South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Through our network of members and partner organizations, SCACED strives to improve the quality of life for low-wealth families and communities by advancing community economic development and public policy in South Carolina.
- Income
- $2.4 million
- Spending
- $2.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 87%
- Reserves
- 5.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 14
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $168,018, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1587% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (3)
- $998,739 spent. Developing Organizations: We build the capacity of nonprofits, local branches of government, and other organizations through technical assistance, training, access to capital, and relationship connections. Programs: Community Development Institute (350 attended 11 trainings), more than 300 attended Opportunity SC 2025: A 30th Anniversary Celebration in Charleston, SC. Community Development InstituteThe Community Development Institute (CDI) offers professional organizations and their staff an opportunity to build skills, learn from peers, and connect to existing state, regional and national resources. (Continued on Schedule O)Structured training sessions are offered throughout the year and cover a broad range of topics pertaining to Community Economic Development and Nonprofit Management.2025 Trainings Included:Strategic Homeownership InitiativesLeveraging the Local Accommodation Tax for Affordable HousingElevating Our Voice: Nonprofit Voter Engagement Training & Mini-GrantNonprofit Management 101 Workshop SeriesThe Northside Initiative: Where Transformation BeginsBuilding a Local Home Repair Program2025 Community Impact Fund (CIF) Grant Overview WorkshopCommunity Gathering & Conversations with Malik YobaNonprofits Guide to Advocacy Amplify Your Voice: Community Advocacy WorkshopSCACED's 2025 Policy PrioritiesImpact: 350 Participants attended 11 training sessionsOpportunity SC: 2025SCACED's 25th annual conference and 30th Anniversary Celebration exposed attendees to integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions for low-wealth communities across our state and region. Impact: Over 350 attendeesBroadband Community Champion TrainingThe Broadband Community Champion Training Initiative addresses barriers and the lack of broadband access in rural communities. Workforce Development | Wednesday, September 11Featuring guest speakers Nina Staggers, SC Department of Workforce Development, and Dr. Leon Geter, Benedict CollegeSC local leaders have an opportunity with the unprecedented federal funding to close the digital divide. The Digital Equity Act Programs lift the voices of under-serve populations by providing workforce transformational services. Telehealth | Thursday, September 12Featuring guest speaker Davia Smith, Palmetto Care ConnectionsDigital health equity is becoming a frequent topic of discussion. However, before we can engage people in their health via technology, we must address the inequities surrounding technology access, use, and literacy. K-12 Digital Literacy | Friday, September 13Featuring guest speaker Dee Albritton, Fast ForwardWhy is digital equity important? Digital equity has been an issue in rural SC, due to lack of devices and access to Wi-Fi. Research on COVID-19 pandemic impact cite Black, Latinx and Indigenous students from low-wealth communities were the most impact. Impact:3 trainings were held131 Individuals received training16 Broadband Community Champion Counties received $153,319,567 in infrastructure funding
- $605,739 spent. Growing Networks and Elevating Innovation: We bring people together to build power and share information and resources. Programs: The Business Success Center held 12 Lunch and Learns training more than 225 business owners and 3 Business Resource Mixers attracting more than 250 people. Landowner Resource workshops (3 trainings held resulting in 10 environmental quality incentives program (EQIP) applications, 50 farmers and landowners attended, and 10 farmers obtain a farm tract number) and SC Electric Cooperative Empowerment Program (4 trainings were held and 129 electric cooperative members attended trainings and 1 member successfully ran for an electric cooperative board).(Continued on Schedule O)Landowner Resources WorkshopThe Landowner Workshop Program focuses on providing critical support for historically underserved producers to increase local market opportunities and long-term capacity. Program participants learned different uses and value of their land, how to increase profitability, and conservation planning.Impact: 3 Workshops Hosted50 Farmers and Landowners attended the Workshops10 Farmers obtained a Farm and Tract number required to access USDA financial resources10 farmers received technical assistance in accessing USDA EQIP resourcesSouth Carolina Electric Cooperative Empowerment ProgramThe South Carolina Electric Cooperative Empowerment Program (SCECEP) is a series of community engagement events that educate community leaders on how they can serve on the Board of Trustees of their local electric cooperative.The goals of the SCECEP are to teach attendees:How electric cooperatives serve and operate in their communitiesThe role of the Board of Trustees on electric cooperativesHow attendees can run for election on their local electric cooperative's Board of TrusteesTo impact policy decisionsImpact:4 Electric Cooperative Member Trainings Held 129 Electric Cooperative Members Attended Trainings1 Electric Cooperative Member Successfully ran for a Cooperative Board Seat
- $323,377 spent. Attracting and Deploying Resources: We bring new and additional resources, often financial, to the state and to the community economic development field. Programs: $60,000 in community impact fund grants were deployed, $160,000 in community garden and hoop house grants were funded along with $30,000 in mini-grants to support voter registration efforts.Community Impact Fund Grant ProgramThe Community Impact Fund (CIF) is made possible by generous funding from the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation. (Continued on Schedule O)Its purpose is to make grants available to SCACED member organizations for capacity building initiatives, development of affordable housing and/or other economic development projects.Impact:$60,000 in grants awarded to 8 SCACED Members Voter Engagement Mini-Grant ProgramIn a democratic society, every vote counts, and election years brings higher visibility to issues and opportunities for policy change. Nonprofits play a crucial role in ensuring that all voices in the community are heard and represented. South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) will be announcing its' voter engagement mini grants process to support nonprofits voter engagement efforts.Impact:$30,000 in grants awarded to 54 organizationsCommunity Garden & Hoop House Grant ProgramSCACED partnered with USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) in their South Carolina Food Connection Community Gardens Project to support the creation and growth of community gardens and hoop houses in food insecure areas and among high-risk and underserved populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and rural residents.Impact: 14 Community Garden grant awards in the amount of $70,00010 Hoop House grant awards in the amount of $90,000Minority, Women and Veteran Owned Business Support: The Business Success Center at the Opportunity CenterThe Opportunity Center, a partnership of four South Carolina nonprofit organizations, is a unique collaboration focused on impacting low-wealth communities of the Tri- County. This innovative space provides workforce development, small business incubators, and coworking spaces benefiting entrepreneurs and start-ups, while maintaining offices of local non-profits actively working in the community and economic development sector. Key among the programs provided, a unique and critical component of The Opportunity Center is the business incubator program known as the Business Success Center. Defined as an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder, this program focuses on helping small business owners and entrepreneurs establish, grow, and sustain their operations especially for communities of color. Impact: 12 Lunch and Learns training more than 225 business owners 3 Business Resource Mixers attracting more than 250 people
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 November 6, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 November 4, 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.