It’s an organization that we often hear about, and always in a positive way. Whether it is scholarship presentation at a high school, a generous donor realizing their philanthropic dreams, or a residential community supporting local nonprofits, it is likely that Community Foundation of the Lowcountry (CFL) played a key role.
CFL, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was created in 1994 as a result of the sale of Hilton Head Hospital, and originally served only Hilton Head Island. In 2001, the CFL Board of Trustees voted to expand the service region to four counties – Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper.
While many residents have heard of CFL, they might not be aware of all the impactful giving options, organizational support, and resources provided by the dedicated staff.
A panel discussion at CFL’s Housing Symposium
“Many people only know a fraction of what CFL offers,” said Rob Ennamorato, vice president of marketing and communications. “Our goal is to inform those living in the four-county region that we are a multifaceted organization. We offer comprehensive donor services, where a person, group or business can set up a charitable fund with us, and we offer a critical community investment component that provides grants and training opportunities to local nonprofits.”
As the vice president of development and donor services, Emmy Rooney, along with a pair of associates, works directly with donors to provide all the tools and support they need to give generously and effectively. That personalized service has translated to more than 540 charitable funds administered by CFL.
Port Royal Community Charitable Fund, a community fund administered by CFL, awards grants to nonprofits.
“It’s a broad category of donors. It could be an individual, a couple, a family, a giving circle, a nonprofit, a private foundation, or a group with a charitable idea. … We have 15 different residential communities we work with, and a number of corporations that want to do their part in the community,” Rooney said. “Once the fund is established, CFL provides one-on-one support and guidance to help the charitable fund succeed.”
One key advantage to setting up a charitable fund with CFL is the flexibility the donor has, both in the type of charitable fund (donor advised, scholarship, designated, field of interest) and the focus of the fund (health and human services, education, community development, environmental, animal welfare, the arts, etc.). An essential element of donor services is assisting donors with both lifetime and planned giving to create charitable legacies through endowments. This allows a donor to continue supporting organizations and causes long after their lifetime.
Bob Elliott, co-founder of SCNRI, receives the Joan and Wade Webster Community Impact Award at CFL’s Annual Community Meeting.
“We do a lot of detailed research for the donor, whether that’s looking at the financials of an organization or at who they serve,” Rooney said. “We can align the local need with the donor’s interest. … And donors love our scholarship funds because we customize the scholarship to their personal preferences. The donor is heavily involved in establishing the scholarship guidelines.”
Debbie Cahoon, vice president of community investment, and her team manage CFL’s grants programs, scholarships, and nonprofit training workshops. The positive impact of CFL’s community investment is undeniable – more than $125 million awarded in grants to local organizations and more than $11.6 million distributed in scholarships to deserving students since CFL’s inception.
Nonprofit participants in the year-long leadership program hosted by CFL’s Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
“Since I started working at CFL 12 years ago, we’ve more than doubled our impact in terms of grants and scholarships,” Cahoon said. “Many nonprofit leaders have shared that the Community Foundation’s support has been pivotal to their ability to serve the community. We consider these nonprofits important partners. It’s very synergistic from my perspective.”
One of the most important aspects of the community investment department is the training workshops offered to local nonprofit leadership, which help participants navigate the many challenges of nonprofit capacity building. In much the same way that donor services support those who give, community investment supports those who serve the community.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have generous donors Dave and Patty Ekedahl step forward to make nonprofit capacity building a priority at CFL, with the creation of the Ekedahl Center for Nonprofit Excellence in 2024,” Cahoon said. “In just over a year, the center has had hundreds of nonprofit staff and board leadership participate in workshops that focus on staff management, succession planning, AI, and much more. We have received really positive feedback from the nonprofit participants.”
Just when you think you have learned everything about CFL, you discover that there is even more.
CFL board member Faye Gooding presents scholarships to deserving Hampton County High School students.
Over the past few years, CFL has taken a leadership role in the local workforce housing crisis. President and CEO Scott Wierman (who is retiring at end of this calendar year after five stellar years) convened a meeting in 2022 between interested entities working on affordable housing, which eventually led to the creation of the Lowcountry Affordable Housing Coalition. CFL has also hosted housing symposiums and created an Affordable Workforce Housing Fund that supports housing initiatives.
In 2024, CFL pledged altruistic capital to Coastal Community Development Corporation (CCDC) for the purchase of housing units that are rented to qualified people, who work in Bluffton or Hilton Head, at reasonable rates.
Women in Philanthropy, a giving circle of CFL who has granted over $1.3 million to nonprofits, at their fall luncheon.
CFL has also gained a reputation as a trusted resource in the community for donors, nonprofits, public officials, municipalities, and businesses. This led to a partnership with Lowcountry Council of Governments and the creation of LowcountryCommunityIndicators.org, a data-driven website focused on important topics in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper counties.
One prominent takeaway from speaking with Community Foundation of the Lowcountry staff, and learning more about everything CFL offers, is that this is an organization that has made it a priority to help donors maximize their giving and help nonprofits reach more people in need.
“We’re fortunate enough to live in a community where people care,” Rooney said. “And I still think there are a lot of opportunities for people to learn how the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry can be a partner in their own charitable giving.”
To learn more about CFL, visit cf-lowcountry.org or call (843) 681-9100.
