The Lancaster County Partners for Youth
Lancaster County Partners for Youth is a private foundation based in Lancaster, South Carolina, dedicated to providing exceptional opportunities that elevate and enrich the youth of Lancaster County. Operating as an independent, nonprofit partnership built on community generosity, the organization works in collaboration with individuals, businesses, educational institutions, and the Lancaster County School District to strengthen educational outcomes for students throughout the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$10.7M
-24.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.3M
+18.9% YoY
Grant Count
11
-38.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$304K
+94.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lancaster County Partners for Youth reported a distributable amount of $214K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: Educate. Empower. Elevate. Enable. Enrich.
The organization's core purpose is to enrich Lancaster County by educating every child, empowering every teacher, and elevating every school. Lancaster County Partners for Youth is dedicated to educating and empowering the youth of Lancaster County through scholarship and grant programs, and opportunities for further education.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
Grantmaking
Lancaster County Partners for Youth offers multiple types of funding support:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Lancaster County, South Carolina
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $10,686,872
- Total Giving: $3,345,561
- Total Revenues: $3,794,521
- Total Expenses: $7,060,899
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,686,872 | $14,220,506 | $15,817,527 |
| Revenue | $3,794,521 | $5,243,348 | $2,143,073 |
| Expenses | $7,060,899 | $6,957,591 | $3,031,862 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,345,561 | $2,813,783 | $1,250,941 |
| Net Investment Income | $168,422 | $123,101 | $112,411 |
| Distributable Amount | $213,936 | $218,247 | $215,378 |
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
77 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Lancaster County School District ($1,444,022), Tri County Christian Foundation ($405,823), Lancaster County Partners for Youth ($306,050).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Clemson University Clemson, SC | Lancaster County Clemson Club scholarships, Future Teacher scholarships, and Crenshaw Business/Marketing scholarships | $16,500 |
| Lancaster County School District Lancaster, SC | Teacher classroom grants, grant related services | $1,444,022 |
| University of South Carolina Colubmia, SC | Crenshaw Business/Marketing, Alice K Howey, and Future Teacher Scholarship | $193,763 |
| Lancaster County Partners for Youth Lancaster, SC | Grant related services, Strengthening Families | $306,050 |
| Catawba Community Mental Health Rock Hill, SC | Grant related services | $294,401 |
| Faith Hope Victory Christian Church Lancaster, SC | Project related services | $270,686 |
| First Steps of Lancaster County Lancaster, SC | Project related services | $151,225 |
| Tri County Christian Foundation Lancaster, SC | Project related services | $405,823 |
| Call Me Beauty Lancaster, SC | Project related services | $5,741 |
| Counseling Services of Lancaster Lancaster, SC | Project related services | $84,745 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
Gregg Gause — Chairman of the Board Co-owner of H & H Storage in Kershaw, SC. Graduate of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Serves as treasurer of the Lancaster Chapter of the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, high school and American Legion baseball umpire, active member of Second Baptist Church in Lancaster, and assistant basketball coach at Andrew Jackson High School.
Chris Clouden — Vice Chair Extensive background in recreation and event management. Previously spent 10 years in Parks and Recreation for the City of New York, where he was responsible for upgrading eight fitness facilities and played a key role in capital design of seven centers totaling more than $33 million. Later managed major events for the Charlotte Regional Sports Commission and Charlotte Sports Foundation, including the annual ACC Football Championship and the Belk Bowl. Previously served as Executive Director of The Market at 7th Street in Charlotte. Currently serves on the Lindsay Pettus Greenway Board and has previously served on the boards of Right Moves for Youth and Alzheimer's Association of Western Carolina.
Mary Faile — Treasurer Currently serves as Director of Finance for Lancaster County.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharon Novinger | Executive Dir. | 40 | $83,000 |
| Gregg Gause | Chairman | 1 | — |
| Walt Collins | Director | 1 | — |
| Tyson Blanton | Past Chair | 1 | — |
| Steve Sherrill | Director | 1 | — |
| Stephanie King | Director | 1 | — |
| Mary Faile | Treasurer | 1 | — |
| Nick Ochoa | Director | — | — |
| Gail Gillis | Director | 1 | — |
| Raashad Fitzpatrick | Ex-Officio | 1 | — |
| Charlene McGriff | Director | 1 | — |
| Debbie Jaillette | Director | — | — |
| Silberio Francis | Director | — | — |
| Seth Graves | Director | 1 | — |
| Mika Sinclair | Director | 1 | — |
| Benjamin Riggins | Director | — | — |
| Chris Clouden | Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Porsha Mungo-Brown | Director | 1 | — |
| Anicia Stevenson | Director | 1 | — |
| Elizabeth Hyatt | Secretary | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Big Thursday of Lancaster:** Lancaster County Partners for Youth serves as a sponsoring organization for Big Thursday of Lancaster, an annual fundraising event held on the third Thursday of November. Since 2000, Big Thursday has raised $796,500 for Lancaster County students to attend USC Lancaster and Clemson University. Partners for Youth administers the Lancaster County Clemson Club scholarships funded through this event. The 2025 Big Thursday is scheduled for November 20, 2025.
Shana Dry - USC LancasterContact Information
Lancaster County Partners for Youth, Inc. P.O. Box 1023 Lancaster, SC 29721
Phone: (803) 286-1465 Fax: (803) 283-2171 Email: sharon@lcpartnersforyouth.org
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lancaster County Partners for Youth fund?
**Mission Statement:** Educate. Empower. Elevate. Enable. Enrich. The organization's core purpose is to enrich Lancaster County by educating every child, empowering every teacher, and elevating every school. Lancaster County Partners for Youth is dedicated to educating and empowering the youth of Lancaster County through scholarship and grant programs, and opportunities for further education. **Primary Focus Areas:** • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services
How do I apply for a grant from The Lancaster County Partners for Youth?
Lancaster County Partners for Youth offers multiple types of funding support: **Scholarships:** The organization awards scholarships to both students and teachers across Lancaster County. Through partnerships with businesses, individuals, and the Lancaster County School District, the foundation awards thousands of dollars in scholarships annually to encourage further education and enrich the community with talented individuals. **Grants:** The foundation provides grants for teachers, communitie…
Where does The Lancaster County Partners for Youth make grants?
Lancaster County, South Carolina
What size grants does The Lancaster County Partners for Youth award?
In 2024, The Lancaster County Partners for Youth awarded 11 grants totaling $3.3M — an average of about $304K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lancaster County Partners for Youth required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lancaster County Partners for Youth reported a distributable amount of $214K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lancaster County Partners for Youth's EIN?
The Lancaster County Partners for Youth's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 57-0628085. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Lancaster County Partners for Youth'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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