The Bargain Box
The Bargain Box of Hilton Head is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit thrift store located at 546 William Hilton Parkway in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Founded in 1965 and tax-exempt since December 1971, the organization operates as the original thrift store of Hilton Head Island. The Bargain Box raises funds for local charitable organizations by selling donated merchandise, with net proceeds distributed to qualified nonprofits in the form of cash grants and in-kind support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.2M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$512K
+9.2% YoY
Grant Count
34
+6.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+2.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Accept donated goods in usable condition from local individuals and organizations in order to provide a low cost shopping alternative for working poor in the area. Support local charities via cash grants funded by the sale of donated goods and via in-kind gifts.
Primary Focus Areas: The Bargain Box directs its grantmaking toward qualified Beaufort County charitable agencies involved in:
- Education and youth
- Health and safety
- Hunger and housing
- Recreation
Grantmaking
The Bargain Box has distributed $17,609,000 to the community since 1965. In 2023, the organization made grants totaling approximately $315,000 across 21 grants.
Grant Range
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How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Bargain Box makes grants exclusively to qualified charitable agencies operating in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Revenue: $872,078
- Total Expenses: $868,559
- Net Income: $3,519
- Total Assets: $1,176,379
- Total Liabilities: $3,200
Giving:
- Total giving (2024): $555,000
- Annual grants distributed: Approximately $315,000-$555,000 in recent years
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,161,663 | $1,176,379 | $1,114,992 |
| Revenue | $888,449 | $872,078 | $833,953 |
| Expenses | $964,152 | $868,559 | $773,293 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $58,699 | $29,102 | $24,480 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
162 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Bargain Box
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Children's Center ($42,500), Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project ($35,000), Hopeful Horizons ($34,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANTIOCH EDUCATION CENTER RIDGELAND, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $8,000 |
| ARTS CENTER OF COASTAL CAROLINA HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $8,500 |
| BLUFFTON COMMUNITY SOUP KITCHEN BLUFFTON, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $8,000 |
| BLUFFTON SELF HELP BLUFFTON, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $10,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF BLUFFTON BLUFFTON, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $12,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $23,000 |
| CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION BEAUFORT, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $8,000 |
| COASTAL DISCOVERY MUSEUM HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $26,000 |
| FAMILY PROMISE OF BEAUFORT COUNTY BLUFFTON, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $14,000 |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN DAY SCHOOL HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC | TO FUND THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Sandi Clark - Board President
The organization is governed by a Board of Governors and operates with 7 employees as of 2023.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYN MEACHEN | PAST PRESIDENT | 8 | — |
| SHARI ANDERSON | SALES CHAIR | 6 | — |
| SIRI KERR | DAY CHAIR | 8 | — |
| DEBORAH BONSER | GRANTS CHAIR | 10 | — |
| JUDY PETERS | SALES CHAIR | 6 | — |
| MICHELLE GREEN | SALES CHAIR | 6 | — |
| CANDACE WENZELL | DAY CHAIR | 6 | — |
| SUSAN PAINE | SALES CHAIR | 5 | — |
| SUE WILSON | PRESIDENT | 14 | — |
| HOLLY BROOKS | TREASURER | 10 | — |
| JANE SHINDER | VICE PRESIDENT | 14 | — |
| SUE WAGNER | SECRETARY | 10 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bargain Box fund?
**Mission Statement:** Accept donated goods in usable condition from local individuals and organizations in order to provide a low cost shopping alternative for working poor in the area. Support local charities via cash grants funded by the sale of donated goods and via in-kind gifts. **Primary Focus Areas:** The Bargain Box directs its grantmaking toward qualified Beaufort County charitable agencies involved in: • Education and youth • Health and safety • Hunger and housing • Recreation
How do I apply for a grant from The Bargain Box?
**Grant Activity:** The Bargain Box has distributed $17,609,000 to the community since 1965. In 2023, the organization made grants totaling approximately $315,000 across 21 grants. **Typical Grant Sizes:** Recent grants have ranged from $5,500 to $42,500. Notable 2023 grants include: • The Children's Center: $42,500 • Hilton Head Island Deep Well Project: $35,000 • Hopeful Horizons: $34,000 **Eligibility Requirements:** Qualifying organizations must meet the following criteria: • Be a 501(c)(3)…
Where does The Bargain Box make grants?
The Bargain Box makes grants exclusively to qualified charitable agencies operating in Beaufort County, South Carolina.
What size grants does The Bargain Box award?
In 2024, The Bargain Box awarded 34 grants totaling $512K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Bargain Box's EIN?
The Bargain Box's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0539936. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Bargain Box's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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