A Bridge Between Two Needs

Kiawah Cares is a bridge organization in so many ways: we connect people who otherwise would have little opportunity to collaborate, and we help our communities get where they mean to go. But before you build a bridge, there should be a need for it on both sides.

Kiawah Cares was founded to address needs on either side of our foundation, one in our neighboring communities and one in the Kiawah community. The need of our neighbors is well-documented: there are more limited opportunities and fewer resources to go around than are needed. We heard from many Kiawah property owners who saw that need and wanted to pitch in. But they needed something too: as a community where most property owners are part-time residents, many of our generous members weren’t able to spend the time in our neighboring communities to know who was doing the important work and making the real differences.

It was clear that a different kind of infrastructure was needed to help our members, and we made it a priority to put structures in place that support that foundational work. We spend considerable time vetting our partner organizations and understanding the priorities of the community around us. Our job, as a resource for charitable giving, is to use our community knowledge to bridge the gap and get the generous donations of property owners to the place where they will do the most good.

A critical part of this is flexibility. We’re consistent about contact; throughout the year, we’re talking to folks in the community to help us direct funds to the areas of greatest need as they change. While this is something we always do, the pandemic put into perspective how essential this is. We have historically given 70% to educational efforts, including student support, and 30% to humanitarian efforts, including community support. With rising inflation and food insecurity, the percentages may shift but our core values remain the same.

We’re in the final weeks of our first campaign in two years and we’d like to ask you to help us continue to bridge this essential gap in the community. The $180,000 we provide each year means we support about $15,000 in fundamental needs met each month, with very little held back for administrative costs. If you see the value in the work we're doing, please help us continue it in 2022.

Through Dec. 31, make your gift using the button below or visit our fundraising page to learn more.