Catalyst Grant Program
Since its launch in 2020, the Catalyst Grant program has awarded more than $8.3M to support nonprofits’ large-scale projects addressing community-wide issues through collaborative, equitable, and innovative approaches. The grants are available to nonprofits serving Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, or Jasper counties and ensure multi-year funding, often exceeding a hundred thousand dollars per year.
Application process and schedule
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We’re looking for initiatives rooted in strong partnerships, shaped by community needs, and backed by a clear plan for action. Eligible organizations may apply for $250,000 to $500,000 annually for up to five years to address regional priorities such as housing, education, healthcare, economic mobility, caregiving, sustainable infrastructure, and coastal resilience.Applications open October 19, 2026, and are due November 20, 2026.
Catalyst Grant Success Stories
The largest Catalyst Grant to date, $2.3M over five years, was awarded to the Beaufort County School District (BCSD) in 2024. The grant accelerated the impact of the UNITE (Uniting Neighbors for Instructional Effectiveness and Trust in Education) program. This innovative approach to after-school care created a “village” to help students while building strong relationships between families, the community, and the school district. UNITE is a partnership with 12 local faith-based and nonprofit organizations that are already embedded in the children’s neighborhoods and offer extended after-school and summer learning hours. Retired teachers and qualified community members use district-supplied curriculum to provide additional academic support and mentoring. The program serves students in Pre-K through 12th grade who are living in areas with high rates of poverty and are underperforming academically due to high-risk factors.
The UNITE program launched in 2022 using federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding. CCF’s Catalyst Grant support enabled the program to continue once federal funding ended.
During the first year of Catalyst Grant support, the percentage of UNITE students scoring on grade level in reading increased from 24% to 39%, and the percentage scoring on grade level in math increased from 7% to 28%.
In 2024, Coastal Community Foundation awarded $525,000 over five years to Lowcountry Legal Volunteers (LLV) to support the development of a medical-legal partnership with healthcare organizations in Beaufort, Hampton, and Jasper counties. During a one-year pilot program, LLV identified significant unmet civil legal needs among low-income patients, which were adversely affecting their health and well-being. LLV now provides essential legal services at no cost, including securing lifesaving restraining orders, obtaining child support and custody orders, defending against wrongful evictions, other housing protections, and preparing wills and healthcare powers of attorney. This innovative approach integrates vital legal services directly with the patient’s established medical providers, ensuring a holistic, one-stop solution for addressing both legal and healthcare needs.
From 2025 to 2026, LLV received 89 referrals from partner healthcare organizations. The majority of need included family court cases, healthcare power of attorney, and creation of wills.