After Volvo first broke ground on its new Berkeley County manufacturing plant in 2015, the Swedish automobile manufacturer began looking for ways to strengthen ties with its new home. One result was a relationship with Coastal Community Foundation—and the creation of a fund that’s awarded thousands of dollars in grants to deserving organizations throughout the Lowcountry. The Volvo Car USA Operations Grants Fund awards grants ranging from $1,000 to $25,000 to local organizations in four program areas: education, with a specific emphasis on workforce development; environment and sustainability, to preserve the planet; inclusion, equity and belonging, to create spaces where all community members feel valued; and innovative solutions, to foster creative ideas to combat today’s problems.
“Coastal Community Foundation has been an amazing partner for us,” said Katherine Bergmann, head of communications for Volvo Cars Charleston Plant. “I love our brainstorming and sparring sessions on how we can get creative and think out of the box, because the needs are greater than ever. The world we live in is changing, and we have to think differently. They help us think beyond where we are, and really understand needs and what’s possible. So we’re incredibly appreciative, because they have helped us to really be an engaged and active member of the community.”
A natural fit
The Berkeley County plant was the first U.S. manufacturing facility for Volvo, and the manufacturer wanted to do more than just show up and start building cars. Volvo “understands the impact they make, and the expectation associated with it,” Bergmann said. “It was really important for them to connect—not just be in the community, but actually be a part of it and make an impact. Especially when you’re coming in and building a new facility, you have to understand what the community needs are.”
That approach led to the beginning of a relationship with Coastal Community Foundation, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024. The foundation, which lists integrity and inclusion among its values and credibility and conviction among its goals, proved a perfect fit. And given that the foundation today also manages over 700 charitable funds with over $480 million in combined assets, it also brought deep philanthropic connections and a keen sense of the region’s needs.
“Coastal Community Foundation has been such a critical part of our journey. We really connected with them about two years after coming to the community, and in that initial two years, we did a lot of listening and a lot of relationship-building,” Bergmann said. “Our team needed a partner, and Coastal Community Foundation has a long-standing reputation and relationship here in this community,” she added. “So it was a natural fit when we were looking at who could help us. Their network and their ability to help others grow and connect in the community, is really powerful, so they were a wonderful partner for us.”
Matching passions
The grants are supported by Volvo funds specifically set aside for the program, Bergmann said. Nonprofits operating within 40 miles of Volvo’s Ridgeville plant are eligible to apply. And in celebration of the carmaker’s fully electric EX90 model—which is built in Berkeley County, and started production in June—Volvo allocated 90 grants of $1,000 each so its South Carolina employees could choose beneficiaries, as long as they were 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving the Lowcountry.
“We wanted to match passions. We wanted to be in areas our team members wanted to see us in,” Bergmann said. “I get requests from people all the time from people asking, ‘Can you help this? Can you donate to this?’ and it may not line up with our current strategy. Through these 90 $1,000 team member grants in honor of the new car, we were really able to listen to what our team members are passionate about and help in the areas that are important to them.”
In addition to this year’s Team Member-nominated grants, Volvo Cars has funded initiatives like the Advanced Manufacturing program at Summerville High School, and other programs that help prepare the next generation of the Lowcountry’s manufacturing workforce. The fund’s other grant recipients have included organizations such as Camp Happy Days, the Trident Literacy Association, the Lowcountry Food Bank, East Cooper Community Outreach and the Ark of SC.
And Volvo’s philanthropic efforts continue thanks to the manufacturer’s partnership with the Coastal Community Foundation, which helps the carmaker vet potential beneficiaries while also providing overall guidance on the region’s needs.
“Coastal Community Foundation helps us to be a better partner in this community,” Bergmann said. “We’re incredibly proud of their 50 years and wish them many, many more to come.”
