The Poston Foundation · Columbia, South Carolina
The Poston Foundation is a South Carolina 501(c)(3) public charity advancing practical direct aid and place-based community initiatives through focused programs, responsible administration, and transparent fundraising.
Our Work
Carolina Cares addresses immediate practical needs. Poston Preserve takes a longer view of place, public history, and community development. GERT Makes Waves connects children’s books with literacy, coastal education, and responsible conservation purposes. Each initiative has its own purpose, funding framework, and reporting needs.
Carolina Cares Initiative
Carolina Cares prepares and distributes practical Essentials Kits and related direct aid for South Carolinians facing hardship and immediate resource gaps.
The Poston Preserve Initiative
Restore Poston begins a place-based effort to document, preserve, and strengthen historic Poston, South Carolina, while building the groundwork for future community support.
GERT Coastal Education & Conservation Initiative
GERT Makes Waves connects the Gert the SEE Turtle book series with children’s literacy, sponsored book outreach, coastal education, and responsible conservation purposes.
Verified Foundation Information
Donors, sponsors, grantmakers, and partners should be able to verify the organization, understand the programs, and review the public record without hunting for basic information.
Ways to Participate
Support Carolina Cares, Poston Preserve, or GERT Makes Waves through the Foundation’s streamlined giving hub.
Choose a campaign →Put your business, church, civic group, or organization behind Carolina Cares Essentials Kits.
View sponsorship levels →Join the Carolina Cares interest list for coordinated kit preparation and other defined opportunities.
Join the interest list →Discuss product donations, local referrals, distribution support, historical materials, or other program partnerships.
Start a conversation →
Built on Hands-On Service
During the first months of COVID-19, Carolina Cares volunteers distributed practical supplies including food, water, hygiene items, blankets, sleeping bags, and clothing in the Columbia area. That work established the direct-service roots of the current Carolina Cares Initiative.
The current Carolina Cares model builds on that experience with a more structured approach to Essentials Kits, fundraising, volunteer coordination, documentation, privacy, and program reporting.
How We Work
We build focused programs around clear purposes, responsible administration, and measurable community work.
Programs begin with identifiable needs and practical charitable purposes.
Budgets, contributions, purchases, program activity, and donor intent should be documented clearly enough for responsible review.
Our work is rooted in South Carolina and informed by place, history, community knowledge, and the capacity to carry out the next practical step.
Latest Updates
A look at the current Carolina Cares Essentials Kit model, what kits can include, and how The Poston Foundation plans for preparation, distribution, and accountability.
Read update
The proposed $25,000 Phase One framework for public history, community engagement, direct assistance, preservation, and planning in historic Poston, South Carolina.
Read update
How The Poston Foundation is organizing public identifiers, governance information, program documents, donation policies, and impact reporting for donors and partners.
Read updateBuild the Next Phase
Support practical assistance through Carolina Cares, help preserve and strengthen historic Poston, or talk with us about sponsorship and partnership opportunities.