Women in Philanthropy awards nearly $150K to Beaufort County nonprofits

Six Beaufort County nonprofits received a combined $148,700 in grant funding from Women in Philanthropy (WIP), a giving circle of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, during the group’s annual awards luncheon held May 20 at the Country Club of Hilton Head.

The 2025 grant cycle focused on “Building Pathways to Long-Term Self-Sufficiency,” with selected organizations providing services that help individuals and families achieve lasting financial stability. This year’s grants bring WIP’s total giving to approximately $1.3 million since the group was founded in 2003.

With more than 180 active members, WIP harnesses the collective power of women in the Lowcountry to support community programs that make a measurable difference.

2025 Grant Recipients

Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry received $30,000 to support childcare programs, including scholarships for 30 to 40 families. The funding will allow children to access after-school and summer camp programs across multiple sites in Beaufort County.

Bluffton Self Help was awarded $22,000 to assist local families in crisis through its Case Management & Resource Coordination Program, which connects individuals with immediate financial assistance and long-term support.

The Children’s Center, one of only two childcare providers on Hilton Head Island serving infants and toddlers, received $30,000 for its sliding-scale infant and toddler care program. The center’s “Family Livelihood Depends on Childcare” initiative ensures that working families have reliable, affordable care options.

Deep Well Project was granted $20,000 to fund the third cohort of its Circles Program, which pairs low-income families with community mentors to help them reach 200% of the federal poverty level—a key benchmark for financial independence.

Lowcountry Gullah Foundation received $21,700 for its Historic Gullah Land Preservation Program. The initiative offers short-term financial assistance for overdue property taxes and works with families to build long-term financial strategies to preserve generational land ownership.
Lowcountry Legal Volunteers (LLV) was awarded $25,000, funded through the Dr. Juliann Bluitt Foster Memorial Fund. The grant supports LLV’s Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Program, which provides free legal services in critical areas such as domestic violence, housing instability, and child support—legal challenges that often hinder long-term self-sufficiency.

The awards luncheon also featured presentations from the 2024 grant recipients, offering attendees a firsthand look at how previous funding has impacted the community. Several speakers shared stories of clients who gained financial stability, re-entered the workforce, or secured safe housing with support from WIP-funded programs.

The event underscored WIP’s mission to foster resilience and opportunity by investing in proven solutions. “We look for organizations that are doing more than just helping someone get by,” one organizer said during the program. “We’re investing in programs that help people get ahead—and stay ahead.”

Women in Philanthropy was formed more than two decades ago, Women in Philanthropy brings together women across the Lowcountry to pool their resources and amplify their impact. Members collectively research, select, and vote on grant recipients each year. Funds are administered through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, which manages over $90 million in charitable assets supporting nonprofit work in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties.

Those interested in joining or learning more about Women in Philanthropy can visit cf-lowcountry.org or contact Lisa Hodge at 843-681-9100.