Associated Charities

What Associated Charities does

Associated Charities of Myrtle Beach, Inc. is a volunteer-operated nonprofit charitable organization incorporated in South Carolina (Tax ID 23-7406370) that has served homeless and impoverished residents of the Grand Strand/Myrtle Beach community since 1952. Founded by Mr. Cliff Hammond, the organization has operated continuously for over 70 years without ever employing paid staff; all operations are run by a network of volunteers overseen by a Board of Directors and an Advisory Board. Its single facility, located at 742 Lumber Street in Myrtle Beach, serves concurrently as donation intake hub, free-distribution site, and retail outlet.

The organization's core operational programs include: (i) a Donation Center accepting clothing, shoes, handbags, linens, towels, and general household items (excluding furniture, mattresses, medical equipment, toys, and seasonal items) Monday through Friday; (ii) Tuesday Give-Away Days distributing items at no cost to homeless individuals and others in need; (iii) Thursday Sale Days featuring $5 bag sales and Phil's Flea Thrift Shop, with proceeds funding special projects and building expenses; and (iv) a twice-monthly Boutique selling name-brand clothing, shoes, bags, and jewelry at affordable prices. The Mary Catherine Hardee AC Scholarship — naming annual recipients from 2023-2024 through 2025-2026 — represents an additional programmatic offering, and an Amazon Wish List provides online donation pathways.

Revenue is generated through thrift shop and Boutique sales (transaction-based) and through donations, memorial contributions, and corporate/church sponsorships (an Amazon Wish List; ~15 named sponsors including The Chapin Foundation, multiple local churches, and small businesses such as Beach Plumbing, The Lovely Law Firm, and Patch Boys). Distribution is primarily direct B2C through Give-Away Days, with select B2B-style flows to partner nonprofits including Sea Haven for Youth, Eastern Carolina Housing Organization (ECHO), and Horry County Fire Rescue's Harm Reduction Program. Marketing relies on a Google Sites website, a Facebook page, and word-of-mouth; no formal marketing, paid digital channels, or technology stack of consequence has been disclosed.

Name

Associated Charities

Legal name

Associated Charities of Myrtle Beach, Inc.

Website

https://associatedcharitiesmb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Associated Charities is a volunteer-operated, 73-year-old nonprofit in Myrtle Beach, SC that provides free clothing, household items, and basic-needs assistance to homeless and impoverished residents of the Grand Strand community, funded by donations, sponsorships, and thrift shop sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Charitable Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Community charitable services
• Thrift shop sales
• Donation distribution
• Homeless assistance
• Volunteer nonprofit operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Myrtle Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Thrift Shop Sales: Thursday Sale Days featuring $5 Bag Sales on clothing and shoes, plus Phil's Flea Thrift Shop items. Proceeds fund special projects and building expenses.
2. Boutique Sales: Boutique open every 2nd and 4th Thursday offering name-brand clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry at affordable prices.
3. Financial Donations: Accepts financial donations and memorial contributions by mail.
4. Sponsorships: Various church and business sponsors support the organization financially.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Associated Charities is a volunteer-operated nonprofit that collects donated clothing, shoes, household items, and funds from the community and redistributes them to homeless and impoverished individuals in the Myrtle Beach area. It generates revenue through Thursday $5 Bag Sales, Phil's Flea Thrift Shop, and a monthly Boutique selling name-brand items, with proceeds funding operations and special projects.

Product overview

Associated Charities is a volunteer-operated charitable organization (no paid employees) offering a suite of community assistance programs. Core services include a Donation Center accepting clothing and household items, a Tuesday Give-Away Day serving homeless and low-income individuals, a Thursday Sale (Phil's Flea Thrift Shop) that funds operations, and a Boutique offering affordable name-brand items. The organization also maintains an Amazon Wish List for direct donations and runs the Mary Catherine Hardee AC Scholarship program for community members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Give-Away Day
• Thursday Sale / Phil's Flea Thrift Shop
• Boutique
• Donation Center
• Amazon Wish List
• Mary Catherine Hardee AC Scholarship

Quantifiable outcome

• First Give-Away Day held March 13, 2001 - continuing to serve community for over 24 years at current location

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sea Haven for YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Young Adult Services at Sea Haven Inc. to provide essential clothing, household items, assistance obtaining SC State identification, haircuts, and Easter candy for young adults.
• Eastern Carolina Housing Organization (ECHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECHO focuses on providing basics of a home to clients being housed. Associated Charities helps fulfill their mission when ECHO is short on supplies like sheets, lamps, silverware.
• Horry County Fire Rescue Harm Reduction ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHorry County Fire Rescue's Harm Reduction Program receives community support and donations from Associated Charities.
• Midtown Vineyard ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Associated Charities.
• Waymaker MinistriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Associated Charities.
• The Lovely Law FirmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Associated Charities.
• Beach PlumbingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Associated Charities.
• SC Home ImprovementsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Associated Charities.
• Patch BoysminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Associated Charities.
• Restoration 1minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Associated Charities.
• A-Z Glass RepairminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Associated Charities.
• La Zell's FloristminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBusiness sponsor of Associated Charities.
• Corvette Club of Myrtle BeachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization sponsor of Associated Charities.
• Myrtle Beach Grand Bowling SenateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity organization sponsor of Associated Charities.
• Live Oak ChurchminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChurch sponsor of Associated Charities.
• New WaveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Associated Charities.
• Fresh Brewed Coffee HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFresh Brewed Coffee House partners with Associated Charities, helping community members obtain state-issued identification and promoting the Boutique.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• St. Vincent de Paul Society: St. Vincent de Paul operates thrift stores (SVdP Thrift Stores) that fund direct assistance to people in poverty, with parish-based volunteer models. Comparable as a thrift-store-funded emergency assistance charity with church/sponsor ecosystem.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores (Grand Strand): Habitat ReStores sell donated furniture and household items to fund affordable housing programs. Comparable as a thrift-style revenue model supporting community assistance, though focused on housing rather than direct aid.
• The Salvation Army of the Carolinas: The Salvation Army operates thrift stores, emergency assistance programs, and homeless services throughout the Carolinas. Comparable as a regional nonprofit providing clothing, household goods, and direct aid to those in need via a multi-channel model.
• Goodwill Industries of the Upstate/Midlands SC: Goodwill operates thrift retail stores that fund job training and community programs across South Carolina, including locations near Myrtle Beach. Directly comparable because both operate thrift-store revenue models that fund direct assistance to low-income populations.
• Catholic Charities of South Carolina: Catholic Charities provides emergency assistance, clothing, household goods, and direct aid across South Carolina including the Grand Strand region. Comparable as a faith-rooted, multi-program charity providing basic-needs assistance.

Direct peers

• United Way of Horry County: United Way of Horry County serves the same Grand Strand/Myrtle Beach geography, coordinating fundraising and grant distribution to local nonprofits including those serving low-income residents. Comparable as a local nonprofit hub in the same service area.

Emerging players

• Dress for Success (Carolina chapter): Dress for Success accepts donated professional clothing and provides it to people in need for workforce entry. Comparable as a clothing-donation-based charity providing goods to vulnerable populations, though focused on a specific use case.

Regional players

• Helping Hands of Georgetown / Grand Strand area food pantries: Local-area charity operating food and assistance programs in the surrounding Grand Strand region. Comparable as a community-led nonprofit serving low-income individuals through direct distribution of donated goods and emergency relief.
• Easterseals of South Carolina: Easterseals SC provides services and assistance to people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations across the state. Comparable as a regional nonprofit delivering direct community assistance via established donor networks.

Others

• Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation: Local business and civic organization supporting community welfare initiatives in the same Myrtle Beach service area. Comparable as an ecosystem participant connecting local sponsors to nonprofit work in the Grand Strand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Associated-Charities-629231897719030

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Associated Charities