General Operating Support Grants

Central Carolina Community Foundation (CCCF) offers General Operating Support (GOS) Grants to provide unrestricted, multi-year operational funding to nonprofit organizations working to advance equity and opportunity across the Midlands region of South Carolina. These grants are designed to support nonprofits in increasing their capacity to serve their communities effectively and sustainably. Since the launch of its multi-year GOS initiative in 2021, CCCF has focused on promoting philanthropic efforts that address systemic underinvestment and strengthen community-rooted organizations. CCCF aims to deepen relationships with local nonprofits while empowering them to maintain high-quality services beyond the funding period. The GOS Grants are structured to provide $30,000 per grantee, disbursed as $10,000 annually over a three-year period. Funds are unrestricted but must be used toward general operations and administrative costs. Grantees are required to meet ongoing participation commitments, including expensing funds annually, submitting annual reports, attending quarterly grantee meetings, and maintaining regular communication with CCCF. Organizations must also register with MidlandsGives.org to ensure transparency and visibility within the philanthropic community. Eligible applicants must meet several criteria. They must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations with a determination letter dated on or before January 31, 2025, and must have had nonprofit status for at least two years. Applicants must maintain a physical presence (based on EIN address) within CCCF’s 11-county service area: Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter counties. Organizations must also have received a grant from CCCF within the past four years (since July 1, 2023), operate with an annual budget under $650,000, and employ at least one paid staff member working 20 or more hours per week. The application period opens on January 1 and closes on January 31. CCCF provides an Applicant Interest Webinar on January 6 to support prospective applicants. Applications are reviewed in two stages: an initial online submission (Round 1) followed by a by-invitation Round 2 interview for selected applicants. Notifications regarding Round 1 status are issued on March 18, and interviews occur on April 1. Final application decisions are communicated by April 17. The grant performance period is from June 1, 2026, to May 31, 2029. The review process involves due diligence checks, eligibility verification, and application assessment by both CCCF staff and the GOS grant review committee. Final funding decisions are made by CCCF’s Board of Trustees. All application materials must be submitted through CCCF’s grant portal, and declinations will be sent via email. For additional information, applicants may contact Trimease K. Carter by phone at 803-978-7826 x315 or via email at trimease@yourfoundation.org.

Ensure prior CCCF grant receipt and Midlands Gives registration are in place; maintain consistent communication with CCCF.