Community Grants is sponsored by Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area. The Community Foundation for the CSRA offers funding to support charitable organizations in Georgia and South Carolina. With a focus on arts, education, health, and services for people in need, the foundation encourages innovative proposals.

Community Grants | Community Foundation for the CSRA Empowering Nonprofits. Transforming Communities. The Community Foundation for the CSRA’s Community Grants Program fuels the work of nonprofits creating meaningful change across our region.

Through strategic, community-centered grantmaking, we invest in organizations addressing urgent needs, expanding opportunity, and improving quality of life throughout the CSRA. Through this competitive grant process, we provide support to nonprofits serving individuals and families across the region through impactful, mission-driven programs.

From increasing access to education and preserving arts and culture to advancing health initiatives and assisting neighbors facing hardship, Community Grants help local ideas grow into sustainable community solutions.

Each proposal undergoes a thoughtful and thorough review process involving Foundation staff, community volunteer review panels, site visits, and Board leadership to ensure funding decisions reflect both community priorities and the strength of each organization’s work and vision.

Grants are awarded to nonprofit programs and projects directly benefiting individuals in Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie, and Burke counties in Georgia, as well as Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. For more than two decades, Community Grants have helped organizations turn vision into action, awarding millions of dollars to nonprofits making a lasting difference across our region.

The Community Grants application process begins each summer, with applications typically opening in July and remaining open through mid-to-late August. Leading up to the launch, the Foundation offers several opportunities for nonprofits to learn more about the grant process, review any updates from previous cycles, and gain helpful insight into building a stronger application.

New applicants are required to submit by the early deadline, which provides an opportunity to receive guidance and feedback from Foundation staff prior to the final submission deadline. All other organizations are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this optional early review process to strengthen their applications.

Throughout the early fall, Foundation staff and community volunteer review panels carefully evaluate applications and conduct in-person site visits to better understand each organization’s mission, programs, and community impact. Final funding recommendations are approved by the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors in December.

Grant recipients are publicly announced during our annual Community Grants Celebration in January — a day that highlights the incredible work happening across our region and one we look forward to every year. 2027 Community Grants Program For more information on our 2027 Community Grants process, Tips for Budgets & Outcomes, and other helpful resources Who is eligible to apply?

We consider grant applications from organizations that: Are determined as charitable under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, public entities or other charitable, educational or cultural organizations. Provide programs and services to the following counties in Georgia: Richmond, Columbia, McDuffie, Burke and in South Carolina: Aiken and Edgefield. What does the Community Foundation fund?

The Community Foundation for the CSRA only considers applications from organizations providing programs and services directly benefiting individuals living in Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina, and Burke, Columbia, Richmond and McDuffie counties in Georgia.

This category is generally, but not exclusively, for programs that support arts education/appreciation, cultural programming, historic preservation, public engagement, creative expression, and initiatives that strengthen community connection and heritage.

Education, Opportunity & Workforce Readiness Early learning, academic support, youth enrichment, mentoring, leadership development, life skills, workforce training, career readiness, and lifelong learning opportunities.

Health, Wellness & Resilience Programs in this category promote environmental research or management, animal services, programs that support sustainable community and backyard gardens, medical clinics, drug rehabilitation programs, medical programs for persons with disabilities, and mental illness.

Basic Needs and Stability This category is generally, but not exclusively, for programs that support food access, housing stability, homelessness services and prevention, emergency assistance, transportation, family support, financial stability, and essential community services that help individuals and families achieve greater stability. What is the range of grants? We do not set a minimum amount for grant awards.

We ask that requests not exceed $15,000. We will only accept one grant application per 501(c)(3) per Community Grants Program cycle. What activities typically do not receive funding?

We do not fund applications in support of the following: Deficit financing and debt retirement Political organizations or campaigns Lobbying legislators or influencing elections Programs that require participation in religious services and/or education as a condition of receiving services Special fundraising events/celebration functions Marketing endeavors that exceed 30 percent of grant request Core operating expenses for public and private elementary and secondary schools and public and private colleges and universities Projects that are typically the funding responsibility of federal, state or local governments Scholarship programs; however, exceptions are made for summer camp or afterschool program scholarships Programs that have already taken place or will be completed in the current calendar year Are new organizations eligible to apply?

We will consider funding new organizations for start-up or operating support.

However, because we are interested in funding work that continues to address community needs long after the grant funds are depleted, these requests are reviewed carefully on a case-by-case basis and must make a convincing case that: The condition the proposal addresses is significant and can be measured The applicant has the organizational ability to address the problem, can document an unmet need, is aware of other organizations that are working in the same area and is the best organization to do this work The organization and its program are likely to achieve the outcomes described in the proposal The organization has plans in place to ensure that its programs will continue to operate once grants funds are expended What criteria should applications emphasize?

Have a program/project that will positively impact persons and/or the community.

Develop competencies and skills enabling individuals to live fuller, more productive lives Addresses a significant need affecting the region’s population or special populations Have the ability to leverage resources through other funding, in-kind donations, volunteers and partnerships Demonstrate their capacity to provide the necessary services using good administrative and financial management When evaluating requests, we also consider the balance of geography and the needs within our six-county service area.

How does an organization apply for a grant? Click the application link, create a user account, record your login user name and password for future logins. You do not have to do an entire application in one setting.

How does an organization submit follow-up reports? Grant recipients must complete final reports that reflect on their progress toward the outcomes targeted in the grant proposal. Through these reports, both Foundation staff and your organization are able to gather valuable feedback and knowledge that can inform future work.

Submit a six-month report by July 15. Submit a final year end report by January 15 of the following year. Summer programs can submit just the year end report by August 30 of the current year.

If you spent all of your money AND completed all your outcomes when the six-month report is due, you may skip that report and submit a final report instead. If there are extenuating circumstances that have impacted your ability to complete your outcomes as originally submitted, or. If you have questions about how to talk about outcomes, please contact Lasima Turmon.

Volunteering on Community Grants Panel We welcome your questions and comments. Please contact Lasima Turmon , Director of Programs, here or 706-724-1314 . Are you are grant seeker or grant reviewer?

Access your fund information and recommend grants online.