Environment & Wildlife Conservation Grants

The Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grant program was established by Seabrook Island Town Council in 2024. For more information about program eligibility, please review the program guidelines below.

Total Funds Available in 2025: $15,000.00
Total Funds Remaining in 2025: $10,300.00
Minimum Grant Amount: $250.00
Maximum Grant Amount: $2,500.00
Application Deadline: Grant applications will be accepted starting March 1, 2025. The first review of applications will take place on March 13, 2025. Applications will continue to be accepted until the earlier of October 1, 2025, or upon the commitment of all available grant funding for 2025.

Purpose

Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grants may be awarded by the Town of Seabrook Island to eligible organizations to provide financial support for programs, projects, and activities that are designed to preserve and protect wildlife and wildlife habitat within the town, expand resident and/or visitor knowledge of environmental and wildlife issues affecting the town, or enhance environmental and wildlife conservation efforts within the town.

Eligibility

Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grants may be awarded to any organization which:

Is determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be a tax-exempt organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
Is established for any benevolent, social welfare, scientific, educational, environmental, philanthropic, humane, patriotic, public health, civic, or other eleemosynary purpose, or for the benefit of law enforcement personnel, firefighters, or other persons who protect the public safety; or
Employs a charitable purpose or appeal as the basis of solicitation.

Religious organizations may be eligible for grant funding, provided the project advances a secular (i.e. non-religions) purpose. Individuals and organizations formally associated with a national, state or local political party or candidate will not be eligible for grant funding. An eligible organization must open its membership to all persons.

Pursuant to the South Carolina Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act (S.C. Code of Laws Title 33, Chapter 56), all charitable organizations that solicit contributions or have contributions solicited on their behalf must register with the South Carolina Secretary of State’s Office on an annual basis unless they fall under one of the statutory exemptions. Applicants must provide a copy of their current registration or exemption with their application.

Grant Awards

Funds will be awarded in amounts ranging from $250.00 to $2,500.00. The total amount of grant funds available each calendar year will be determined by, and shall not exceed, the amount included for the Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grant Program in the annual budget ordinance approved by the Town Council. Not all appropriated funds need be expended if qualifying applications are not received. Organizations may apply for more than one grant; provided, however, the total amount awarded to any organization shall not exceed $2,500.00 in any calendar year.

Application

Organizations wishing to apply for an Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grant must complete and submit an application form to the Town Clerk during the calendar year for which the grant funds are proposed to be expended.

For the 2025 calendar year, grant applications will be accepted starting March 1, 2025. The first review of applications will take place on March 13, 2025. Subsequent meetings of the Environment and Wildlife Committee will take place at 10:00 AM on the second Thursday of each month, unless otherwise advertised. Applications received after the first review will be considered in the order in which they are received. Applications will be accepted until the earlier of October 1, 2025, or upon the commitment of all available grant funds for 2025.

Review

Grant applications will first be reviewed by the town’s Environment and Wildlife Committee. The Environment and Wildlife Committee shall have the authority to establish rules for reviewing applications, including asking for additional information and/or suggesting changes to the application to ensure it conforms with all grant criteria. A representative from the requesting organization must attend (either in person or virtually) the Environment and Wildlife Committee meeting during which the organization’s request will be considered. Failure to attend may result in deferral or a recommendation for denial of the grant request.

Upon reviewing each grant application, the committee shall make a recommendation to the Town Council as to whether the application should be approved (in whole or in part) or denied. The Town Council shall have final authority in approving or denying grant applications.

Delivery of Grant Funds

Organizations receiving funding from the Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grant program shall submit to the Town Clerk all necessary documentation, including invoices and/or paid receipts, documenting the organization’s commitment or expenditure of awarded grant funds. All disbursement requests will be reviewed and approved by the Town Administrator. Upon approval, a disbursement check will be issued to the organization. Disbursement requests must be received no later than December 15th of the calendar year within which the grant was awarded. Grant funds that are uncommitted or unspent at the end of the calendar year will be returned to the town’s General Fund.

More Information

For more information about the Environment and Wildlife Conservation Grant program, please contact us by phone at (843) 768-9121 or by email at [email protected].

More Information

2025 Program Guidelines
2025 Application Form

2024 Grant Recipients

Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network ($2,500.00)
Seabrook Island Garden Club ($619.00)
Seabrook Island Greenspace Conservancy ($2,500.00)
Camp St. Christopher and Conference Center ($2,242.00)
Seabrook Island Birders ($2,500.00)

Contact

Peter Wiggins
Town Clerk/Treasurer
(843) 768-9121
[email protected]