Community Investment Grants & Capacity Building Grant Program

Community Investment Grants & Capacity Building Grant Program is sponsored by United Way of Horry County. United Way of Horry County offers two grant funding opportunities: Community Investment Grants and a Capacity Building Grant Program. These grants are open to organizations aligning with their Community Game Plan pillars (Health, Education, Self-Sufficiency, and Basic Needs).

Grant Funding – United Way of Horry County All funds must stay within Horry County, ensuring that your work directly benefits the neighbors and communities we serve. Our Capacity Building Grants help nonprofits strengthen their internal management, governance, and strategic collaborations. By investing in your organization’s infrastructure, UWHC supports long-term resilience and growth—so you can deliver even greater impact.

The Capacity Building Grant is intended to support one-time projects that address a specific organizational need. These grants are not meant to be a recurring source of funding. We ask that all applicants apply in good faith, submitting proposals that reflect a genuine capacity-building need rather than projects created solely for the purpose of obtaining funding.

Applications that do not demonstrate a clear and authentic organizational need will not be considered.

Funding Amount: Up to $5,000 per project Eligible Projects May Include: Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives Financial sustainability and board development Professional training and leadership development Internal operations: systems, software, technology upgrades Collaboration and partnership-building efforts Must align with at least one UWHC Community Game Plan pillar (Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Financial Security and Community Resiliency) Open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, faith-based organizations (with restrictions), civic groups, schools, and government agencies with qualifying proposals Must have at least three years of service history in Horry County 📌 Learn more about Capacity Building Grants → Applications are open now on a rolling basis for 2026 Capacity Building Grants.

Please be advised: Applications that are missing required documents or information will not be reviewed until all materials have been received. If an application is incomplete, the applicant will be notified and given three (3) business days to submit the missing information. If materials are not received within that timeframe, the application will be withdrawn.

Exceptions may be made at the discretion of UWHC staff in extenuating circumstances. To avoid delays, please ensure all required documents are submitted with your application. 👉 Start your application today → Competitive Investment Grants United Way of Horry County will not be opening a traditional grant application for 2026.

We are taking this year to pause and dive deeper into our newly completed Community Needs Assessment. This work has led to an updated Community Game Plan that ensures that future funding decisions are strategic, equitable, and impactful. Thank you for all you do to strengthen our community—we look forward to sharing updates as this important work moves forward.

Competitive Grants Criteria : Our Competitive Investment Grants fund programs that directly address the root causes of community needs. Guided by our Community Game Plan, we focus on four pillars: Youth Opportunity, Healthy Community, Financial Security and Community Resiliency.

These grants are reviewed by community volunteers who serve on our Vision Councils, ensuring that funding decisions reflect local priorities and create lasting change. $10,000-$40,000 (not to exceed 30% of program expenses) Must align with one of UWHC’s bold community goals Agencies select measurable objectives and track shared outcomes (How much did we do? How well did we do it?

Is anyone better off?)

Encourages continuous improvement and collaboration across funded partners Must be a 501(c)(3) human service organization in good standing in South Carolina Board of Directors of at least five independent, non-compensated members Programs must operate in Horry County and comply with all nondiscrimination requirements 📌 Learn more about Competitive Investment Grants → ( Applications are not currently being accepted.

New applications will open in the Fall 2026 for 2027 Competitive Investment Grants.

) Strengthen your nonprofit’s long-term sustainability Access resources to improve community outcomes Join a network of organizations committed to measurable impact in Horry County Previously Funded Organizations Children’s Recovery Center Operations for Sexual Assault Services Friendship Medical Clinic Helping Hand of Myrtle Beach After-School & Sumer Camps Family Outreach Horry County Palmetto Literacy Council New Directions Horry County Emergency & Transitional Housing Pathways to Economic Mobility Project Lighthouse Youth Shelter Applications are not currently being accepted.

New applications will open in the Fall 2026 for 2027 Competitive Investment Grants. e-CImpact is United Way of Horry County’s online grant management system for nonprofit agencies and community impact vision council volunteers. Current grantees and new applicants can access the application through the “e-CImpact for Agencies” button below.

If you need assistance accessing e-CImpact or navigating the system, please call 843-347-1183 .