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YOU are the Foundation of Our WorK

"As a city, we are in a seminal period where so many choices about our future rely on how we make sense of our past. Fail, and we lose an essential part of ourselves – and our city – that we can’t ever get back. "

– Winslow Hastie, President & CEO, HCF

Your Involvement and Investment are What Powers the Foundation’s Impact

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Since its inception in 1947, Historic Charleston Foundation has continuously earned regional and national respect as a solution-driven organization. Community involvement and investment ensure the Foundation remains effective in its mission to champion the historic authenticity, cultural character and livability of the Charleston region through advocacy, stewardship and community engagement.

Every donation—every dollar—reinforces the Foundation’s long-standing and trusted position as one of Charleston’s primary caretakers and enables us to address and help manage the many challenges and opportunities facing the area today and in the future.

Donations can be fully tax deductible, or you can receive the following with reduced tax benefit:

$75+/Year: unlimited tickets for two adults and any children under 18 per household to HCF’s house museums, the Aiken-Rhett and Nathaniel Russell houses and discounted admission to select events throughout the year

$150+/Year: all the above plus a 20% discount at HCF’s retail shops in Charleston and invitations to specific museum-related activities

$250+/Year: all the above plus 2 single-use guest admissions per year to either museum house

$1,000+/Year: all the above plus invitations to curated experiences and 4 single-use guest admissions per year to either museum house

All donors are recognized in the Annual Report and receive the Foundation’s monthly e-newsletter.

Click Donate for donor levels.

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Interested in other ways to support the Foundation?

  • Corporate Matching
    Corporate Matching is a fantastic way for donors to double their financial investment, or in some cases to add financial support to volunteer hours. Companies with a matching gift program typically issue a check to the employee’s nonprofit of choice after s/he has donated financially or performed volunteer hours and submitted the appropriate paperwork, which can usually be obtained online via the company’s intranet or from the Human Resources department. To find out if your company has a matching gift program, click here.
  • Corporate and Community Partners
    Corporate and Community Partnerships are integral to the fulfillment of the Foundation’s mission. As a Corporate or Community Partner, your organization has a direct impact on the Foundation’s ability to protect Charleston’s historic authenticity, cultural character and livability. Partnerships are typically customized (e.g., advertising, financial support, in-kind donations, strategic activities, volunteer opportunities, etc.) to ensure both the Foundation and the Partner mutually benefit. For more information, please contact Director of Development Blair Phillips or 843.722.1149.
  • Donor-Advised Funds
    Donor-Advised Funds are accepted by the Foundation as donation vehicles. Prior to moving forward with this option, please contact Director of Development Blair Phillips or 843.722.1149.
  • Easements
    Easements are essential preservation tools that help protect Charleston’s architectural and historic heritage. A preservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between the owner of a historic property and the Foundation that establishes perpetual protection for the property. An easement allows property owners to prevent inappropriate changes from being made to their historic properties by giving HCF the ability to work with current and future owners to safeguard a property’s historic character, materials, and significance. When an easement donor makes a ‘qualified contribution’ through an easement, they may be entitled to a tax deduction. HCF proudly holds 400+ easements and covenants on historic properties throughout Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry. For more information, please contact Manager of Easements & Technical Outreach April Wood or 843.805.6731.
  • Grants
    Grants are a critical resource for the Foundation as unrestricted and restricted donations. HCF is well-versed in impact reporting and enjoys working with grant-making organizations to ensure mission alignment as well as engagement with trustees beyond the transaction of funds. For more information, please contact Development Coordinator Simone Davis or 843.720.1181.
  • Planned Giving
    The Granville Bastion Legacy Society (Planned Giving) offers donors a variety of ways of creating a long-lasting legacy in support of the Foundation. From irrevocable gifts like charitable remainder annuity trusts and unitrusts to revocable gifts like wills, life insurance policies, retirement plans and pension plans to marketable securities, planned giving enables donors to enjoy lower income, estate and/or capital gains taxes. Please consult your personal financial advisor, tax advisor, accountant and/or estate planning attorney to consider a giving strategy that works for you and your family. For general questions about the Society, please contact Director of Development Blair Phillips or 843.722.1149.
  • PreserVISIONist Membership Group
    A great way for young professionals to support Historic Charleston Foundation is to join the PreserVISIONist Membership Group! A PreserVISIONist is an individual with a passion for history, architecture, Lowcountry culture, and the overall livability of Charleston and the surrounding communities. This group is perfect for someone who is interested in learning more about Charleston’s rich history and enjoys a variety of educational and social events that support non-profit organizations in Charleston; a young professional interested in networking with others who share a passion for this region, values advocacy and giving back to the community. Annual memberships available for individuals and couples with various benefits including discounted events and more. Learn More
    Join the PreserVISIONist Group
  • In-Kind Donations
    In-Kind Donations are a great way for the Foundation to partner with donors to help defray recurring and/or one-time costs for labor or resources. These donations are often associated with sponsorship of activities and events, but can also support day-to-day HCF needs such as copier paper and/or hardware (computer) needs. For more information, please contact Director of Development Blair Phillips or 843.722.1149.
  • Securities
    Securities (stocks, etc.) are accepted by the Foundation as donation vehicles. Prior to moving forward with either of these options, please contact Director of Development Blair Phillips or 843.722.1149.
  • Real Estate
    Real Estate, in certain circumstances, is accepted by the Foundation as a donation vehicle. Prior to moving forward with either of these options, please contact Director of Development Blair Phillips or 843.722.1149.
  • Tributes & Memorials
    Tributes & Memorials are a time-honored way to support the Foundation while celebrating an occasion, remembering a loved one or recognizing someone special. They are an especially poignant way to highlight the efforts of those preserving and protecting the architectural, historical and cultural character of Charleston. HCF acknowledges all gifts by mail and notifies all gift recipients of your generosity. For more information, please contact Development Coordinator Simone Davis or 843.720.1181.
  • Volunteering
    Volunteering is an incredibly critical and generous way to support the Foundation’s mission. HCF is grateful for the more than 700 volunteers who annually offer their time with anything from student field trips to house museum tours to staffing our two largest public education programs—the Charleston Antiques Show and the Festival of Houses and Gardens—and many other ways every day. For more information, please contact Manager of Volunteers and Communications Liz Caldbeck or at 843.723.8292.


To discuss one of the options above or another idea for how to support the Foundation, please contact HCF’s Director of Development Blair Phillips or 843.722.1149.

HCF (EIN 57-6000599) is a nonprofit organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of IRS Code. Unrestricted donations under $75 are 100% tax deductible as no benefits apply. Please consult your tax advisor with questions.