PalmettoPride

What PalmettoPride does

PalmettoPride is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 2700 Middleburg Drive, Suite 216, Columbia, South Carolina. It was created by the South Carolina General Assembly in 1997 (originally as the Governor's Task Force on Litter) and was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2001. The organization operates a four-pronged litter prevention model spanning education, enforcement, awareness, and cleanup, and serves a diverse stakeholder base including K-12 students and educators, law enforcement and code enforcement agencies, municipalities and counties, a 38-40 affiliate network of Keep South Carolina Beautiful (KSCB) organizations, corporate sponsors, and individual volunteers across all 46 SC counties. It is governed by an 11-member board (per SC Code § 37-29-110) and operates as a public-private partnership with no venture or private equity ownership.

PalmettoPride's portfolio combines grant programs with educational and volunteer-mobilization programs. The grant suite includes the Litter Enforcement Grant (up to $5,000), Litter Crew Grant (up to $10,000), Tree Grant (non-monetary 2-6 ft tree donations), and KSCB Affiliate Support Grant (up to $15,000). Supporting programs include the Adopt-a-Highway initiative (administered with SCDOT), the Litter Busters mobile app and 24/7 hotline (1-877-7-LITTER), the Camera Loan Program (which produced a documented 75% reduction in illegal dumping in Hampton County within one year), the SC Sweep statewide 10-day cleanup, the Litter Trashes Everyone Marionette Show (1M+ K-5 reach), the Litter Lessons K-12 curriculum (developed with Greenleaf Education), the Annual Litter Summit (150+ attendees), and the Youth Ambassadors scholarship program ($1,000 awards). Technology assets are operationally focused rather than platform-grade: a mobile reporting app, a surveillance equipment loan program, and the SC Sweep online data collection system for tracking volunteer counts, hours worked, and litter collected.

Revenue is generated through a mix of foundation and corporate grants (including a $50,000 Duke Energy Foundation America250 award in 2026), individual donations and planned giving, corporate sponsorships tied to specific programs, the SC Litter Control Enforcement Tax checkoff (Form I-330), and the Keep It Beautiful specialty license plate program (12,000+ tags since 1991). Cumulative program impact since 2006 includes nearly 100 million pounds of litter removed, 800,000+ volunteers engaged, a 60% statewide litter reduction against 20% population growth, and $2.97M in cost avoidance generated in 2025 alone.

Name

PalmettoPride

Legal name

PalmettoPride

Website

https://palmettopride.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PalmettoPride is a South Carolina 501(c)(3) nonprofit created by the SC General Assembly in 1997 that drives litter prevention through education, enforcement, awareness, and cleanup, serving municipalities, law enforcement, K-12 students, and volunteers via grants, events, and a 38-affiliate KSCB network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation and Corporate Grants: PalmettoPride receives grant funding from foundations and corporations. Duke Energy Foundation awarded $50,000 through America250 initiative. Corporate sponsors support specific programs and events.
2. Individual Donations: Individual giving program accepting one-time and recurring donations. Also includes planned giving options (bequests, IRA charitable rollover, stocks, beneficiary designations).
3. Corporate Sponsorship: Corporate sponsors can align with specific programs and initiatives. Sponsors receive recognition and benefits for sustainability and community engagement goals.
4. SC Litter Control Enforcement Tax Donation: SC state income tax checkoff program (Form I-330) allowing taxpayers to donate to litter enforcement. Donations are tax deductible and fund equipment and resources for enforcement agencies.
5. Keep It Beautiful License Plate: SC Department of Transportation license plate program (since 1991) with over 12,000 tags sold. Proceeds fund highway beautification projects including wildflower planting, gateway projects, and landscaping.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PalmettoPride is a South Carolina nonprofit that prevents litter through a four-pronged approach of education, enforcement, awareness, and cleanup. It distributes competitive grants to municipalities, law enforcement agencies, and 38-40 local affiliates, coordinates volunteer cleanup events across the state, and delivers K-12 anti-litter education programs. Its Keep South Carolina Beautiful affiliate network, Adopt-a-Highway program, Litter Busters reporting hotline/app, and SC Sweep statewide campaign together drive measurable statewide litter reduction.

Product overview

PalmettoPride is a nonprofit organization that operates as a collection of community programs rather than a unified technology product. The organization's portfolio includes four grant programs (Litter Enforcement Grant, Litter Crew Grant, Tree Grant, and KSCB Affiliate Support Grant) that provide funding to municipalities, enforcement agencies, and affiliates. Additionally, PalmettoPride offers volunteer and education programs including the Adopt-a-Highway Program, Litter Busters Hotline mobile application, Camera Loan Program, Youth Ambassadors Program, Litter Curriculum (Litter Lessons), and the Annual Litter Summit. The organization also coordinates the Keep South Carolina Beautiful (KSCB) affiliate network of 38 local organizations. These programs work together to achieve the organization's mission of litter prevention through education, enforcement support, volunteer mobilization, and community beautification across South Carolina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Litter Enforcement Grant Competitive grant providing up to $5,000 to support ticketing litter control and enforcement agencies (sheriff offices, police departments, code enforcement) with equipment and resources for litter control cases, including surveillance equipment and dumpsite remediation. Applications open June 1, deadline August 1, awards announced August 15, disbursed September 1-30.
• Litter Crew Grant Competitive grant program providing up to $10,000 to support municipal litter removal crews on local roads, funding litter crew wages, heavy duty/OSHA materials for litter removal, and litter pickup safety signs. Award announced September 1, disbursed October 1 - November 30.
• Tree Grant Non-monetary award donating trees (2-6 feet in height) to beautify public spaces including parks, schools, and churches around South Carolina. Available species include Crape Myrtle, Dogwood, Nellie Stevens Holly, Pin Oak, Red Maple, and Thuja Green Giant. Application deadline September 15.
• KSCB Affiliate Support Grant Grant providing up to $15,000 to certified South Carolina Keep America Beautiful affiliates (KSCB) for creating and maintaining successful litter reduction and beautification programs. Application open September 1, deadline November 1, award announced December 1, disbursed January 1 - February 28.
• Adopt-a-Highway Program Statewide volunteer initiative allowing community groups, businesses, schools, and organizations to adopt a two-mile stretch of state-maintained roadway for regular litter pickups, administered by PalmettoPride in partnership with the South Carolina Department of Transportation.
• Litter Busters Hotline and Mobile App Mobile application and 24/7 hotline service (1-877-754-8837) enabling citizens to report litterbugs and illegal dumping by providing location, time, and license plate information. Available on Apple App Store and Google Play.
• Camera Loan Program Program lending surveillance equipment to enforcement agencies to monitor litter hotspots in their jurisdiction, helping prevent and identify culprits of illegal dumping. Documented 75% reduction in illegal dumping in Hampton County within one year.
• SC Sweep Statewide 10-day cleanup campaign inviting South Carolinians to take action against litter. In 2026, the campaign removed nearly 500,000 pounds of trash across the state.
• Litter Curriculum (Litter Lessons) Free K-12 curriculum resource developed in partnership with Greenleaf Education that increases awareness of litter problems while meeting SCDOE curriculum standards. Available to schools across South Carolina.
• Youth Ambassadors Program Leadership program for motivated students ages 14-18 who receive a $1,000 scholarship in exchange for representing PalmettoPride at sponsored events and in their communities. Selected students also receive a graduation cord and community service hours.
• Annual Litter Summit Flagship statewide event bringing together over 150 people including officials, KSCB affiliates, SCLCA members, educators, nonprofit leaders, and volunteers for networking and training on litter prevention and enforcement.
• Keep South Carolina Beautiful (KSCB) Affiliate Network State affiliate of Keep America Beautiful coordinated by PalmettoPride, supporting 38-40 local affiliates statewide with funding, training, professional development, and policy-based education for litter reduction and beautification programs.
• Governor's Art Contest on Litter Prevention Annual litter awareness art competition for K-5 students with the theme 'Litter Trashes Everyone', featuring state and regional winners with monetary awards. Nearly 10,000 participants in 2025-2026.
• Monofilament Recycling Program Program addressing fishing line recycling to prevent environmental harm from abandoned monofilament lines in South Carolina waterways.
• WaterGoat Trash Collection Systems Floating debris collection system designed to capture litter and pollutants from waterways before they reach open water, deployed across South Carolina.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% litter reduction since founding (1997), even as population grew 20%
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Keep America BeautifulcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization for Keep South Carolina Beautiful (KSCB) affiliate network. PalmettoPride coordinates KSCB as the state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. Partnership provides access to national programs, training, and resources for affiliates.
• South Carolina Litter Control Association (SCLCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCLCA promotes litter enforcement, protects the environment, and heightens public awareness. Organized in 1987. PalmettoPride provides training to local code enforcement officials, staff support for SCLCA, and funding to support professional development for 127 agency members across 49 organizations. Co-hosts Annual Litter Summit with PalmettoPride.
• South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for statewide Adopt-a-Highway program administration. SCDOT maintains issues all program signage and handles removal and disposal of collected litter. South Carolina has over 41,000 miles of state-maintained roads (4th largest system in nation).
• SC Department of CorrectionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNine of 21 SCDC institutions have inmate labor/litter pickup crews including Leath Correctional Institution, Livesay Correctional Institution, MacDougall Correctional Institution, and others. Crews pick up litter in areas surrounding the institution.
• SC Department of Probation, Parole & Pardon ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProbationers provide community service through Public Service Employment (PSE) program for litter pickup. Agencies must preregister as official worksite with PPP and county Litter Control Officer.
• Greenleaf EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in developing Litter Lessons curriculum resource for grades K-12 that increases awareness and provides solutions. Curriculum meets current SCDOE curriculum standards.
• Keep Pennsylvania BeautifulminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint multi-state litter law study conducted in 2023, the first of its kind in the country. Engaged Carson Consulting to review existing state litter laws and interview stakeholders to evaluate enforcement tools and systems.
• SC Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived State Partnership Award from Keep America Beautiful for leadership in river restoration, cleanup and corridor stewardship. Partnership supports environmental conservation and cleanup efforts.
• Carolina Recycling AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState association supporting recycling efforts. Listed as partner in PalmettoPride's network of environmental organizations.
• Winyah Rivers AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiver conservation organization. Listed as partner in PalmettoPride's network supporting clean water and environmental protection.
• Green Steps SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education initiative recognizing schools in South Carolina who take annual sustainable steps. Partnership brings hands-on environmental education to more classrooms statewide.
• Congaree RiverkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterway protection organization. Listed as partner in PalmettoPride's environmental protection network.
• Charleston WaterkeeperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaterway protection organization. Co-hosts cleanup events including Hendricks Park Adopt-A-Park cleanups around Filbin Creek in North Charleston.
• SC Department of Environmental ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState environmental agency. Listed as partner supporting environmental protection and regulation efforts.
• South Carolina AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as partner in PalmettoPride's environmental network supporting conservation and education.
• US Forest ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports National Forest Cleanups program. Partnership enables litter removal in South Carolina's national forests.
• SC Sheriff's AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement association supporting litter enforcement efforts statewide.
• SC Trucking AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Secure Your Load program to prevent debris from unsecured truck loads.
• Beach Sweep River SweepminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide cleanup program partnership supporting coastal and river cleanup efforts.
• Girl Scouts of the USAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization partnership supporting volunteer cleanup activities and environmental education.
• Boy Scouts of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth organization partnership supporting volunteer cleanup activities and environmental education.
• SC State ParksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting cleanup and beautification of South Carolina state parks.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Keep America Beautiful: National nonprofit umbrella organization for KSCB and 20+ state affiliates. PalmettoPride is the SC state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful; both pursue litter prevention, beautification, and education through an affiliate network model with overlapping programs like Adopt-a-Highway.
• Adopt-a-Highway (multiple state DOT programs): State Department of Transportation-sponsored Adopt-a-Highway programs exist in nearly every US state. PalmettoPride administers the SC version in partnership with SCDOT, making these peer programs that share the same volunteer roadway-cleanup model.
• Sierra Club: Large national environmental nonprofit with volunteer-driven conservation and cleanup programs. Comparable as a broader environmental advocacy organization pursuing similar volunteer mobilization for outdoor stewardship.

Direct peers

• Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful: State affiliate of Keep America Beautiful operating the same affiliate-based litter prevention model. Already collaborating with PalmettoPride on the 2023 multi-state litter law study, making it the closest peer in structure and mission.
• Don't Mess with Texas: Texas Department of Transportation's flagship anti-litter campaign that combines education, enforcement support, and Adopt-a-Highway-style programs. Highly comparable in mission, statewide scope, and integrated enforcement/education approach to PalmettoPride.
• Keep Texas Beautiful: State affiliate of Keep America Beautiful serving Texas with a similar affiliate network, grant programs, and community cleanup model. Directly comparable in operating structure to PalmettoPride's KSCB network.
• Keep Florida Beautiful: Florida state affiliate of Keep America Beautiful with comparable affiliate-driven litter prevention, education, and beautification programs across multiple counties. Operates in a neighboring Southeast state with similar volunteer mobilization challenges.

Others

• EarthShare: Federation of environmental nonprofits supporting workplace giving campaigns for conservation causes. Comparable as a nonprofit environmental fundraising and corporate-engagement channel that could attract the same corporate ESG dollars PalmettoPride targets.
• VolunteerMatch: National online volunteer engagement platform. Comparable as the infrastructure layer for volunteer mobilization that PalmettoPride depends on; both target the same volunteer pool for community service activities.

Regional players

• SC Department of Corrections (inmate litter crews): Operates 9 of 21 SC correctional institution litter pickup crews in partnership with PalmettoPride. Adjacent regional player providing complementary enforcement/community-service labor for litter cleanup.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PalmettoPride
• Facebookfacebook.com/PalmettoPride
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/palmettopride
• Instagraminstagram.com/PalmettoPrideKSCB

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PalmettoPride