South Carolina 
SC Organizations SC Charities Charleston Charities
FEATURED Charleston Nonprofit Organizations
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Contents
Please choose from one of the following types of nonprofits and community organizations:
Animal & Wildlife Rescue in Charleston
- Animal rescue in Coastal South Carolina
These animal rescue organizations – all of which are based in Charleston or nearby areas of the South Carolina's Coastal region – provide care and refuge for cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and other domestic animals.
- SC wildlife rescue, rehabilitation
Have you found an injured wild animal? This guide can help you locate a licensed rehabber in South Carolina. It also lists the many great places you can volunteer to help native critters in need.
Arts & Cultural Organizations in Charleston
- Charleston art & culture
These Charleston nonprofits focus on various art forms including music, dance, visual arts, theater, and more.
- Charleston music
Learn about Charleston music including bands, symphonies, musical education organizations, and more.
Charleston Community Improvement Groups
- Charleston Junior Woman's Club
The Charleston Junior Woman's Club is a civic, nonprofit organization, founded in 1966. All members are united by dedication to community improvement through volunteerism.
- Charleston Moves
Charleston Moves is a nonprofit organization advocating for enhanced conditions for walking and riding a bike in Charleston County thus creating a safe, connected and livable environment.
- Charleston Peace
Based in Charleston, this group promotes social and environmental activism and blogs about peace and justice news in South Carolina.
- Coastal Community Foundation
This nonprofit organization helps individuals, families, and organizations in the Lowcountry make an impact on their communities through permanent funds for charitable giving.
- Eastside Community Development Corporation
A community based organization in Downtown Charleston that acts as a liaison between citizens and city officials to build and sustain the community by providing economic and social services.
- Junior League of Charleston
The Junior League of Charleston is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
- Metanoia
This North Charleston based organization invests in neighborhood assets to build leaders, establish quality housing and generate economic development.
- Save Folly's Future
This nonprofit organization's mission is to save a disappearing community and way of life by reversing the island's population decline.
Education & Literacy Organizations
- Beautiful Gate Center
ABA developmental learning center, located in North Charleston, for children and youth with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders.
- Charleston Friends of the Library
The Charleston Friends of the Library is a non-profit, organization dedicated to promoting the library as an essential institution of our society. Volunteer members advocate, educate, and raise funds on behalf of the Library, its patrons, and the larger Charleston county community.
- Charleston Hope
Charleston Hope works directly with educators in Title 1 schools to meet the needs of students in and out of the classroom by providing basic necessities to the schools, classroom mentoring to improve math skills, and the holiday season Adopt-A-Classroom program.
- Charleston Promise Neighborhood
Charleston Promise Neighborhood's mission is to ensure residents in Charleston's Neck are engaged in their community and every child is on track to graduate high school with the abilities necessary to succeed in college, the military or the workforce.
- Earth Heart Growers
Earth Heart Growers is a 501c3 that provides farm-based educational programs to Charleston area youth.
- Engaging Creative Minds
The mission of Engaging Creative Minds is to inspire the creative and innovative potential of all students to achieve academically and become imaginative, adaptable, and productive adults resulting in stronger communities and an increasingly competitive South Carolina workforce.
- Junior Girls Day Out Community Project
Founded in Charleston, South Carolina in November 2007, this group provides positive outlets for young girls ages 4-14, helping them become well-rounded individuals, and inspiring them to reach their goals in life.
- Pattison's Academy
Pattison's Academy improves the quality of life for children with multiple disabilities by providing comprehensive education and rehabilitation programs with a focus on early intervention, education services through PACE Charter School, and a therapeutic summer camp.
- Reading Partners
Reading Partners places community volunteers in low-income Charleston schools to help kids master basic reading with one-on-one tutoring.
- Teacher's Supply Closet
Teachers' Supply Closet is a nonprofit organization that provides free school supplies to teachers in the tri-county area who work at schools where 81% of the students are on the free or reduced meals program.
- Trident Literacy Association
Located in North Charleston, this nonprofit organization increases adult literacy with instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, English as a Second Language, GED preparation, and basic computer use.
- Yo Art Project
The Yo Art! mission is to provide children in the public schools with an opportunity to explore their aptitude in the media arts and other art forms, while discovering their creative potential under the oversight of professionals.
Environmental Nonprofits in Coastal South Carolina
Family Support & Assistance in Charleston
These Charleston groups provide support for families and children in need.
- Be A Mentor
Be A Mentor enables youth to develop positive relationships with caring adults who empower them to reach their full potential through mentorship.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lowcountry
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nationally acclaimed program matching children from single-parent families to caring adult role models. These adult mentors shape the lives of these children by providing them with companionship and guidance, allowing that child to have a more stable and diverse care structure.
- Birthdays For All
Birthdays For All is a nonprofit group that provides children in foster care with presents on their birthday. The organization works with the South Carolina Department of Social Services to get wish-lists from foster children so that they can receive the gifts they really want.
- Camp Happy Days
Since 1982, Camp Happy Days has benefitted over 1,500 children with cancer and their families with cost-free, year-round programs including summer camps, family counseling and financial assistance, "dream dates," hospital visits, holiday giving and more.
- Carolina Children's Charity
Carolina Children's Charity is a 501(c)(3) organization providing financial assistance for children with birth defects or childhood diseases.
- Courageous Kidz
Courageous Kidz is an organization that focuses on families devastated by childhood cancer.
- Darkness to Light
Darkness to Light raises awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse.
- Dee Norton Child Advocacy Center
This nonprofit organization strives to keep children safe from abuse and trauma, and when either occurs, works with our community to bring healing to these children and their families.
- Doors to Dream
This nonprofit organization engages underserved youth through in-school and after-school hours spent in the community involved in social impact projects.
- EMPOWERR Program
The EMPOWERR program provides HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention programs for minority teens in Charleston, SC.
- For the Exceptional
For The Exceptional strives to provide interactive social outlets to young adults with disabilities, while providing parents and the Charleston community with information, support, and services.
- HALOS, Helping And Lending Outreach Support
Based in North Charleston, HALOS provides assistance to abused and neglected children in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties and to their caregivers, through a variety of programs and initiatives to improve the lives of these children.
- Happy Wheels
Once each week, Happy Wheels volunteers make rounds to each inpatient room at all three children's hospitals in South Carolina with brand new books and toys.
- HEART Inclusive Arts Community
HEART provides visual arts, music, and performing arts mentorships and community engagement for adults with disabilities who want to grow and develop as artists.
- Kids On Point
Kids on Point introduces young people to the world of opportunity outside of their under-resourced neighborhoods through year-round academic, athletic, and enrichment activities.
- Landmarks for Families
Formerly named Carolina Youth Development Center, this group serves children in foster care who have suffered from abuse and neglect through its residential group homes and also provides resources for families in the community who are at risk for having their children removed from home.
- Lowcountry Autism Consortium
The Lowcountry Autism Consortium supports the Charleston-area autism community by bridging the gap between individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and high quality, regionally-based services. This organization provides families and professionals with practical, empowering information and advocates for autism awareness, research, and lifelong care.
- Lowcountry Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
This nonprofit group brings horses and experienced, highly trained therapists together to assist those who are experiencing behavioral, emotional, or psychological challenges.
- Lowcountry Orphan Relief
Lowcountry Orphan Relief works directly with other non-profits, schools, foster parents, and government agencies to identify the individual needs of these and other children in severe situations. This nonprofit intervenes at critical junctures in the lives of these children, with products and services that provide a strong, positive impact.
- My Sister's House
My Sister's House is a nonprofit organization that provides services, programs and resources to empower domestic violence victims and their children to live free from abuse. The organization operates an emergency temporary shelter at an undisclosed location for women and children who flee abusive situations in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties in South Carolina.
- Palmetto Palace
Palmetto Palace is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help ease the financial, emotional and physical challenges that accompany a hospitalization of a loved one, by helping with lodging, transportation, and meals for those in need.
- Project Home
Project Home provides homeless male students, ages 17-21, with the support they need to keep them focused on their goals of graduation and beyond.
- Rina Agriss Blair Foundation
The Rina Agriss Blair Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission of providing support, guidance and hope to those affected by Melanoma in Charleston, SC.
- Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston
This organization provides a comfortable "home away from home" where families can stay while their child is hospitalized.
- R3 Inc.
This nonprofit organization helps youth acquire positive effective principles and build healthy community relationships while they successfully develop into mature, productive and well-respected adults.
- Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S.
Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. is a sexual assault advocacy program offering free support and services for survivors of sexual assault in Charleston, Dorchester, and Berkeley counties of South Carolina.
- WakeUp Carolina
This nonprofit, community organization works to help those recover from substance use.
- Windwood Family Services
Windwood Family Services is a private, 501(c)3 not for profit organization that provides a variety of residential and community based programs, working with children and families at-risk to abuse or neglect to ensure safety through supportive interventions.
- WINGS for Kids
WINGS is an educational after-school program that teaches children from low income families how to behave well, make good decisions, and build healthy relationships.
Health Organizations in Charleston
- Adaptive Expeditions
Adaptive Expeditions is an interactive educational nonprofit using sport and recreation to offer health and wellness programs to individuals with physical and sensory disabilities.
- ALS Association South Carolina Chapter
The South Carolina Chapter focuses primarily on helping local patients and families live with ALS.
- American Red Cross, Lowcountry South Carolina
Provides services to the residents of South Carolina including disaster relief, health and safety classes, blood collection for hospitals, and services to the armed forces.
- Association for the Blind
This group's mission is to empower individuals with blindness and visual impairments to lead safe, dignified, independent and rewarding lives, and to prevent vision loss in adults in the Tri-County area and children in Charleston County Title 1 schools.
- Barrier Islands Free Medical Clinic
This free medical clinic's goal is to provide a medical home and continuing primary health care to uninsured adults living or working at or below 200 % of the Federal poverty level on Johns, Wadmalaw or James Island.
- The Blood Connection
The Blood Connection is a non-profit community blood collection and distribution center in North Charleston.
- Camp Rise Above
Based in Charleston, this nonprofit organization provides in-hospital day camps and summer camp experiences to children regardless of disability, illness, or life challenges.
- Charleston County Rescue Squad
The Charleston County Rescue Squad is a fully volunteer based charity 501(c)3 organization contracted by Charleston County, South Carolina to provide support and operations for automobile and heavy extrication, missing or injured boaters, land and marine search and rescue, confined space operations, high angle rescue, diving, drowning (recovery and transport), swift water rescue as well as First Responder medical response for Charleston County E.M.S.
- Charleston Hope
Charleston Hope increases access to mental and behavioral health programs in Title 1 schools to enhance student well-being.
- Closing The Gap in Health Care
Based in North Charleston, this nonprofit organization is working to increase the health literacy of the underserved communities throughout the Carolinas.
- Dream Center Clinic
This North Charleston free medical clinic strives to provide routine, outpatient health and wellness services to the medically underserved residents of North Charleston, Hanahan, and West Ashley most of which are uninsured.
- Friends of Fisher House Charleston
This nonprofit provides free lodging for families and care givers of veterans receiving treatment at the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center.
- The Lonon Foundation
The mission of this Mount Pleasant based organization is to help children affected by a parent or caregiver's cancer find comfort, heal and grow from their shared experiences through free monthly events.
- Louie's Kids
Louie's Kids is an organization focused on addressing and helping with life changing programs for children and families who deal with childhood obesity.
- Lowcountry Pregnancy Center
Lowcountry Pregnancy Center offers free medical and other pregnancy-related services including pregnancy tests, nurse consultations, referrals, and assistance with unplanned pregnancies.
- Mental Health HEROES
This nonprofit organization supports the mission of the Charleston Dorchester Mental Health Center.
- Operation Sight
Headquartered in Mount Pleasant, Operation Sight is dedicated to restoring the vision and improving the lives of uninsured South Carolina residents suffering from cataracts or urgent, sight threatening retinal disorders by providing free surgical care.
- Palmetto Community Care
Palmetto Community Care has been serving individual's living with HIV/AIDS in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties. This organization provides case management, access to medical care, housing assistance, financial assistance, nutritional assistance and legal assistance along with an array of other supportive services to hundreds in the Charleston area.
- Pickle's People
This nonprofit strives to bring awareness to childhood cancer and assists local Charleston families that are battling a recent cancer diagnosis.
- Project Alive & Kicking
This North Charleston based organization's mission is to empower expectant mothers by educating them about healthy pregnancies, fostering an awareness of their babies daily fetal movements, and the actions they can take to help their babies come into the world thriving, alive and kicking.
- Shifa Clinic
The Shifa Clinic, located in Mt Pleasant, is an accredited, full-time free clinic providing a comprehensive set of medical, social, and educational services to underserved communities in the tri-county area.
Organizations that Fight Poverty & Hunger
- Center for a Better South
Headquartered in Charleston, the Center for a Better South is a pragmatic, nonpartisan think tank that develops ideas, strategies and tactics to help reduce poverty, increase economic opportunities and work with thinking leaders who want to make a difference in the American South.
- Charleston Habitat for Humanity
Using volunteer labor, this national organization builds affordable housing for qualifying individuals and families.
- East Cooper Community Outreach
Founded as an emergency relief effort in 1989 after the devastation from Hurricane Hugo, East Cooper Community Outreach has since grown into a permanent resource for the community in need with aid addressing basic needs, health services and empowerment.
- East Cooper Habitat for Humanity
Using volunteer labor, this national organization builds affordable housing for qualifying individuals and families.
- East Cooper Meals on Wheels
This organization serves free nutritious meals to all homebound residents east of the Cooper, regardless of age or income.
- Favor Foundation
Located in North Charleston, the Favor Foundation links homeless Veterans and civilians to food, clothes, toiletry items and other referral services in order to obtain daily living supplies and job assistance resources.
- Fields to Families
Fields to Families works to ease hunger in the Lowcountry by gathering nutritious crops from generous farmers and community gardeners, distributing the harvest to agencies such as Meals on Wheels, local food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and churches.
- Fresh Future Farm
Located in North Charleston, Fresh Future Farm is an urban farm and grocery store providing access to quality jobs and healthy food to under-served areas.
- Humanities Foundation
Since 1992, the Humanities Foundation has provided over 2000 units of affordable and workforce housing. The ShelterNet program has provided emergency financial relief that has helped over 25,000 individuals avoid eviction or loss of essential utility services.
- I Heart Hungry Kids
This nonprofit organization was started by an eleven year old boy and his brothers because they did not like it that 16,000 children go hungry each weekend in Charleston County. It is a group of kids fighting hunger by teaming up with local organizations such as the Lowcountry Food Bank.
- Lowcountry Food Bank
The Lowcountry Food Bank serves the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina and aims to distribute more than 24 million pounds of food each year. The Lowcountry Food Bank is a clearinghouse for donated food products that are distributed to a network of nearly 300 member feeding agencies including soup kitchens, homeless shelters and emergency food pantries.
- The Navigation Center
Outreach program of Cathedral of St Luke and St Paul that helps homeless and those at-risk to connect with service providers and enroll in programs.
- Neighbors Together
Neighbors Together, formerly Tricounty Family Ministries, is a non-denominational, non-profit organization providing food, clothing, medical care, counseling, job placement, shelter, financial assistance and vital services to the impoverished.
- One80 Place
One80 Place provides food, shelter, and critical supportive services to individuals, veterans, and families in need in hopes are ending homelessness in Charleston, South Carolina.
- Operation Home
Operation Home's mission is to help people remain in their homes by increasing safety and accessibility through the coordination of critical home repairs for low-income residents of Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester Counties.
- Origin
Origin SC empowers individuals to achieve financial and housing stability through advocacy, counseling, and education with programs focusing on financial education and coaching, credit improvement, debt management, student loan counseling, homebuyer education, family violence intervention, bankruptcy counseling, home preservation, and homeless prevention.
- Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach Services
Located on Johns Island, Our Lady of Mercy currently extends a helping hand to over 11,000 residents yearly through educational programs, health services and by responding to basic human needs.
- The Salvation Army of Charleston
The Salvation Army operates hundreds of facilities and services around North and South Carolina. These services range from daily character building programs such as the Boys and Girls Clubs and community centers, to providing shelter for families in need of transitional housing, to holding weekly worship services, to providing safe and affordable housing to seniors.
Recreation & Sports Teams in Charleston
- Recreation in Charleston
The majority of these organizations are nonprofits that offer social companionship and athletic training and education for their members.
Religious Organizations in Charleston
- Churches in Charleston
This helpful directory of churches, temples, and mosques in Charleston is sorted by denomination.
- Chabad of Charleston - Center for Jewish Life
This organization is dedicated to serving all Jews with creative educational projects, designed to advance Jewish knowledge, awareness and practice.
- Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy
The primary mission of the Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy is to provide pastoral care and counseling for employees and families of first responders, as well as the general public; assist the Coroner in notifying individuals who have lost a family member in an unexpected manner; assist the Mobile Crisis Unit and SWAT teams in hostage negotiations and other local emergency situations; and to provide follow-up visitations in the home or in the hospital for victims of crimes and their families.
Senior Citizen Organizations in Charleston
Social, Fraternal & Professional Nonprofits
- Charleston Legal Access
A non-profit law firm, located in Downtown Charleston, that provides legal services for modest means clients by offering sliding scale fees.
- Charleston Port and Seafarers' Society
The Charleston Port and Seafarers' Society is a Christian non-profit organization, which exists for the purpose of welcoming and assisting international crews while they are in port.
- Rotary Club of Charleston
The 180-plus members of the historic Rotary Club of Charleston has almost 100 years of public service to the community, nation and world. The club members contribute time, money and leadership to dozens of Charleston-area projects working with local schools, seniors and veterans.
Veteran Support & Assistance
- Heroes On The Water – Lowcountry, SC Chapter
Heroes on the Water helps soldiers and veterans from all branches of the military unwind using the therapeutic qualities of fishing from kayaks. Adaptive kayaks, kayaking accessories and angling equipment is offered on an as needed basis to accommodate a soldier's particular needs.
- St Paul's American Legion Post 145
Located in Hollywood, Post 145 provides support to Veterans and their families in St Paul's Parish as well assistance with preparing benefit applications and appeals.
- Tri-County Veterans Support Network
The Tri-County Veterans Support Network is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charity committed to effective advocacy and holistic service to our veterans and families.
- Veterans on Deck
The mission of Veterans on Deck is to help establish functional and rewarding lives in Veterans while recognizing the unique and often life changing experiences service in the Armed Forces brings.
- Warrior Surf Foundation
Based in Folly Beach, the Warrior Surf Foundation (WSF) is a nonprofit that works to provide free surf therapy, wellness coaching, yoga, and community to Veterans struggling with PTSD, anxiety, depression, transition issues, and other mental health issues.
More Charleston SC Organizations
- AccessAbility
Federally funded, non-residential, not-for-profit organization based in North Charleston is providing skills and support for independent living and the full integration of people with disabilities in their communities.
- Charleston Port and Seafarers' Society
The Charleston Port and Seafarers' Society is a Christian non-profit organization, which exists for the purpose of welcoming and assisting international crews while they are in port.
- The Formation Project
The Formation Project is a nonprofit organization providing direct services to survivors of human trafficking.
- Increasing HOPE
With a mission to create financial freedom for families in South Carolina, Increasing HOPE is a nonprofit Financial Training Center with a passion to see individuals and families become educated, enriched and empowered in the area of personal finance.
- KARS Institute
The KARS Institute is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide training, resources, support and connections to nonprofits, community organizations, churches, schools, small businesses and individuals.
- Palmetto Goodwill
Palmetto Goodwill's mission is to help people achieve their full potential by providing job training and employment services throughout 18 counties in lower South Carolina.
- Trident United Way
Trident United Way is a nonprofit organization that provides programs to address education, financial stability, and health needs in the communities of Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties.
- Turning Leaf Project
Based in North Charleston, Turning Leaf serves men who have been formerly incarcerated to change their attitudes, thinking and behavior so that they can complete probation and stay out of prison.
- YWCA of Greater Charleston
The YWCA Greater Charleston is a non-profit agency that seeks to empower women, strengthen youth and families, and works toward racial justice.
