Grow York, Give Local: York County Community Foundation Kicks Off Matching $1 Million Campaign to Support Local Nonprofits
YORK COUNTY, SC – The York County Community Foundation has a chance to access $1 million to support local nonprofits, but it needs the public’s help to raise the matching funds.
An anonymous donor has pledged $1 million toward York County Community Foundation’s endowment if the York County, SC,-based community foundation can raise $333,000 by the end of 2026. If both figures are received, it will more than double YCCF’s current endowment, from approximately $1 million to $2.3 million. The funds will generate around an additional $100,000 in annual grants that will be distributed to the community beginning in 2028.
Since its founding in 1988, the nonprofit foundation has awarded more than $1 million to dozens of nonprofits, making the ability to give an additional $100,000 annually a significant advancement for the community.
“This challenge was given to us by an anonymous donor who loves York County and supports the work of the York County Community Foundation,” said YCCF Board Chair Amy Hagner, who is also the assistant superintendent of finance and operations for York School District One. “If we meet this match, it’s going to have a tremendous impact on our local nonprofits and will allow our board to potentially distribute larger grants and assist more nonprofits. This is a challenge that’s important for our community to meet.”
In 2025, the York County Community Foundation distributed more than $75,000 to 20 local nonprofits. Grants included $3,500 to United Way of York County to fund workforce development programs for local families; $5,000 to Safe Passage to renovate rooms in its domestic violence shelter; $3,700 to Hope Inc. to support food distribution programs; and $5,000 to Pathways Community Health Care to provide free healthcare services to adults in York County, among other grants.
“The grants the board distribute annually to local nonprofits have had a significant impact on our community and the people we serve – from mental health to food insecurity to literacy to supporting our local arts institutions, on and on,” said Chad Echols, a York County Community Foundation board member and partner at Frost Echols LLC. “If we meet this moment and achieve our fundraising objective, we can empower our local nonprofit community to have an even larger impact on York County.”
Founded as a permanent endowment serving York County, the York County Community Foundation benefits a wide range of charitable purposes. An affiliate of Charlotte-based Foundation for the Carolinas, the YCCF is guided by a local advisory board made up of community members who know the area, understand York County’s priorities and provide guidance to the foundation’s annual grantmaking programs.
To give, visit: fftc.org/GrowYorkGiveLocal. For more information, contact Stephanie Mudd: 704.973.4546.
About the York County Community Foundation:
Established in 1988 as a permanent endowment, the York County Community Foundation benefits a wide range of charitable purposes. As an affiliate of Foundation for the Carolinas, the York County Community Foundation inspires philanthropy, increases charitable giving and strengthens the community. Visit www.yorkcounty-cf.org for more information.
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Media Contact: Timothy Hager, SVP-Communications, Foundation for the Carolinas, 704.973.4587 or thager@fftc.org.