At their regular meeting on October 23, Beaufort County Council voted unanimously to approve the Human Services Department’s recommended recipients of the 2023 Community Services Grant Program. This initiative is designed to support non-profit organizations that serve our community. These grants aim to strengthen the network of local services, enhancing the well-being of Beaufort County residents.

To be eligible for the Community Services Grant, organizations were required to meet specific criteria:

• Be a registered 501(c)3 non-profit in good standing.
• Serve Beaufort County residents.
• Actively participate in achieving Together for Beaufort County goals and objectives.
• Be a registered partner of the Human Services Alliance.

The grant applications underwent a comprehensive evaluation by a diverse volunteer panel comprised of community representatives and stakeholders. This panel remained anonymous throughout the process and met for the first time during the evaluation of funding recommendations. Applications were evaluated solely on their individual merit through a competitive process. 30 applications were received requesting a total of $671,000. According to Fred Leyda, Human Services Department Director, “Our panelists were tasked with making very difficult decisions to ensure taxpayer dollars were distributed fairly, equitably, and in a manner that generates the biggest positive impact for Beaufort County residents.” Agencies that applied but were not funded are encouraged to apply again for the FY25 grant season beginning July 2024.

A total of $398,000 will be distributed among the following non-profit organizations:

• AccessHealth Lowcountry - $20,000
• Bluffton Self-Help - $22,500
• Child Abuse Prevention Association - $12,500
• Community Services Organization - $37,500
• Family Promise of Beaufort County - $10,000
• Good Neighbor Free Medical Clinic - $32,500
• Habitat for Humanity of the Lowcountry - $15,000
• HELP of Beaufort - $10,000
• Hilton Head Island Safe Harbor - $1,000
• Hopeful Horizons - $37,500
• Low Country Legal Volunteers - $25,000
• Lowcountry Early Childhood Coalition - $15,000
• Lowcountry Food Bank - $3,500
• Meals on Wheels Bluffton Hilton Head - $7,500
• Memory Matters - $2,500
• Carmel Baptist Church Med-I-Assist Program - $20,000
• NAMI Lowcountry - $10,000
• Neighborhood Outreach Connection - $10,000
• Pregnancy Center and Clinic of the Lowcountry - $8,000
• Programs for Exceptional People - $7,500
• Special Olympics South Carolina Area 8 - $7,500
• The Children's Center - $8,000
• Together for Beaufort County - $15,000
• Under One Roof - $5,000
• United Way of the Lowcountry - $37,500
• Volunteers in Medicine Hilton Head Island - $17,500

The County is pleased to support these organizations' commendable efforts in enhancing the lives of Beaufort County residents.

For more information on the Together for Beaufort County initiative, click here.