Applications are being accepted for grants offered by one of Metro Augusta’s newest financial institutions. There are nearly 20 nominations, but none in the Peach State. There is a key 100-hour period once nonprofits are selected.
Palmetto Citizens Foundation, the 501(c)(3) arm of South Carolina-based Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union (PCFCU), is calling on nonprofit organizations to apply for its Fuel the Change campaign.
“Fuel the Change is a campaign for us to be able to match funds for five different nonprofits,” foundation executive director Emilie Lewis told ABD. “I think it’s so exciting because working in this industry, you sometimes work with the same nonprofits over and over again. So, I think this is really going to give us a great opportunity to learn about all these new nonprofits that are out there doing great work every day.”
Lewis said this is the inaugural drive for the campaign. It is a way to introduce the foundation, which is just two years old, and get people familiar with PCFCU. It entered the local market in early August and now has branches in Waynesboro, Sardis, Gibson and Hephzibah.
“We’re really looking for a campaign that we can give back to the community,” Lewis explained. “But even more than that, I would really love for our foundation members to have the opportunity to volunteer with these organizations, or for us to provide financial education with those organizations. It’s really figuring out not only monetarily, but how we can help these organizations go to the next level.”
Fuel the Campaign is a new initiative to boost five nonprofit organizations. The foundation is committing up to $100,000 in matching funds, up to $20,000 per participating nonprofit.
Lewis said this campaign expands a program at each PCFCU ribbon-cutting where $10,000 is awarded to a nonprofit in the local community.
“That’s part of our work as a foundation: to help organizations go to the next level,” she said. “Our foundation members love to get their hands dirty and volunteer. And so, finding out ways that we can get them more activated in the community really only helps our community rise to the next level.”
The cutoff date to apply is Nov. 1st at 5:00 p.m., with grants announced in Feb. 2027. In the interim, the foundation board members will review the applications.
“During that time, I’m really hoping that we’ll get to know the nonprofits, so we’ll be able to find out ways that we can continue to assist them,” Lewis said. “Plus, it gives them time to kind of make a game plan. How are they going to be able to match these funds? It just gives them a little bit more time to figure out what they’re going to do to be able to reach the full $20,000 match.”
PCFCU fully funds operating costs for the foundation. It means 100% of donations go back into the community to support nonprofits and community projects.
Lewis said 17 nonprofits have applied to this point; however, no organization in Georgia has applied.
Organizations do not have to be headquartered within the PCFCU service area but must have substantial local presence and community impact. Funds received are unrestricted and can be used by the nonprofit organization for its mission and area of greatest need.
Winners will be announced the week of Nov. 16. That will lead up to a focused effort for nonprofits to secure matching funds.
The 100 hours of giving will begin Feb. 22, 2027, and end Feb. 26, 2027
Nonprofit organizations interested in applying can learn more at https://palmettocitizensfoundation.org/fuel-the-change.
