How We Work

The Kiawah Cares Foundation is a 501(c)3 community foundation serving Johns and Wadmalaw islands. We support organizations doing essential work in these communities, as well as individuals (referred by an island organization) in need of assistance, through grants issued throughout our fiscal year. To ensure that we’re responsive to the real needs of the islands, foundation staff and board members maintain close relationships with the public schools and nonprofits serving these island communities.

This allows us both to participate in early planning for longer term area projects and also to react quickly to short term or emergency needs. We use our close relationships with partner organizations to direct funds to the areas where they are most needed. This means that our dollars can do more with fewer overhead costs cutting into the bottom line, and more money gets to where it can do the most good. In turn, our partners help us understand the needs of the community. Through these efforts and relationships, we’re able to reduce redundancies in services and focus efforts to the most impactful programs.

TAILOR-MADE SUPPORT

Grants are made on a case-by-case basis and tailored to the needs of the recipient. We remain in contact with the recipient throughout the project to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Grants must be requested through one of the community foundation’s partner organizations, rather than through an individual. This ensures that recipients are in the best position to benefit from all the community’s resources.

In some instances, the foundation serves as a fiscal partner with a donor who has a specific project they want to support. We will accept and hold donated funds and disburse them as appropriate for the project.

In other instances, we use general funds collected from public donations to support areas with the greatest current needs. The communities on the Sea Islands are changing and growing, as are their needs. Because of its size, its trim administrative operations and its continuing communication with the communities of the Sea Islands, the Kiawah Cares Foundation is uniquely nimble enough to direct funds to the projects where it is most needed.

While the recipients and projects change over the years according to local needs, the types of grants given in the past can be roughly divided into three categories – Community Support, Humanitarian Aid, and Education.