Apply for South Carolina Lowcountry Artistic Vitality Grants
We support arts groups that reflect the vitality and diversity of the Lowcountry. We provide general operations grants and other assistance to support, innovate, and connect the Lowcountry arts ecosystem.
We support organizations in the following counties: Horry, Georgetown, Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper, and Beaufort.
How We Work
Relationships are at the core of our grantmaking process. Each grant starts with a conversation with a program officer so we can get to know you and your work.
Grant Eligibility
Program staff must have a conversation with an organization and see their work before applying. See How to Apply and complete the form if interested in starting a conversation.
Requirements
- Arts organizations must be located in Horry, Georgetown, Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, Jasper or Beaufort Counties. Â
- Cultural groups that focus on traditional artistic practices can be eligible to apply.Â
- Entities must be a 501(c)(3) public charity or have a fiscal sponsor.Â
- Organizations must be in compliance with the Secretary of State.Â
- Organizations must have completed at least one full fiscal year of operations. Â
- Organizations must demonstrate or strongly promise artistic vitality. We consider how much programming an organization offers and the degree of professionalism, factoring in artistic discipline, budget size, and where an organization happens to be in its evolution.Â
- Organizations must demonstrate support of professional and local artists.Â
Not Eligible
- Individuals.
- Organizations with a mission primarily focused on arts education or social service.
- Religious activities, political campaigns, or legislative lobbying.
- Stand-alone conferences, publications, films, events, websites, or videos.
- Endowments, capital projects, facilities or building campaigns, or debt reduction.
Seeing Your Work
- We must see your work before we can consider a grant. Please contact amelia@gddf.org as soon as you know your performance schedule and let us know that you’re interested in applying.
Artistic Vitality Grant Deadline
Please contact us at least six weeks before the deadline if you are interested in applying.
Next grant deadline: Friday, March 26, 2027
LowCountry Artistic Vitality Strategy
Support Across The Lowcountry
The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (Foundation) recognizes that every place in the Lowcountry is unique. Close relationships and trust-based philanthropy are essential at the community level to elevate the entire Lowcountry arts ecosystem. The Foundation’s Lowcountry Artistic Vitality strategy seeks to connect the arts and community to create an inclusive, culturally distinct sense of place enriched by a thriving, sustainable, and diverse arts environment across all Lowcountry counties. We support these efforts through multi-year unrestricted general operations, capacity building, and cash reserves challenge grants.
Innovate and Collaborate
The Foundation seeks to encourage and foster artistic excellence and innovation by supporting organizations through collaborative artistic initiatives that expand community access to the arts, elevate the ability for organizations to operate, and produce sustainable artistic work. A new Artistic Initiatives grant has been established to invest in unique artistic opportunities in the region.
Connect the Arts Ecosystem
The Foundation will link arts organizations within individual communities and across the Lowcountry to build trust and community by providing annual cohort-based technical assistance workshops, convening peer networks, and facilitating mission advocacy advancement opportunities.
Learn More from Our Strategy Webinar
General operations grant Award Ranges
Organizations are eligible for general operations grants amounts based on annual expenses for the most recently completed fiscal year.
Professional Arts Organizations
Annual Expenses
Grant Amount
$0-$100,000
$10,000
$100,000-$400,000
$15,000
$400,000-$750,000
$20,000
$750,000 and above
$25,000
How to Apply
Returning Grantees
- Log into the Grantee Portal to complete your application. All proposal applications will be available in our grantee portal six weeks before the deadline.
- You will receive an email from Giving Data when applications are available, as well as periodic reminder emails.
- If you have questions about the forms or process, email grants@gddf.org.
New Applicants
- Confirm that your organization meets our eligibility requirements.
- Program staff must have a conversation with new organizations and review their work before being eligible to apply. Please reach out to Ame Gasque at amelia@gddf.org.