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Strengthening Communities Grant
The South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO) and the United Way Association of South Carolina have been selected to receive over $200,000 to strengthen the operational capacity of the nonprofit sector statewide as well as SCANPO's internal capacity. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded $12 million to 49 grantees under a new program created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

SCANPO and its partner, the United Way Association of SC, will work together to strengthen 20 faith-based and community organizations in disadvantaged and hard to serve areas in the state. The target audience for the program consists of nonprofit organizations serving a 14 county region (Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Colleton, Edgefield, Greenwood, Hampton, Jasper, Laurens, McCormick, Orangeburg and Saluda counties) that will be chosen for the project because of the substantially high unemployment and poverty levels in those rural areas. The participating organizations will cover a diverse variety of organizations based on organization type, geographic location, size and programs served. Organizations interested in the program will be required to fill out an application that will be reviewed by a team of state-wide evaluators.  The deadline for the application and self-assessment is February 12, 2010. Applicants will not be excluded because of the religious nature of the organization or its programs or because it lacks 501(c)(3) status. This program is offered at no cost to all interested organizations.

SCANPO plans to provide training aimed at building the capacity of nonprofit organizations which specifically address the broad economic recovery issues present in their communities.

Community forums will be held in Aiken, Barnwell, Greenwood and Walterboro where faith-based and community organizations serving the 14 county region will receive information about Serving, Supporting and Strengthening Nonprofits for a Better South Carolina and will be encouraged to apply for the free program.

This grant is for free training and technical assistance (no money will be distributed) for organizations addressing the broad economic recovery issues present in the communities in the selected counties only.

The schedules for the community forums are as follows (click on the blue hyperlink to register for the forum):
Walterboro Community Forum: January 13, 2010 l 10:00-11:00am l Colleton County Adult Education Center
Barnwell Community Forum: January 19, 2010 l 1:00-2:00pm l Barnwell County Library
Aiken Community Forum: January 22, 2010 l 1:00-2:00pm l Aiken Center for Alcohol and Other Drug Services
Greenwood Community Forum: January 28, 2010 l 2:30-3:30pm l Arts Council Federal Building

Strengthening Communities

Click here for the grant application and self assessment in a PDF format.  Click here for the grant application and self assessment in a Microsoft Word format. (Application Deadline: February 12, 2010)

Click here to view the Serving, Supporting and Strengthening Nonprofits for a Better South Carolina press release.

 To submit the Serving, Supporting and Strengthening Nonprofits for a Better South Carolina application and self assessment, mail to SCANPO, 2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 201, Columbia, SC 29204 or email info@scanpo.org.