As the coronavirus pandemic ensues, many Beaufort County students are not able to return to the classroom daily. With an ongoing lack of access to internet across the region, distance learning sites are critical in meeting the educational needs of students. The Beaufort County Distance Learning Fund was created to support nonprofits in Beaufort County who are implementing and operating programs to assist with distance learning for students within the county. The fund will support nonprofit organizations who are currently offering distance learning services as well as those who would like to begin offering a distance learning component.

Eligibility

• Must be a nonprofit, recognized as a 501(c)(3) entity or qualified house of worship.
• Must be operating services in Beaufort County serving Beaufort County students.
• Must be able to demonstrate (in writing) ability to provide services and outline of how the funds will be spent (new and existing programs are eligible to apply).
• Agree to provide a written report once funds are expensed or six months after receipt of grant — whichever comes first.

Timeline

• Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
• Funds will be available on a first-come, first served basis.
• Please apply as early as possible.

Grant Amount

• Grant awards will not exceed 10% of an organizational budget or $25,000 —whichever is less.

“In Beaufort County, many families and working parents will find it difficult and challenging to support their child’s remote and virtual learning needs because of lack of equipment, the absence of Internet service and the demands of work,“ said Larry McElynn, a member of Beaufort County Council and Chairman of the Community Services Committee. “Luckily for us, there are community nonprofits that are able to complement the school district’s curriculum with youth development professionals who can offer children educational enrichment, socialization, and personal growth with virtual curriculum support and nationally recognized enrichment programs.”

The Beaufort County Distance Learning Fund is seeded with $100,000 from Beaufort County, with additional dollars to be provided once the first round of funding is awarded. The Fund will help support nonprofit organizations in Beaufort County who are currently offering distance learning services, as well as those who would like to begin offering distance learning components.

"We know that teachers and families are more challenged than ever to keep students engaged in learning outside of the classroom,” said Veronica Hemmingway, Director of the Southern Lowcountry for Coastal Community Foundation. “The programs we aim to support with the Beaufort County Distance Learning Fund will bring much-needed enhancements to the at-home learning experience for many households, and we’re grateful that Beaufort County committed the resources to make this happen.”

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.

To apply for funding, please visit https://coastalcommunityfoundation.org/grantee-login/.

Get in touch:
Contact Veronica Hemmingway at veronica@coastalcommunityfoundation.org or (854) 222-3468