Central Carolina Community Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $17,338,581 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
Decision Time: Varies by program (2-4 months typical)
Grant Range: $1,000 - $75,000 (depending on program)
Geographic Focus: 11 counties in South Carolina Midlands region
Total Assets: Over $250 million
Grants Since 1984: Over $240 million

Contact Details

Address: 2142 Boyce Street, Suite 402, Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-254-5601
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.yourfoundation.org

Program Contacts:

Trimease K. Carter, Director of Community Investment: 803-978-7826 x315 (General Operating Support, Knight Foundation Fund)
Amber Westbrook, Program Officer: [email protected] (Aflac grants)
Erin E. Johnson, Vice President of Community Investment

Overview

Central Carolina Community Foundation, founded in 1984, serves as the primary philanthropic hub for South Carolina's Midlands region. With over $250 million in assets managed across 515 charitable funds, the Foundation has awarded more than $240 million in grants and scholarships since its inception. In 2023 alone, CCCF distributed $17,338,581 through 455 grants to more than 300 organizations across 11 counties: Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, and Sumter.

The Foundation operates under the mission to "connect and mobilize people and resources to strengthen our community" with a vision of "a vibrant and engaged community where generosity abounds and all people thrive." As South Carolina's third-largest grantmaker, CCCF awarded over $63 million in grants in the past five years, with 97% directed to organizations within their direct service area.

Under the leadership of President and CEO Georgia Mjartan since April 2024, the Foundation emphasizes supporting organizations that are "trusted by, connected to, and rooted in community," with particular focus on historically under-resourced communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Connected Communities Grants: $10,000 - $60,000 Challenge grants supporting innovative projects that enhance community quality of life in three focus areas: Welcoming Community, Vibrant Social Offerings, and Superb Public Spaces. Requires 20-40% matching funds. Recent awards include $457,400 to 17 nonprofits in 2025. Applications accepted September 1-30 annually.

General Operating Support (GOS) Grants: $30,000 total ($10,000/year for 3 years) Multi-year unrestricted funding for established nonprofits with budgets under $650,000 that have previously received CCCF grants. Designed to support organizations serving traditionally underserved communities. Applications accepted January 1-31 annually.

Aflac Charitable Fund Competitive Grant: $1,000 - $10,000 Supports South Carolina nonprofits in health & well-being (preference for pediatric cancer services) and education (preference for life skills and school-aged children programs). Two cycles annually: Spring (March 1-15) and Fall (September 1-15).

Knight Foundation Advised Fund: Up to $75,000 (invitation only) Supports projects in Columbia/Richland County focused on civic engagement, smart design, arts, and entrepreneurship. No public application process; organizations must contact CCCF first to discuss eligibility.

Place-Based Community Foundations:

Greater Chapin Community Foundation
Orangeburg and Calhoun Counties Community Foundation
Sumter Community Foundation (includes capacity-building mini-grants)
Kershaw County Community Foundation

Capacity Building Grants: Variable amounts Funds to strengthen nonprofits' internal operations, governance, financial stability, and growth.

Priority Areas

Arts & culture and social community events
Environmental projects including parks, playgrounds, and trails
Community activities promoting openness and inclusion
Healthcare access
Affordable housing
Job opportunities and economic development
Education and youth development
Organizations serving communities traditionally underserved by philanthropy

What They Don't Fund

General operating expenses (except through GOS program)
Routine/ongoing programs
Fundraising events
Debt reduction or endowments
Medical research
Conference travel or sponsorships
Marketing campaigns
Schools (with some program exceptions)
Capital campaigns (except specific programs)

Governance and Leadership

Senior Leadership

Georgia Mjartan, President & CEO: Brings experience from nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sectors. Recognized as a Southerner of the Year by Southern Living Magazine and Aspen Institute Ascend Fellow. Serves on national board of Parents as Teachers and Community Investment Council for Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. Upon appointment, stated: "I am grateful for the opportunity to steward the resources of so many dedicated philanthropists who believe in sharing their wealth to create meaningful and measurable change."
Erin E. Johnson, Vice President of Community Investment
Dr. Chelsea Richard, Vice President of Operations
Mimi Slade, Vice President of Advancement
Kevin L. Patten, Chief Financial Officer
Trimease K. Carter, Director of Community Investment
Kate Cherry, Director of Communications & Public Engagement

Board of Trustees

Officers:

Scott Graves (Chair), BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Derrick L. Williams (Vice Chair), Williams & Roche, LLC
Stacy S. Stokes (Secretary & Treasurer), Bauknight Pietras & Stormer, P.A.
Cory Manning (Immediate Past Chair), Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Additional Trustees (selected):

Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, Benedict College
Margaret G. Clay, Columbia Metropolitan Magazine
Susan Kenney Cotter, University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business
Sara Fawcett, United Way of the Midlands
Dr. Nancy D. Tolson, University of South Carolina
Bob Ruff, Aflac
Sidney Evering II, Orangeburg City Administrator

The Board consists of community leaders representing diverse public interests across the Midlands who serve without compensation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All grant applications must be submitted via the online grant portal at www.yourfoundation.org. Mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications will not be accepted. Organizations are strongly encouraged to thoroughly review all grant information before applying.

General Eligibility Requirements:

501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (requirements vary by program)
Physical location in CCCF's 11-county service area (some programs specific to particular counties)
Registration on Midlands Gives platform (required for most programs)
At least one paid staff member working 20+ hours per week (for most programs)

Application Cycles by Program:

Connected Communities: September 1-30 (notifications February 12)
General Operating Support: January 1-31 (Round 1 notifications March 18; Round 2 interviews April 1; final notifications April 17)
Aflac Grants: Spring (March 1-15, notifications mid-May) and Fall (September 1-15, notifications mid-November)
Knight Foundation Fund: Contact Trimease Carter first; invitation-only application process

Decision Timeline

Connected Communities: Approximately 4.5 months (September application to February notification)
General Operating Support: 2.5-3.5 months (January application to March-April notification)
Aflac Grants: Approximately 2 months per cycle

Notifications are sent via email. Organizations not selected (declinations) receive email notification.

Success Rates

CCCF does not publicly disclose overall success rates for competitive grant programs. In 2023, the Foundation made 455 grant awards from applications received across all programs. Recent Connected Communities awards include 17 grants in 2025 ($457,400 total) and 16 grants in 2024 ($418,700 total).

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that are declined can reapply in future grant cycles. Original applications do not automatically roll over; new applications must be submitted for each cycle. There is no waiting period for reapplication unless specified by individual program requirements.

For Aflac grants specifically, organizations cannot have received Aflac funding in the past year to be eligible.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Organizations "Rooted in Community": CCCF prioritizes funding organizations that are trusted by, connected to, and rooted in the communities they serve. Demonstrate deep community ties and relationships with those you serve.

Serving Underserved Communities: The Foundation explicitly focuses on supporting communities and organizations historically underserved by philanthropy. Applications should clearly articulate how the project addresses equity gaps.

Innovation and New Approaches: Connected Communities grants specifically seek "innovative ideas" that will "further knit the community together." Demonstrate how your approach is creative, fresh, or takes a new angle on community challenges.

Matching Funds Capacity: For Connected Communities grants, organizations must secure 20-40% matching funds, demonstrating community buy-in and organizational capacity.

Recent Funded Projects

2025 Connected Communities grant recipients provide insight into funding priorities:

Cecil Williams South Carolina Civil Rights Museum: Master Icon Lecture Series and civil rights history storytelling project
Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas: Midlands Childhood Cancer Safety Net
ColaJazz Foundation: Invigorating Cayce Through Jazz
Fairfield County School District Education Foundation: The Teacher Village at Winnsboro
Lexington Medical Center Foundation: Uplift Lexington County Expansion and Replication
Liberty STEAM Charter School: Educational Safety Zone Project

Program-Specific Requirements

Connected Communities:

Must be for new or expansion projects only (not existing programs)
Must register for Midlands Gives (the region's annual giving day)
Up to 15% can be used for administrative costs
Current grantees can reapply, but same project limited to 3 funding cycles

General Operating Support:

Must have previously received a CCCF grant between July 1, 2022-present
Annual budget must be under $650,000
Must have 501(c)(3) status for at least two years
Must attend quarterly grantee meetings if awarded

Aflac Grants:

Staff salaries cannot exceed 50% of grant budget
Must have at least $25,000 annual operating budget
Must have at least one year of 501(c)(3) status
Cannot submit applications once online; review carefully before submitting as edits are not possible

Application Best Practices

Review Before Applying: CCCF staff emphasize thoroughly reviewing all grant information prior to application. Understanding program-specific requirements and restrictions prevents wasted effort on ineligible requests.

Community Impact Focus: Georgia Mjartan's vision emphasizes "meaningful and measurable change." Applications should clearly articulate both the community need and how success will be measured.

Relationship Building: For invitation-only programs like the Knight Foundation Fund, contact program staff (Trimease Carter) before investing time in proposal development. CCCF values collaboration and pre-application conversations.

Midlands Gives Participation: Registration on Midlands Gives demonstrates commitment to the regional philanthropic ecosystem and is required for several grant programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic specificity matters: Projects must serve one or more of CCCF's 11 counties. Clearly identify which counties benefit and how.
Previous grantee advantage: The General Operating Support program is only available to organizations that have already received CCCF funding, suggesting the Foundation invests in deepening relationships with proven partners.
Innovation over maintenance: Connected Communities grants explicitly fund new or expansion projects, not routine operations. Frame requests around what's new, different, or expanded.
Equity lens is essential: The Foundation's strategic focus on "historically under-resourced communities" means applications should explicitly address how projects advance equity and serve marginalized populations.
Matching funds demonstrate commitment: Connected Communities' 20-40% match requirement tests organizational capacity and community support. Secure matches before applying to strengthen credibility.
Online portal only: The strict "no mailed, emailed, faxed, or hand-delivered applications" policy means technical preparedness for online submission is critical. Plan accordingly.
Multi-year thinking: The 3-year General Operating Support grants reflect CCCF's commitment to sustained impact. When appropriate, demonstrate how projects build toward long-term change rather than short-term fixes.

References

Central Carolina Community Foundation official website. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/
"About." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/about/
"Grant Opportunities." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/grants-scholarships/grant-opportunities/
"Connected Communities Grants." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/connected-communities-grant/
"General Operating Support Grants." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/general-operating-support-grants/
"Aflac Charitable Fund Competitive Grant." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/aflac/
"Knight Foundation Advised Fund." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/knight-foundation-advised-fund/
"Board of Trustees." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/about/board/
"Staff." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/about/staff/
"Transforming Communities: $457,400 in Grants Fuel Community Progress in the Midlands." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/transforming-communities-457400-in-grants-fuel-community-progress-in-the-midlands/
"$418,700 awarded to 16 Midlands nonprofits for community improvement projects." Central Carolina Community Foundation. 2024. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/418700-awarded-to-16-midlands-nonprofits-for-community-improvement-projects/
"Georgia Mjartan named president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation." Central Carolina Community Foundation. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.yourfoundation.org/georgia-mjartan-named-president-and-ceo-of-central-carolina-community-foundation/
Central Carolina Community Foundation. GuideStar Profile. EIN 57-0793960. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/57-0793960
Central Carolina Community Foundation. Cause IQ. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/central-carolina-community-foundation,570793960/
Central Carolina Community Foundation. 990 Report. Instrumentl. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/central-carolina-community-foundation-cd943fbf-aeee-451d-bddc-38ad8c8fa877