Be The Ones received a $15,000 grant from the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. The foundation awards grants to nonprofits that strive to reduce poverty throughout the state of South Carolina and beyond. Be The Ones was part of the Systems Level Change category.
These grants are intended for organizations that work to influence and guide change in structural systems that have created, sustained, or reinforced the marginalization of families and individuals experiencing poverty in South Carolina. The Sisters of Charity Foundation awarded $364,000 across 19 different organizations in this category.
Be The Ones is a nonpartisan organization building healthier communities and expanding power by removing barriers to local civic participation. This grant supports the expansion of their work identifying and solving local civic information & participation gaps ensuring South Carolinians have access to necessary information and agency to participate, while also addressing root causes & barriers to equitable participation.
“Poverty is a policy choice. South Carolina is the 11th poorest state. This is a direct result of economic and social policy choices made by local & state elected officials that result in low wages, high eviction rates, inequities in education, healthcare, transportation, and basic needs support. These decisions have perpetuated systemic inequities across race, gender, generation & geography, and left millions excluded from participation in economic, social, cultural & political systems. Our work informing, connecting and activating South Carolinians ensures they have the tools, resources, and opportunities to actively participate in reimagining and shaping systems that impact their lives, communities, their futures.,” said Cate Mayer, Founder and Director of Be The Ones.
This announcement comes on the heels of Be The Ones voter education and get out the vote (GOTV) mobilization program. Be The Ones was the only organization that mobilized voters across the Lowcountry for the 2023 municipal elections through a unique multi-layered strategy that contributed directly to the increase in voter participation by 2 percentage points in Charleston County from 2019. “We’re thrilled to have seen an increase in voter participation this election cycle; but equally important, we’ve shown our community what civic & voter engagement can look and feel like when we center their needs while also making it fun and celebratory,” Mayer said.
In this cycle of funding, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina awarded 100 grants totalling $877,000 to nonprofit organizations across the state. 33 of the 100 organizations receiving a grant are located in the Lowcountry, a $283,000 commitment to the region.
“The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina is proud to announce our grant support for organizations that are driving positive change across our state” said Donna Waites, President of Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina. “We understand the profound impact these organizations have in
addressing the needs of our communities and look forward to working alongside them to create a more prosperous future for all South Carolinians.”
Macon Lovelace, the Chairman of the Board of Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, added, “We are dedicated to empowering nonprofits across the state as we seek to meet our mission to reduce poverty in South Carolina. Through collective action and innovative ideas, we will continue to take meaningful steps together to create a South Carolina where all people have the resources they need to thrive.”
