Inquiry Checklist
If you are interested in applying for a grant, you must be able to answer “yes” to ALL of the following questions.
1. Does your organization align with the Foundation’s mission and values? (The Foundation's mission is to reduce poverty
through action, advocacy and leadership. Our values are courage, collaboration, justice, respect, compassion and
diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.)
2. Is your organization a nonprofit? If applicable, is your organization in good standing with the IRS and the South
Carolina Secretary of State?
3. Does your organization serve South Carolina communities?
4. Does your organization address at least one of the Foundation’s three focus areas: economic mobility, housing security and health care (as defined in the Foundation's Strategic Plan)?
See the table below for information on which grants fund which focus areas.
| Grant* | Focus Areas | Type of Application |
|---|---|---|
| Systems Change Grant |
|
Open application |
| Health Care Systems Change Initiative |
|
By invitation-only |
| Community Engagement Grant |
|
Open application |
| *Our grants do not support work that is only directed toward children and youth younger than 18 years of age (e.g., school-based programs, youth mentorship programs). | ||
5. Has your organization been fully operating for at least one (1) year?
6. Does your organization align with Together SC’s guiding principles and best practices
for nonprofits in South Carolina?
7. Does your organization collaborate with other nonprofits, businesses, faith-based organizations and/or government
entities?
8. Are your organization’s approaches to reducing poverty informed by research, best practice models and/or the
communities you are aiming to serve?
9. Does your organization adhere to lobbying limits established by the federal government for organizations with a
501(c)(3) designation?
10. Does your organization have a detailed operating budget for your current fiscal year?
If you answered “yes” to ALL of these questions, you can begin the application process once the forms open on January 20, 2026. In the meantime, you can explore which grant is right for your organization and preview the application questions via our grants portal.
If you answered “no” to one or more question, your organization is not eligible for grant funding in 2026. We invite you
to subscribe to our newsletter to learn
about other opportunities to partner with the Foundation.
