South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development

Community Development Institute (CDI): Mergers & Acquisitions for Greater Impact Thursday August 21, 10:30-11:30 am EDT Presented Virtually | Led by Dr. Lila Anne Sauls, President & CEO, Homeless No More In the face of looming federal and anticipated state budget cuts, many nonprofit and community-based organizations are being called to think differently — not just about sustainability, but about collaborative strength and long-term resilience. This special session of the Community Development Institute (CDI) will provide timely and strategic guidance for organizations exploring mergers, acquisitions, and collaborative models to strengthen their financial footing and expand their impact. Led by Dr. Lila Anne Sauls, a respected executive and changemaker who has successfully led organizational mergers, this session will help participants: • Understand key considerations before pursuing a merger or acquisition • Explore real-life case studies of successful collaborations • Learn how to approach strategic partnerships with vision, transparency, and accountability • Begin preparing for conversations around shared services, governance, and culture alignment This is a must-attend session for executive leaders, board members, and funders looking to position their organizations for success in a shifting funding landscape. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/4mA8Xhf

Opportunity SC: 2025 Call for Session Presenters!🎤 Spanning three days, Wednesday, October 1 through Friday, October 3, 2025, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the 26th annual conference will educate attendees of integrated, innovative, and sustainable solutions for low-wealth communities across our state and region. Click the below link to submit your application before August 8th, 2025!

Nominations Now Open for The Mother Emanuel Nine Award for Economic and Social Justice and The Ike Williams Award for Civic Leadership! Deadline to submit a nomination is August 15, 2025! Each year at our annual conference, Opportunity SC, we acknowledge the great work organizations and individuals are doing to improve the economic and social conditions of historically underserved communities in our state. We invite you to review the award descriptions and submit their nominations via the links below. The deadline to submit a nomination is August 15. The Mother Emanuel Nine Award for Economic and Social Justice This award is presented annually to an organization that is working diligently to improve the economic and social conditions of the poor in South Carolina. The awardee will exemplify the values of Rev. Pinckney and the Mother Emanuel Nine; namely peace, justice, equality, and hospitality to the stranger. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/3TSCTc0 The Ike Williams Award for Civic Leadership This award is given to a grassroots leader that has demonstrated success mobilizing and organizing at the neighborhood/community level in the areas of civil justice, civil rights and economic justice. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/449V430

Several SCACED members and partners have current job openings. Check out the brief descriptions below and click the link to view our full job board. If you have an opening you'd like added to the job board, send the description link or file to Sterling Chancley at intern@scaced.org. View current openings by clicking on following link: http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/4l27L62 The Opportunity Center is seeking a Building Coordinator. View the position by clicking on the following link: http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/44wRdgs

Early Bird Registration is now open for our annual conference, Opportunity SC: 2025 coming to Spartanburg, SC this Fall at the Spartanburg Marriot, October 1-3, 2025! The Opportunity SC Conference is the largest comprehensive community development convention and forum in South Carolina. Spanning three days, Wednesday, October 1 through Friday, October 3, 2025 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the 26th annual conference will introduce attendees to integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions for low-wealth communities across our state and region. Opportunity SC: 2025 will focus on the theme "Build. Grow. Own. Thrive." Early bird discounts on tickets are available until August 30! Click the link below to register your tickets. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/3Tqtf0f

You're Invited! Join Regions Bank for a FREE Webinar! PARTNERING WITH YOUR BOARD FOR SUCCESS Important Insights Webinar for Community Organizations Co-presented by the Regions Bank Making Life Better Institute® and Regions Philanthropic Solutions Tuesday, August 19, 2025 2pm – 3pm US Central Time via WebEx https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/3H7vgM8

Funding Opportunities! The City of Charleston has opened Community Resource Grants! Click the below link to learn more and apply! https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/gVbN5zZt USDA Rural Development released a bulletin with several funding opportunities for Community Economic Development! Click the below link to learn more and apply! https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/e-3guAX7

You're Invited! Fight Recidivism Through Art, Sound, and Story! Join Soteria CDC for their Fall Fundraiser this October! Click the link to learn more and register: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eUq5Z8z5

Opportunity SC: 2025 Call for Session Presenters!🎤 Spanning three days, Wednesday, October 1 through Friday, October 3, 2025, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the 26th annual conference will educate attendees of integrated, innovative, and sustainable solutions for low-wealth communities across our state and region. Click the below link to submit your application before August 1, 2025! http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/40J81hU

Nominations Now Open for The Mother Emanuel Nine Award for Economic and Social Justice and The Ike Williams Award for Civic Leadership! Each year at our annual conference, Opportunity SC, we acknowledge the great work organizations and individuals are doing to improve the economic and social conditions of historically underserved communities in our state. We invite you to review the award descriptions and submit their nominations via the links below. The deadline to submit a nomination is August 15. The Mother Emanuel Nine Award for Economic and Social Justice This award is presented annually to an organization that is working diligently to improve the economic and social conditions of the poor in South Carolina. The awardee will exemplify the values of Rev. Pinckney and the Mother Emanuel Nine; namely peace, justice, equality, and hospitality to the stranger. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/3TSCTc0 The Ike Williams Award for Civic Leadership This award is given to a grassroots leader that has demonstrated success mobilizing and organizing at the neighborhood/community level in the areas of civil justice, civil rights and economic justice. http://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.pbit.ly/449V430