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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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