Palmetto Project Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO SEEK CREATIVE IDEAS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS FACED BY THE CITIZENS OF SC. KEY AREAS OF FOCUS INCLUDE: ACCESSIBLE HEALTHCARE; COMMUNITY RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT; YOUTH, FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS; AND CIVIC PARTICIPATION.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $2.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -2.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 61%
- Employees
- 24
- Volunteers
- 800
- Highest pay
- $98,211, coo
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
Weak: 40 out of 100.
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 27% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 23% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1590% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 94 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 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
9 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
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, 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 (5)
- $1.1 million spent. HEALTH FOR OVER 20 YEARS, THE PALMETTO PROJECT HAS BEEN A LEADING ADVOCATE FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF HEALTHCARE FOR SOUTH CAROLINIANS REGARDLESS OF THEIR FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, RACE, OR RESIDENCY. PROGRAMS INCLUDE: INSURE SC, CHILDREN'S HEALTH SC, HEART & SOUL, THE CAROLINA HEARING AID BANK, AND MYVAX SC. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS IS AVAILABLE ON SCHEDULE O AND ON OUR WEBSITE AT PALMETTOPROJECT.ORG/HEALTH/.
- $1.2 million spent. FAMILIES, YOUTH, & SCHOOLS PALMETTO PROJECT SEES HEALTHY FAMILIES, ENGAGED YOUNG PEOPLE, AND VIBRANT SCHOOLS AS THE CORNERSTONE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNITIES. OUR INITIATIVES PROVIDE THOUSANDS OF VULNERABLE FAMILIES WITH CONNECTIONS TO SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, SUPPORT SERVICES, FOOD AND EVEN CHRISTMAS PRESENTS. CURRENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE: MY FIRST BOOKS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, BEGIN WITH BOOKS, FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES, AND CHALLENGE DAY. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS IS AVAILABLE ON SCHEDULE O AND ON OUR WEBSITE AT PALMETTOPROJECT.ORG/FAMILY-YOUTH-SCHOOLS/.
- $26,753 spent. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CIVIC PARTICIPATION PALMETTO PROJECT HAS BECOME A LEADER IN EQUIPPING COMMUNITIES WITH NEW TOOLS TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATIONS, CREATE TRUST, AND SOLVE PROBLEMS. IT ALSO ENCOURAGES CIVIC PARTICIPATION THROUGH THE PALMETTO VOTER PROJECT. SINCE THE PROGRAM STARTED IN 1994, SOUTH CAROLINA VOTERS HAVE SET RECORDS FOR TURNOUT IN EVERY ELECTION. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THESE PROGRAMS IS AVAILABLE IN SCHEDULE O AND ON THE ORGANIZATION'S WEBSITE AT PALMETTOPROJECT.ORG/COMMUNITY-ENGAGEMENT/.
- INSURE SC: PALMETTO PROJECT CONTINUED ITS ENROLLMENT ASSISTER WORK THROUGHOUT 2024 AS LICENSED INSURANCE AGENTS WHO PROVIDED ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MEDIGAP/MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLANS, MARKETPLACE PLANS, AND SC HEALTHY CONNECTIONS MEDICAID. ALL LICENSED AGENTS ARE SALARIED, WITH COMMISSION REVENUE DIRECTED TO PALMETTO PROJECT, SO THEIR FOCUS IS ON FINDING THE BEST HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR THE CONSUMER. THIS ALSO INCLUDED REFERRALS TO PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, FREE CLINICS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. AGENTS PROVIDED DIRECT ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE TO 3,132 MEDICARE AND MARKETPLACE CONSUMERS. 250 VERY LOW INCOME MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED WITH APPLICATIONS FOR MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAMS. CHILDREN'S HEALTH SC: PALMETTO PROJECT CONTINUED WORKING WITH LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES IN SC TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR SC HEALTHY CONNECTIONS MEDICAID TO IDENTIFY UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED CHILDREN. OUR TEAM OF LICENSED INSURANCE AGENTS AND OUR AMERICORPS MEMBER WORKS WITH FAMILIES TO COMPLETE THE SC HEALTHY CONNECTIONS MEDICAID INITIAL AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, SUBMIT IT, AND FOLLOW IT THROUGH TO ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION. APPLICATION ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION ABOUT DENTAL AND VISION BENEFITS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING PREVENTIVE CARE WAS DELIVERED TO 451 FAMILIES. MY VAX SC: PALMETTO PROJECT HAS CONTINUED ITS PREVIOUS WORK OF PROVIDING VACCINATION RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE MY VAX SC PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO PROMOTE VACCINE LITERACY IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF BERKELEY, DORCHESTER, AND COLLETON COUNTIES, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS IN THESE COMMUNITIES BY REDUCING VACCINE HESITANCY. THIS EFFORT SUPPORTS FLU, COVID, AND VACCINES FOR OLDER ADULTS SUCH AS SHINGLES AND PNEUMONIA. PALMETTO PROJECT HAS PARTNERED WITH 12 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE VACCINE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. 20 COMMUNITY EVENTS HAVE BEEN TABLED BY PALMETTO PROJECT STAFF, IN ADDITION TO 3 LARGE SCALE EVENTS: BLACK EXPO, TASTE OF BLACK CHARLESTON, AND CHARLESTON PRIDE. 2500 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN REACHED DIRECTLY FROM IN PERSON EVENTS PALMETTO PROJECT HAS ATTENDED, 10,000+ INDIRECTLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, RADIO ADS, TV ADS, NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, TOOLKIT DISTRIBUTIONS, AND THE FLAGSHIP WEBSITE WWW.MYVAXSC.ORG. DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY SC (DPIL-SC)/BEGIN WITH BOOKS: DPIL-SC IMPROVES EARLY LITERACY BY ENABLING YOUNG CHILDREN TO BUILD A HOME LIBRARY AND INCREASE THEIR SCHOOL READINESS. THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, PALMETTO PROJECT IS WORKING TO PROVIDE EACH SOUTH CAROLINA CHILD UNDER AGE FIVE A FREE, DEVELOPMENTALLY-APPROPRIATE BOOK EACH MONTH. BEGIN WITH BOOKS, OUR PROGRAM IN CHARLESTON COUNTY, IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS PROGRAM CAN CHANGE CHILDREN'S LIVES. STATEWIDE, WE ARE SERVING MORE THAN 27,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES: FOR MORE THAN 33 YEARS, THE PALMETTO PROJECT HAS PROVIDED A LIFELINE TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS REGION. MANY SOUTH CAROLINIANS KNOW FHF BECAUSE OF ITS CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING THAT PROVIDES FOOD, CLOTHING, AND CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR 4,026 FAMILIES (11,147 INDIVIDUALS) WITH URGENT AND EMERGENCY NEEDS. HOMELESS TO HOPE FUND: FOUNDED IN FEBRUARY 2016, THE HOMELESS TO HOPE FUND IS THE NONPROFIT ARM OF A LARGER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN CHARLESTON, BERKELEY, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES. TAXDEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS ARE USED TO ASSIST APPROVED LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN PROVIDING TEMPORARY SHELTER AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO TRANSITIONING TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. THIS INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL CENTER FOR MANAGING ACCESS TO LOCAL SERVICES AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. LOWCOUNTRY MINISTRIES FUND: THIS FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN COORDINATION WITH AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTON AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE VICTIMS OF THE JUNE 2015 TRAGEDY AT EMANUEL AME CHURCH BY FURTHERING COMMUNITY CONCERNS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEM, ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN BEAUFORT, HAMPTON, ALLENDALE, COLLETON, JASPER, AND CHARLESTON COUNTIES. IN ITS SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING, EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED FUNDING OF JUST OVER 199,000.
- INSURE SC: PALMETTO PROJECT CONTINUED ITS ENROLLMENT ASSISTER WORK THROUGHOUT 2024 AS LICENSED INSURANCE AGENTS WHO PROVIDED ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND MEDIGAP/MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT PLANS, MARKETPLACE PLANS, AND SC HEALTHY CONNECTIONS MEDICAID. ALL LICENSED AGENTS ARE SALARIED, WITH COMMISSION REVENUE DIRECTED TO PALMETTO PROJECT, SO THEIR FOCUS IS ON FINDING THE BEST HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR THE CONSUMER. THIS ALSO INCLUDED REFERRALS TO PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS, FREE CLINICS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES. AGENTS PROVIDED DIRECT ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE TO 3,132 MEDICARE AND MARKETPLACE CONSUMERS. 250 VERY LOW INCOME MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS WERE ASSISTED WITH APPLICATIONS FOR MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAMS. CHILDREN'S HEALTH SC: PALMETTO PROJECT CONTINUED WORKING WITH LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES IN SC TO PROVIDE EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND APPLICATION ASSISTANCE FOR SC HEALTHY CONNECTIONS MEDICAID TO IDENTIFY UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED CHILDREN. OUR TEAM OF LICENSED INSURANCE AGENTS AND OUR AMERICORPS MEMBER WORKS WITH FAMILIES TO COMPLETE THE SC HEALTHY CONNECTIONS MEDICAID INITIAL AND RENEWAL APPLICATIONS, SUBMIT IT, AND FOLLOW IT THROUGH TO ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION. APPLICATION ASSISTANCE AND EDUCATION ABOUT DENTAL AND VISION BENEFITS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING PREVENTIVE CARE WAS DELIVERED TO 451 FAMILIES. MY VAX SC: PALMETTO PROJECT HAS CONTINUED ITS PREVIOUS WORK OF PROVIDING VACCINATION RESOURCES TO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE MY VAX SC PROGRAM WAS CREATED TO PROMOTE VACCINE LITERACY IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF BERKELEY, DORCHESTER, AND COLLETON COUNTIES, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS IN THESE COMMUNITIES BY REDUCING VACCINE HESITANCY. THIS EFFORT SUPPORTS FLU, COVID, AND VACCINES FOR OLDER ADULTS SUCH AS SHINGLES AND PNEUMONIA. PALMETTO PROJECT HAS PARTNERED WITH 12 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE VACCINE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES. 20 COMMUNITY EVENTS HAVE BEEN TABLED BY PALMETTO PROJECT STAFF, IN ADDITION TO 3 LARGE SCALE EVENTS: BLACK EXPO, TASTE OF BLACK CHARLESTON, AND CHARLESTON PRIDE. 2500 INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN REACHED DIRECTLY FROM IN PERSON EVENTS PALMETTO PROJECT HAS ATTENDED, 10,000+ INDIRECTLY THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNS, RADIO ADS, TV ADS, NEWSPAPER ARTICLES, TOOLKIT DISTRIBUTIONS, AND THE FLAGSHIP WEBSITE WWW.MYVAXSC.ORG. DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY SC (DPIL-SC)/BEGIN WITH BOOKS: DPIL-SC IMPROVES EARLY LITERACY BY ENABLING YOUNG CHILDREN TO BUILD A HOME LIBRARY AND INCREASE THEIR SCHOOL READINESS. THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH DOLLY PARTON'S IMAGINATION LIBRARY, PALMETTO PROJECT IS WORKING TO PROVIDE EACH SOUTH CAROLINA CHILD UNDER AGE FIVE A FREE, DEVELOPMENTALLY-APPROPRIATE BOOK EACH MONTH. BEGIN WITH BOOKS, OUR PROGRAM IN CHARLESTON COUNTY, IS ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES OF HOW THIS PROGRAM CAN CHANGE CHILDREN'S LIVES. STATEWIDE, WE ARE SERVING MORE THAN 27,000 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES: FOR MORE THAN 33 YEARS, THE PALMETTO PROJECT HAS PROVIDED A LIFELINE TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE MIDLANDS REGION. MANY SOUTH CAROLINIANS KNOW FHF BECAUSE OF ITS CHRISTMAS PROGRAMMING THAT PROVIDES FOOD, CLOTHING, AND CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR 4,026 FAMILIES (11,147 INDIVIDUALS) WITH URGENT AND EMERGENCY NEEDS. HOMELESS TO HOPE FUND: FOUNDED IN FEBRUARY 2016, THE HOMELESS TO HOPE FUND IS THE NONPROFIT ARM OF A LARGER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN CHARLESTON, BERKELEY, AND DORCHESTER COUNTIES. TAXDEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS ARE USED TO ASSIST APPROVED LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS IN PROVIDING TEMPORARY SHELTER AND SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS COMMITTED TO TRANSITIONING TO PERMANENT HOUSING AND INDEPENDENT LIVING. THIS INCLUDES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL CENTER FOR MANAGING ACCESS TO LOCAL SERVICES AND SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS. LOWCOUNTRY MINISTRIES FUND: THIS FUND WAS ESTABLISHED IN COORDINATION WITH AND AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY OF CHARLESTON AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR THE VICTIMS OF THE JUNE 2015 TRAGEDY AT EMANUEL AME CHURCH BY FURTHERING COMMUNITY CONCERNS THAT WERE IMPORTANT TO THEM, ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN BEAUFORT, HAMPTON, ALLENDALE, COLLETON, JASPER, AND CHARLESTON COUNTIES. IN ITS SECOND ROUND OF FUNDING, EIGHT ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVED FUNDING OF JUST OVER 199,000.
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
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 October 13, 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 2024.
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 December 1985.
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 October 21, 2026.
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