Apply for a JLGS Partnership

Partner with Junior League Grand Strand!

Making an impact in the Grand Strand starts here. Junior League Grand Strand (JLGS) partners with nonprofit organizations to provide volunteer support and funding opportunities that uplift women, children, and families in our community.

If your organization is seeking assistance, we offer two partnership programs.

Which Partnership Program is Right for Your Organization?

✅ Done-in-a-Day (Learn More)
A one-time volunteer opportunity for nonprofits that need hands-on support for short-term projects or events.

  • Requires 5-20 volunteers for 2 to 8 hours.
  • No funding provided—volunteers only.
  • Open to nonprofits that align with JLGS’s mission.
  • Applications accepted year-round with at least 60 days’ notice.

✅ Community Partner Program (Learn More)
A formal partnership with JLGS that includes funding (up to $2,500) and volunteers to support a longer-term initiative or larger project.

  • Must align with JLGS’s mission and focus areas.
  • Involves a proposal process and committee review.
  • Applications for each League Year are due by May 1.

About JLGS Community Impact

Junior League Grand Strand is an organization of women dedicated to advancing leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training. Our work focuses on:

  • Youth Advocacy
  • Health Initiatives
  • Food & Nutrition Security
  • Housing Advocacy

By partnering with local nonprofits, we create lasting change through strategic support, funding, and hands-on volunteer work.

Ready to Apply?

Still have questions? Contact us at communitypartners@grandstrand.jl.org and let’s make an impact together!

Frequent Questions:

Q: What is the General Timeline?

  • May 1: Applications are due
  • May 15-May 31: JLGS evaluates applications
  • June 1: Notification given to approved league year projects and partners
  • August 1:  Projects may begin as early as August 1
  • May 15: Last day for league year projects

*Timeline is subject to change.

Q: What should my community project description include?

The proposed project should included (as indicated on each online application form):

  • Specific details of how the proposed project will align with at least one of the four Community Pillars of the Junior League of the Grand Strand: Youth Advocacy, Health Initiatives, Food and Nutrition Security, and Housing Advocacy.
  • Identify a project goal that includes both significant volunteer participation from League members and a monetary contribution from the JLGS. Project goal may include a volunteer-only commitment.
  • Involve well-defined volunteer opportunities that will be performed and funded within a specific time frame, commencing no sooner than August 1, 2024, and ending no later than May 1, 2025.
  • Provide for collaboration between the Junior League of the Grand Strand, and one or more registered 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations in good standing with the Office of the South Carolina Secretary of State.
  • Goals and objectives of the project.
  • Anticipated tasks needed to accomplish those goals, including number of volunteers, hours, and description of volunteer tasks and training requirements, if any.
  • A project timeline.
  • Plan for measuring the impact of the project.
  • A thorough budget encompassing all aspects of the project, as well as additional revenue requirements above the Junior League’s commitment and anticipated sources of that additional revenue.
  • A specific person or team of people in your organization who will work with a Junior League representative to organize and implement the project and who will provide an assessment of the project to the Junior League.
  • A copy of your organization’s most recent audited financial statement
  • A brief summary statement of past projects undertaken in collaboration with the Junior League of the Grand Strand, if any.
  • A brief summary statement regarding your organization’s experience in other collaborations with local nonprofits, including how those experiences have affected your expectations for future partnerships.
  • What your organization expects the Junior League of the Grand Strand to bring to this project.
  • A brief summary regarding your connection or affiliation to any member of the JLGS, professionally or personally.

Q: What is the evaluation criteria?

All selected projects will be thoroughly reviewed by the Junior League members serving on the Community Project Committee in the normal course of project selection. A Junior League member may contact you to discuss the proposed project in greater detail or to arrange a site visit to your organization. We appreciate your cooperation during this process.

The Junior League will evaluate project proposals based on the following criteria:

  • Alignment and support of at least one of our four pillars: Youth Advocacy, Health Initiatives, Food and Nutrition Security, and Housing Advocacy.
  • Inclusion of a significant volunteer component, including a description of volunteer tasks and level of commitment (number of hours), days and times volunteers are needed. (Please note our members are available for volunteering at various times, but projects with a weekday evening or a weekend day volunteer component have been historically more successful.)
  • Clarity of the goals and objectives of the project, including a timeline outlining tasks necessary to accomplish project goals and objectives.
  • Strength of the plan for measuring the impact of the project.
  • Depth of understanding about what JLGS can bring to the project.
  • Demonstration of past experience collaborating with nonprofits, including JLGS, if applicable.
  • Strength of description in regard to how requested funding will be used to fulfill project goals and objectives, if applicable.

The committee will consider how funding the project request fits into the total amount of funding available for all requests.

Q: What does Junior League Grand Strand do in the community?

A: Junior League Grand Strand supports women and children of the Grand Strand (specially in four areas: Youth Advocacy, Health Initiatives, Food and Nutrition Security, and Housing Advocacy) through our projects with community partners, selected annually through a formal project proposal process. The membership voted in 2023 to adopt this focus for the league’s community financial support and volunteer hours.

Q. Does Junior League Grand Strand grant funds that will then be re-granted?

A. No (we would give directly, if that were the case).

Q. What is the amount of financial assistance that can be awarded?

A. Projects are typically funded in the $250-$2,500 range.

Q. When are most Junior League Grand Strand volunteers available?

A. The majority of Junior League Grand Strand members work outside the home, so evening and weekend hours are preferred.