FY25 Grant Programs

SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) Grants support American Revolution in SC (1770-1783) education and cultural tourism projects. Available grant amounts are dependent on funding from the South Carolina State Legislature each year.

Working with internal and external reviewers, the Commission may respond to applications with the following:

• awarded / funded
• awarded / partially funded
• not awarded / not funded
• under further due diligence, *which would extend the award notification time.

With needs across the state and limited resources, SC250 is giving priority to projects that:

• are specifically about the American Revolution in South Carolina 1770-1783.
• are from or have buy in from the local County 250 Committee.
• demonstrate partnerships and matching funds (exceeding the required match amount is encouraged).
• have a clear budget and thought out project plans (especially for site grant applications).
• demonstrate impact and longevity.

The SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission (SC250) offers one $3,000 Non-Competitive Organizing Grant to each official County 250 Committee. SC250 also offers Competitive Grants at the following levels Monthly Grants (up to $15,000), Major Grants ($15,001 to $125,000), and Premier Project Grants ($125,001+).

Monthly Grants are reviewed monthly with a deadline on the first business day of each month at 3:00 P.M. Major Grants are reviewed quarterly. Premier Grants’ deadlines are also quarterly and will go through two rounds of review including a presentation to the full Commission or Executive Committee.

Each Funding Opportunity level will offer the following grant types: Museum & Library Style Exhibit Grants, Local Activities Grants; Historic Tourism & Marketing Grants; Research, Publication, Genealogy, & Digitization Grants; Education Grants; Signage & Marker Grants; SC American Revolution Site Grants: Planning, Development, Renovation. (Click on the grant type to learn more about the specific requirements for each type.)

The following entities are eligible for applying to SC American Revolution Sestercentennial Commission grants unless noted otherwise: Official County 250 Committees, Local Governments, Tribes, Museums, Historical Societies, Visitor Centers, Chambers of Commerce, Universities/Colleges, Non-Profit Organizations, SC Council of Governments, Regional Tourism Commissions, Other Select SC Organizations or Businesses in Public/Private Partnerships. Individuals are only eligible for Research and Publication Grants. Contact SC250 for clarification or exemption requests.

County 250 Organizing Grants – Non-Competitive
In an effort to insure that all counties across SC have Sestercentennial programming highlighting their unique role in the American Revolution, the SC250 Commission will be issuing a grant to each county to aid in the formation of their own County 250 Committee and kick start their efforts.

• • Eligibility: Only Official County 250 Committees or a fiscal agent on their behalf

• • Amount: $3,000/County | Non-Competitive

• • FY25 Anticipated Deadline: Accepting Applications Anytime Through May 7, 2025 at 3:00 P.M.

• • Match or Cost Share Required: No. However, partnerships and cost share are encouraged.

• • Grant Distribution: All upfront for Counties/Municipalities. Other Entities 80% upfront, 20% reimbursement at approval of final report with receipts, proof of payment, deliverables, measurement of success.

Monthly Grants – Competitive
In an effort to accelerate the award process, SC250 now reviews applications monthly requesting up to $15,000.

• • Request Amount: up to $15,000

• • Project Completion Timeline: should not exceed 12 months without consultation with SC250

• • FY25 Anticipated Deadlines: 8/1/24, 9/2/24, 10/1/24, 11/4/24, 12/2/24, 1/3/25, 2/3/25, 3/3/25, 4/1/25, 5/1/25, 6/2/25 (all @ 3p)

• • Award Dates: first business day of the month following application deadline

• • Match or Cost Share Required: No. However, partnerships and cost share are encouraged.

• • Grant Distribution: 80% upfront, 20% reimbursement at approval of final report with receipts, proof of payment, deliverables, measurement of success.

Major Grants – Competitive
Requiring more due diligence, SC250 will quarterly review Major Grant applications with requests from $15,001 + $125,000

• • Request Amount: $15,000 – $125,000

• • Project Completion Timeline: should not exceed 24 months without consultation with SC250

• • FY25 Anticipated Deadlines: 9/26/24, 12/13/24, 3/26/25, 6/26/25 (all @ 3p)

• • Match or Cost Share Required: 20% of total budget required

• • Grant Distribution: 80% upfront, 20% reimbursement at approval of final report with receipts, proof of payment, deliverables, measurement of success. Select acquisition projects may require 100% of grant be held in escrow by closing attorney.

Premier Projects Grants – Competitive
Premier Projects requesting more than $125,000 will have two rounds of review. Those scoring high enough on the first round will be invited to present to the full Commission or the Executive Committee.

• • Request Amount: $125,001+

• • Project Completion Timeline: should not exceed 2033

• • FY25 Anticipated Deadlines: 9/26/24, 12/13/24, 3/26/25, 6/26/25 (all @ 3p)

• • Match or Cost Share Required: 25% of total budget required

• Grant Distribution: 80% upfront, 20% reimbursement at approval of final report with receipts, proof of payment, deliverables, measurement of success. Select acquisition projects may require 100% of grant be held in escrow by closing attorney.

Museum & Library Style Exhibit Grants
To aid in connecting each community to their local SC American Revolution history, SC250 will be issuing grants for the creation of museum and library style exhibits, with the hope of customizing the panels to the local American Revolution history. Exhibits can also be digital or placed in venues other than museums and libraries. The goal is to meet people where they are.

Local Activities Grants
These grants are intended to provide seed money for local Revolutionary War activities. This could include public art, performances, living history, presentations and more. SC250 encourages communities to be creative and make their celebration unique to their community.

Historic Tourism & Marketing Grants
Tourists are coming! This grant is to help communities share their American Revolution story and promote historic tourism.

Research, Publications, Genealogy, Digitization Grants
SC250 sees this anniversary as an excellent opportunity to advance research in SC’s role in the American Revolution. There may be opportunities with academic, government, and commercial publishers for well-researched and written pamphlets and monographs, commercial and scholarly articles, and books associated with South Carolina’s 250th Anniversary. In addition to scholarly treatises there is a need for well-written and accurate consumer editions on many topics. Hopefully, some of these foundational research projects will be adopted for academic theses, dissertations, and other publications by independent scholars and authors. Anticipated end result can be a digital asset as long as research standards are met. Books and digital assets to aid researching American Revolution era genealogy and digitization projects can also be considered under this grant type.

Education Grants
One of SC250’s goals is to help educate South Carolinians and visitors of all ages about the important role SC played in the birthing of our new nation. This starts with an emphasis on the many ways to share this info with our K-12 students.

Signage & Marker Grants
Whether interpretive signs at local parks or official state historic markers, there are a lot of locations that need signs about their American Revolution significance. SC250 also encourages marking 18th-century roads. The same road to the grocery store may be an old Cherokee trail or road to a British fort. We live among history and signs help us remember.

SC American Revolution Site Grants: Planning, Acquisition, Development, Renovation
SC250 believes that not only will new battlefield site developments, pull-offs, and interpretation projects enhance cultural tourism during the anniversary, but also that these projects will have an impact on the future of their communities. With hundreds of American Revolution people, places, and event needing to be recognized (over 400 battles and skirmishes alone in SC), SC250 is dedicated to locating, marking, and interpreting as many locations as possible in the upcoming years.

All applications must be submitted in the online Discover SC WebGrants program.
Click Here for a Step-by-Step on Registering

*Grant funding is dependent on allocations from the State Legislature each year. SC250 may choose to fund, not fund, or partially fund applications. The Commission retains the right to make exceptions or alter the up to amount that may be approved for each grant. All information is intended to be a summary and subject to change. For full grant program details and requirements, visit the grant program’s specific page or contact info@SouthCarolina250.com.