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Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina Inc

EIN 23-7390313 · N Charleston, SC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE FOUNDATION BUILDS THRIVING COMMUNITIES BY CONNECTING PEOPLE AND INVESTING RESOURCES, ACROSS THE NINE COASTAL COUNTIES OF SC BEAUFORT, BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, COLLETON, DORCHESTER, GEORGETOWN, HAMPTON, HORRY, AND JASPER. IT ALSO MANAGES OVER 800 INDIVIDUAL FUNDS, EACH GUIDED BY A DONOR'S INTENT TO SUPPORT SPECIFIC OR BROAD CHARITABLE GOALS.

Income
$46.3 million
Spending
$40.6 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
63
Volunteers
147
Highest pay
$400,983, ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 21% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $33.3 million spent. PHILANTHROPY - AS SOUTH CAROLINA'S LARGEST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND A RECOGNIZED TRUSTED PHILANTHROPIC LEADER IN THE SOUTHEAST, COASTAL CMMUNITY FOUNDATION (CCF) DELIVERS DONOR-CENTERED GUIDANCE AND EXCEPTIONAL STEWARDSHIP TO INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND ORGANIZATIONS. WITH A PROVEN ABILITY TO TRANSFORM BOLD IDEAS INTO MEANINGFUL ACTION, WE HELP FUND PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS URGENT NEEDS AND SUSTAIN VITAL COMMUNITY INITIATIVES FOR GENERATIONS. CCF'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2024 CELEBRATED PROVIDING OVER $433M IN PHILANTHROPIC GRANTMAKING AND SCHOLARSHIP DISTRIBUTIONS SINCE INCEPTION.
  2. GRANTMAKING - WITH ROBUST EXPERTISE IN LONG-TERM CHARITABLE GIVING AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE, THE FOUNDATION DELIVERS VITAL OPERATIONAL AND CATALYTIC SUPPORT ACROSS OUR NINE-COUNTY SERVICE AREA. 2,369 GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS WERE DISBURSED DURING THE YEAR TOTALING $28.5M. THESE INVESTMENTS REFLECT OUR COMMITMENT TO BUILDING STRONGER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITIES FUELING PROGRESS IN KEY AREAS: HUMAN NEEDS $7M; EDUCATION $9.9M; HEALTH INITIATIVES: $3M; ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS: $1.6M; ARTS: $2.4M; FAITH-BASED PROGRAMS: $918K; NEIGHBORHOOD & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: $2.7M; PHILANTHROPY: $624K; SOCIAL JUSTICE: $185K.
  3. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES INCLUDE 1) THE FOUNDATION'S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS AWARDED 192 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING $833K, EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION ACROSS THE REGION; 2) THE CATALYST GRANT PROGRAM PROVIDED $2.4M IN FUNDING WITH A $4.3M FUTURE MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT, TO NONPROFITS IN BEAUFORT, COLLETON, HAMPTON, AND JASPER COUNTIES TO ADVANCE COLLABORATION, BUILD STRATEGIC CAPACITY, AND DRIVE COMMUNITY INNOVATION. GRANTS SUPPORT INITIATIVES WITH MEASURABLE IMPACT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, ORGANIZATIONAL STRENGTHENING, AND SOLUTIONS THAT ADDRESS LOCAL NEEDS FOR UP TO FIVE YEARS. SOME GRANTEES MAY ALSO RECEIVE EXPERT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE THROUGHOUT THE GRANT TERM TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY; 3) THE PLACE-BASED IMPACT INVESTMENT INITIATIVE DEPLOYED NEARLY $1.4M INTO LIFTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SMALL BUSINESS LENDING, AND PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING.
  4. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP - CCF HAS LONG SERVED AS A TRUSTED CONVENER, UNITING RESIDENTS, BUSINESS LEADERS, NON-PROFIT PARTNERS, AND GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS PRESSING CHALLENGES FROM HOUSING AND EDUCATION DISPARITIES TO ECONOMIC MOBILITY, NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION, AND DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY. THROUGH IMPACT INVESTING, ADVOCACY, AND EDUCATION, WE DRIVE SOLUTIONS THAT BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES. CCF WAS INTEGRAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND LONG-TERM PLANNING THAT IS ADDRESSING REGIONAL HOUSING AFFORDABILITY WITH TWO COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS AND EDUCATION SUPPORT FOR UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1982.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.