Impact Fund Grants

Impact Fund Grants is sponsored by South Carolina Bar Foundation. Provides grants to nonprofit organizations in South Carolina supporting low-income individuals and communities.

Grantees | SC Bar Foundation Hit enter to search or ESC to close The South Carolina Bar Foundation proudly supports a network of dedicated organizations that work every day to expand legal access, advocate for justice, and uplift communities across our state.

Meet Our New Impact Grant Recipients The Impact Grant Fund is a one-time funding opportunity created to support innovative, high-impact programs and projects while helping organizations respond to federal funding cuts. We are excited to announce this year’s Impact Grant recipients: Rainy Day Fund and USC Psychology Department, the SC Access to Justice Convening Group, SCVAN, and the USC Rice School of Law Pro Bono Program .

Rainy Day Fund and USC Psychology Department Driver’s License Reinstatement Clinics & Homeless Courts Study The Rainy Day Fund and the University of South Carolina Psychology Department for a three-year study on expansion of Driver’s License Reinstatement Clinics and Homeless Courts across South Carolina.

SCCADVASA and SC Access to Justice Convening Group Domestic Violence–Legal Aid Integration Project SCCADVASA and the South Carolina Access to Justice Commission’s Convening Group for a two-year project designed to document, evaluate, and strengthen existing models of Domestic Violence-Legal Aid integration.

SC Victim Assistance Network The South Carolina Victim Assistance Network (SCVAN) for its Divorce Clinic Program for survivors of domestic violence. USC Rice School of Law Pro Bono Program Pro Bono Legal Clinic Case Management System The University of South Carolina Rice School of Law Pro Bono Program for its Pro Bono Legal Clinic case management system.

15th Circuit Treatment Court A diversion program offering supervised substance abuse treatment and judicial oversight to reduce recidivism and incarceration costs for nonviolent offenders. Antioch Educational Center Partners with Foundation grantees, SC Legal Services, and Hopeful Horizons, to offer legal advice and education for low-income residents of Jasper, Hardeeville, and Ridgeland.

Center for Heirs’ Property Assists low-income individuals with legal services and education regarding heirs’ property issues, particularly in South Carolina’s Lowcountry. Charleston Legal Access expands access to justice by offering affordable legal services (advice, consultations, and full representation) for moderate to low-income South Carolinians.

Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services Offers free legal representation and advocacy to economically disadvantaged residents in Charleston County. Charleston School of Law Public Interest Internships Supports law students working in public interest and legal service organizations to increase access to justice across South Carolina.

Coastal Conservation League Partners with citizens and communities to protect South Carolina’s environment and quality of life through advocacy and sustainable planning. Disability Rights South Carolina Protects the civil and legal rights of people with disabilities as South Carolina’s Protection and Advocacy System since 1977.

Donald Beatty Center for Justice & Society of USC Upstate Internship program for pre-law students at USC Upstate, designed to give students legal experience while immersing them in the local community. Family Justice Center of Georgetown and Horry Counties Provides comprehensive services, including legal advocacy and counseling, for survivors of domestic violence in Georgetown and Horry counties.

Greenville County Human Relations A HUD-approved fair housing agency that offers counseling and education to promote equality in housing and community relations. The mission of HALOS is to equip kinship caregivers for success, provide resources that support safe and thriving children, and advocate for a kin-first South Carolina.

The Hispanic Alliance fosters collaboration and connectivity among people, resources, and cultures to build thriving communities. Assists survivors of domestic and sexual violence in the Lowcountry with legal support, shelter, and counseling.

Immigration Legal Services of Catholic Charities of South Carolina Delivers affordable, high-quality legal immigration services with a focus on family-based cases and support for immigrant victims of crime. Provides legal support and policy advocacy for individuals facing the death penalty or lengthy juvenile sentences in South Carolina.

The Laurens County Safe Home is a non-profit agency that serves victims of domestic violence in Abbeville, Laurens and Saluda Counties. Their mission is to provide a safe place for victims of domestic violence to find comfort, peace, acceptance, and support while they are rebuilding shattered lives.

Lowcountry Legal Volunteers Delivers civil legal services through volunteers and attorneys to those in need in the Hilton Head/Bluffton area. Lowcountry Mediation Center The Lowcountry Mediation Center (LMC) is a non-profit organization serving the Lowcountry by providing affordable, high quality mediation services.

Lutheran Services Carolinas Department of Justice accredited program provides low- and pro-bono legal immigration services to refugees and immigrants across South Carolina. Midlands Mediation Center Uses trained volunteer mediators to resolve family and civil disputes, promoting peaceful conflict resolution in the Midlands.

Myrtle Beach STEM Academy The Myrtle Beach STEM Academy is a fully accredited public charter school serving grades 6–12 in the heart of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The academy empowers middle and high school students through a rigorous, hands-on curriculum focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

NC Center on Actual Innocence (for their SC cases) Investigates claims of innocence and supports exoneration cases through student-involved legal research and advocacy in South Carolina. One80 Place Legal Services Operates a legal clinic that provides services to approximately 600 homeless individuals each year in Charleston.

Supports survivors of sexual assault with counseling, advocacy, and legal referrals, primarily in Richland and surrounding counties. Supports victims of domestic and sexual violence in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties with legal advocacy and housing services. Provides financial assistance to cover legal, employment, and basic needs for individuals impacted by the criminal justice system.

Champions systemic legal reform in areas such as housing, education, hunger, and immigration through litigation and public policy. SC Bar Law-Related Education Promotes civic education through programs such as Mock Trial and We the People, connecting students and legal professionals.

SC Bar Law Talks & Law School for Non-Lawyers Provides free legal education to the public through short presentations and an eight-week course on practical legal knowledge. Coordinates legal clinics and provides pro bono representation for low-income South Carolinians through volunteer lawyers. A statewide coalition supporting service providers and offering prevention and intervention programs for victims of violence.

SC Victim Assistance Network A statewide organization that provides free services to victims of violent crime and those who serve them. Foundation funds specifically support the Legal Services Program, which provides free legal assistance to help victims enforce their rights and address legal issues related to their victimization.

Bridges community and law enforcement to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations, including justice-involved individuals and families. Provides free, trauma-informed legal services and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence in the Midlands.

South Carolina Access to Justice Commission The South Carolina Access to Justice Commission was created by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2007 in recognition of the need to expand access to civil legal assistance for all South Carolinians.

The Commission brings together a wide range of legal system stakeholders who work to address the significant civil justice gap in our state by assessing essential civil legal needs, fostering collaboration, and identifying innovative solutions. South Carolina Center for Fathers & Families Supports fathers with job training, legal aid, and parenting education to promote family engagement and financial stability.

South Carolina Environmental Law Project Protects South Carolina’s natural resources through legal action, advocacy, and support for community environmental causes. South Carolina Legal Services The statewide legal aid provider for low-income South Carolinians, addressing housing, consumer rights, family law, and more.

South Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society The South Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society preserves and promotes the rich history of the state’s highest court, fostering public understanding of its role in shaping justice and legal tradition. South Carolinians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty Educates and advocates for the abolition of the death penalty through public engagement and legal reform.

The National Judicial College Offers continuing education and professional development for judges, with South Carolina scholarships supporting judicial participation. Provides free legal aid and advocacy for incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals across South Carolina.

Transitions Homeless Center Supports the Columbia Homeless Court, a voluntary program that offers eligible participants a unique path to justice by allowing certain charges to be dismissed or fines to be reduced. Supports men exiting incarceration in Charleston and Richland Counties with job training, behavioral therapy, and reentry services.

Provides mediation services to family and circuit courts in Greenville County to resolve disputes outside the courtroom. Upstate Medical Legal Partnership Upstate Medical Legal Partnership improves health outcomes by providing free legal help to low-income patients, effectively addressing social and legal issues that impact overall well-being.

USC Rice School of Law Public Interest Fellows Places law students in public interest legal organizations to increase capacity and provide hands-on legal experience. USC Salkehatchie offers an affordable, student-focused education with campuses in Walterboro and Allendale, South Carolina.

With small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and flexible pathways to four-year degrees or career success, students receive the support they need to achieve their goals. Together, We Can Help Every Person in South Carolina Secure Legal Rights Donate now to expand access to civil legal aid and law-related education. Physical: 169 Laurelhurst Ave, Columbia, SC 29210 Ronnie M.

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