From staff reports
Women in Philanthropy (WIP), a charitable giving circle of the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL), awarded $148,700 in grants to six deserving Beaufort County nonprofits at its Annual Grant Awards Luncheon on May 20 at Country Club of Hilton Head.
The theme of WIP’s 2025 grant cycle is “Building Pathways to Long-Term Self-Sufficiency.”
The luncheon featured inspiring and emotional presentations by 2024 WIP grant recipients, as well as the announcement of the 2025 grantees. WIP, who has more than 180 members, has granted approximately $1.3 million to local organizations since its inception in 2003.
The 2025 WIP Grant Recipients are:
Beaufort-Jasper YMCA of the Lowcountry — $30,000: To fund Childcare Programs, including scholarships for 30 to 40 families using after-school and summer camp programs for their children at multiple program sites throughout Beaufort County.
Bluffton Self Help — $22,000: To fund local family emergency needs identified through the “Case Management & Resource Coordination Program.”
The Children’s Center — $30,000: To fund an infant and toddler childcare program offering services at a sliding scale for working families through their “Family Livelihood Depends on Childcare” program. This is one of only two centers on Hilton Head Island providing care for infants and toddlers.
Deep Well Project (Circles Program) – $20,000: To fund the third cohort of the “Circles Program” that helps low-income families move from poverty level existence to financial stability. Graduation from the program occurs when a family’s annual household income rises to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Lowcountry Gullah Foundation — $21,700: To fund the “Historic Gullah Land Preservation Program” preserving Historic Gullah Lands via short-term emergency financial assistance for delinquent county taxes, and long-term educational partnerships with local families to establish a solid financial base for the future.
Lowcountry Legal Volunteers (LLV) — $25,000 (Dr. Juliann Bluitt Foster Memorial Fund Award): Funds will be used for the “Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Program” which offers free legal services to underserved populations, with a focus on issues such as domestic violence, child support, and housing instability. By addressing these critical legal needs, LLV strives to remove barriers to financial self-sufficiency and stability.
About Women in Philanthropy
For more than 20 years, Women in Philanthropy has been supporting nonprofit organizations throughout Beaufort County, strengthening communities, and celebrating the value of giving back to benefit those in need. If you would like more information about joining Women in Philanthropy, contact Lisa Hodge at 843-681-9100.
