videos, lesson plans, and coaching resources to increase the capacity and effectiveness of their volunteer coaches, with a goal to impact over 1,000 participants annually across various demographics, including low-income and Hispanic youth. Videos created by PTI will provide instructions to volunteer coaches that is consistent and representative of the organization’s high standards for volunteer tennis coaches, some of whom may have limited experience teaching the sport.

The grant would enhance recreational and developmental opportunities within the region by offering structured, accessible tennis programs, potentially leading to improved physical health, social skills, and educational outcomes among participants. The program's free and low-cost structure makes tennis accessible to underserved groups, providing life skills education alongside athletic development, which is particularly impactful in economically diverse communities.

Waddell Mariculture Center Fund

Environment

Pond Production Support of Marine Finfish
The grant request focuses on purchasing two electric utility carts for use in its pond production operations, which support marine finfish stock enhancement in Beaufort County and the broader South Carolina coast. These utility carts would replace outdated, non-functional trucks previously used to transport heavy feed, equipment, and supplies around the center's property. This equipment is critical for daily tasks such as feeding, pond maintenance, and transporting biologists and interns working on red drum, cobia, and southern flounder stock enhancement programs.

The project has substantial ecological and economic benefits. By producing and releasing millions of juvenile fish annually, the Waddell Center directly supports the health of marine ecosystems, benefiting local fishing industries, recreational fishing, and ecotourism. The project’s focus on stock enhancement for critical species contributes to maintaining biodiversity and supports local economies dependent on healthy fish populations, particularly in Beaufort and surrounding coastal areas.