Provided
Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina (CCF) has awarded $685,000 to 37 nonprofit organizations in the Tri-County region that are Black-led and/or Black-serving in an effort funded by Facebook to support innovation, creativity, and resiliency in Black communities.
Research shows that nonprofits that work specifically in Black communities, particularly those led by Black community members, have been historically under-resourced by the philanthropy sector in America. Coastal Community Foundation was chosen by Facebook for this opportunity because of its intentional work through scholarships, grantmaking, advocacy and internal practices to advance racial equity in coastal South Carolina.
“The Foundation recognizes that we can address historic disparities by making intentional changes in policy, practice, and investment throughout all the foundation's work,” said Darrin Goss, President and CEO of Coastal Community Foundation. “The Facebook grant opportunity allows us to invest in leaders and organizations that tend to be more effective in providing services and support within their own communities based on trust and cultural understanding. Supporting Black leaders to do more of the good they’re already doing is a step forward, and we are grateful for corporate funders like Facebook who are investing in it. We hope to see others regionally and nationally step in to do the same.”
With an average of about $18,500 awarded to each nonprofit, CCF’s Facebook Grant for Sustaining Black Communities supported ongoing work across a broad spectrum of nonprofits in the areas of arts, culture and humanities; civil rights, social action and advocacy; community improvement and capacity building; education and human services. About three-quarters of the funding supported Black-led organizations, while the remainder supported organizations serving populations that are at least 51% Black. View the Fact Sheet here for a list of all grantees and more information about this program.
In addition to the financial resources, CCF will offer support to help these grantees build their capacity in order to seek new and sustainable funding.
Funds from the $1 million Facebook grant also supported these four specific initiatives aimed at providing greater access to opportunities for black communities and their leaders:
- The Lowcountry Unity Fund of Coastal Community Foundation — a grantmaking program established after the Emanuel AME Church massacre that supports efforts in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties that advance racial equity or that address structural racism.
- The N.E.W. (Neighborhoods Energized to Win) Fund of Coastal Community Foundation — a grantmaking program created in 1991 to support low-to-moderate income neighborhood groups in the Lowcountry that address key issues in the neighborhoods and strengthen residents' leadership skills.
- Institutional support for Black-led nonprofits — collaborate on a new targeted effort with regional funders aimed at capacity-building and lending structural support to organizations and grassroots efforts led by people of color.
- Black Giving Circle — seed funding to create an endowed fund at Coastal Community Foundation for Black-led giving.
Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to create vibrant communities by uniting people and investing resources across Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Hampton, Horry and Jasper counties. Through our tools for long-term charitable giving, we help individuals, families, businesses and organizations be the reason why communities thrive in the nine counties we serve along South Carolina's coast. To learn more, visit coastalcommunityfoundation.org or call (843) 723-3635.
–
Press Release
