Impact Report 2025
Your extraordinary gifts of time, talent, and treasure empowered HCF to deepen our work across all three mission pillars: Preservation, Advocacy, and Museums. You helped us unite community voices and elevate vital advocacy efforts to protect Charleston’s cultural, architectural, and historic fabric. Because of your belief in our mission, 2025 was a year of purpose and profound impact. VIEW PDF
PRESERVATION
Through our preservation programs, we seek to balance historic preservation with progress while honoring our communities. Here are some of our 2025 successes:
- Completed significant repairs on two historic residences on the peninsula (3 Porter’s Court and 2310 Delano Street) and started roofing and siding project at 19 Dingle Street.
- $1.25M in HUD grant funding was awarded to complete 17 larger rehabilitation projects in partnership with the cities of Charleston and North Charleston.
Our work to support historic Black churches includes:
- St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church: Connected to Clemson’s Historic Preservation Program for architectural documentation and treatment plans. Seeking grant support for repairs to the historic sanctuary. Working with church leadership to activate their space as a revenue generator to fund preservation.
- New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church: Secured $150,000 in planning grants for a comprehensive condition assessment and raised $20,000 for a temporary roof covering to protect against water intrusion.
- Assisted with technical support and connected leadership at St. Andrew’s Mission Church, Calvary Episcopal Church, Jerusalem Baptist Church, and Holy Trinity Reformed Episcopal Church as strategic community partners to repair their historic buildings.
Edmunds Endangered Properties Fund
- After purchasing and stabilizing the abandoned historic gas station at 80 Ashley Avenue, we found a buyer who will restore the commercial use with an easement that will protect it in perpetuity.
Easement and Covenant Program
- Secured an HCF easement at the Pine Tree Hotel at Mosquito Beach.
- Performed 385 easement inspections and assessed over 150 alteration requests.
Special Preservation Projects
- Continued oversight of $1.25M Mellon Foundation grant at Mosquito Beach on James Island for revitalization of the Pine Tree Hotel and adjacent Skeeta Beach Lounge.
ADVOCACY
At the core of our mission, the Foundation protects and sustains Charleston’s future through advocacy and community engagement
on key issues. In 2025, we:
- Led the South Carolina delegation at Preservation Advocacy Week on Capitol Hill to highlight the importance of preservation
programs and funding.
- Partnered with Bloomberg Associates and the City of Charleston to launch a resident-focused tourism management initiative and hosted a Future of Responsible Tourism Forum attended by over 200 supporters.
Public Policy/Urban Planning Victories
- Joined forces to codify a common vision for the future of Union Pier in Charleston’s Comprehensive Plan.
- Upheld Charleston’s Accommodations Overlay policy to manage hotel growth.
- Mobilized the community to successfully defeat a private commercial dock proposal off Lockwood Boulevard in downtown Charleston.
- Worked to ensure hospital expansion and innovation does not come at the expense of historic character and neighborhoods in the Medical District Overlay zone.
- Supported the community to successfully secure Charleston County Historic District designation for the Hamlin Beach settlement community.
- With partners, finalized the Area Character Appraisal for North Central neighborhood and got approval for an ordinance amendment to better protect upper peninsula neighborhoods.
MUSEUMS
The Nathaniel Russell and Aiken-Rhett House Museums are models of the highest standards of preservation, research, interpretation, education, and community engagement. Stewarding these properties requires constant vigilance. Your support powered these efforts in 2025:
Nathaniel Russell House Kitchen Project:
- A Donnelley Foundation grant funded the creation of a new interpretive plan, which included consultation with members of Charleston’s descendant community. Once finalized, the plan will guide interpretation telling the important stories of the people who were enslaved on the property.
- Continued research of the over 8,000 artifacts found in Nathaniel Russell House cellar.
- Stabilization began much-needed repairs to the art gallery roof and moved artwork into a temporary climate-controlled art room in the double parlors.
- Hosted more than 50,000 museum visitors, including those who visited Aiken-Rhett for art exhibit, Fragments and Facades, and Family Day.
The Margaretta P. Childs Archives remains one of the most valuable research libraries and archival repositories for students, historians, journalists, homeowners, and more who made hundreds of requests for information from the archive.
- Additionally, over 200 photos and research materials were added to the online database for public access.
MAKE A DONATION
Help us continue this indispensable work to preserve and sustain the best of Charleston, South Carolina, by making a donation. Until early 2026, a visionary donor is MATCHING eligible gifts 1:1, doubling the preservation power behind each donation. To learn more about Gifts that Guard HERE and make an online donation HERE.