Preservation Society of Charleston

What Preservation Society of Charleston does

The Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1920 by Susan Pringle Frost in Charleston, South Carolina. It is recognized as America's first grassroots, community preservation organization and operates today with 17+ professional staff from its headquarters at 147 King Street. The organization's mission centers on advocating for responsible stewardship of Charleston's historic character, architecture, and neighborhoods through education, advocacy, and direct programming, organized around three impact areas: Growth + Development, Living with Water, and Managing Tourism.

The PSC's core offerings include signature events such as Fall Tours of Architecture, History, and Gardens (now in its 50th year), the Carolopolis Awards program (70+ years, 1,500+ awards given), Candlelight Tours, and Preservation Month. Educational resources include the Advocacy Toolkit, Neighborhood Toolkit, Preservation Resources hub, Oral History Project, and Resilience Guidance for Charleston (launched Summer 2024). Digital initiatives include Mapping Charleston's Black Burial Grounds (ArcGIS-based, 2024, National Park Service grant-funded) and the Cemetery Mapping and Restoration project. Underlying technology is limited to standard nonprofit tools: ArcGIS for mapping, EveryAction for donation/CRM processing, and the Bloomberg Connects app for self-guided tour distribution.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure spanning 10+ streams: membership dues across nine tiers ($25 student to $10,000 Chairman's Circle), ticket sales from Fall Tours ($40-$150), Candlelight Tours, Historic Marker commissions ($2,000 per marker), individual donations, corporate sponsorships (e.g., Charleston Place, Carriage Properties, GDC Home), planned giving (Cornerstone Society), retail (PSC Shop at 147 King Street and thepscshop.com), grants, and Carolopolis Award nomination fees. Pricing is publicly disclosed and customer segments span Charleston residents, heritage tourists, preservation supporters, and property owners/preservation professionals across the Charleston/Lowcountry market.

Name

Preservation Society of Charleston

Legal name

Preservation Society of Charleston

Website

https://preservationsociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Preservation Society of Charleston is America's first grassroots historic preservation organization (est. 1920), serving Charleston and the Lowcountry through advocacy, education, signature tours, awards programs, and digital heritage mapping initiatives funded by memberships, donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (71212), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ), Archival Preservation & Conservation (Handling, Storage, Environmental Controls) (MPADAMAF)

Keywords

• Historic preservation services
• Heritage tourism tours
• Preservation advocacy programs
• Nonprofit membership services
• Community education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues at various levels ($25-$10,000/year) form the core financial base of the organization. Members receive benefits including magazine, newsletter, event invitations, and discounts.
2. Fall Tours Ticket Sales: Revenue from Fall Tours of Architecture, History, and Gardens, including House & Garden Tours ($75-$100), Insider's Architecture & History Tours ($125-$150), and Walking Tours ($40+). Now in its 50th year.
3. Candlelight Tours: Annual holiday event featuring tours of decorated homes surrounding Colonial Lake, generating event-based revenue.
4. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals, processed online or via check/EFT/stock transfer.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Partnership arrangements with businesses for recognition, marketing, and networking opportunities tied to signature events including Fall Tours, Carolopolis Awards, and Preservation Month.
6. Planned Giving / Legacy Gifts: Bequests, charitable remainder trusts, beneficiary designations, and specific asset gifts through the Cornerstone Society planned giving program.
7. Historic Markers Program: Sale of historic markers to property owners ($2,000 per marker) for placement on significant historic properties.
8. PSC Shop: Retail operations at 147 King Street dedicated to supporting local makers, with merchandise also available at thepscshop.com.
9. Grants: Grant funding including National Park Service African American Civil Rights Grant for the Black Burial Grounds mapping project.
10. Carolopolis Award Nomination Fees: Nomination fees collected for the Carolopolis Awards program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Preservation Society of Charleston is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that sells annual memberships, conducts paid architectural and historical walking tours (Fall Tours, Candlelight Tours), administers the Carolopolis Awards program for preservation excellence, sells Historic Markers to property owners, and operates a retail shop (PSC Shop) supporting local makers. Core revenue is generated through membership dues, tour ticket sales, charitable donations, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

The Preservation Society of Charleston operates as a membership-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of preservation-focused programs, tours, and advocacy resources. Core offerings include the annual Fall Tours of Architecture, History, and Gardens (50th year), Carolopolis Awards program (70+ years), Historic Markers Program, and Candlelight Tours. The organization provides educational resources including an Advocacy Toolkit, Neighborhood Toolkit, Preservation Resources hub, and Oral History Project. Digital initiatives include Mapping Charleston's Black Burial Grounds and the Resilience Guidance for Charleston. Membership programs range from Student ($25) to Chairman's Circle ($10,000) levels. The organization does not offer a technology product or API.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fall Tours of Architecture, History, and Gardens Signature annual ticketed tour program offering walking tours, house and garden tours, and insider architecture tours showcasing Charleston's cultural and architectural heritage. Now in its 50th year, with tickets priced at $40 for walking tours, $75-$100 for House & Garden Tours, and $125-$150 for Insider's Architecture & History Tours.
• Carolopolis Awards Annual awards program promoting excellence in historic preservation through recognition of exceptional projects. Operating since 1953 with over 1,500 awards given to date. Categories include Exterior, Interior, Pro Merito, New Construction, and Resilience, with nomination fees collected from property owners.
• Historic Markers Program Initiative placing over 170 historic markers since 1959 on significant buildings, structures, events, and people. Sold to property owners for $2,000 per marker, paid in two installments, including research, text drafting, and installation.
• Candlelight Tours Annual December holiday ticketed event where homes surrounding Colonial Lake open to showcase holiday decorations and lights for one night, generating event-based revenue.
• Preservation Month Annual May celebration aligned with National Preservation Month featuring ticketed tours, talks, educational opportunities, and social gatherings.
• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership program ranging from Student ($25), Individual ($50), Family ($100), Friend/Business ($250), Partner ($500) to Susan Pringle Frost Circle ($1,000), Scholars' Circle ($2,500), Founders' Circle ($5,000), and Chairman's Circle ($10,000). Benefits include magazine, newsletter, event invitations, and tour discounts.
• Resilience Guidance for Charleston First-of-its-kind resource launched in Summer 2024 empowering residents to pursue property adaptations for climate resilience, organized by building and site components with recommendations and permit guidance. Developed in partnership with the City of Charleston and Preservation Design Partnership.
• Mapping Charleston's Black Burial Grounds Community-led digital mapping initiative launched in 2024 using ArcGIS technology to identify and document threatened Black burial grounds within the City of Charleston's Urban Growth Boundary and Ashley River Historic District. Made possible by National Park Service African American Civil Rights Grant.
• Oral History Project Program documenting the rich history of Black-owned businesses that shapes Charleston's culture through oral histories.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 Carolopolis Awards given since 1953 recognizing outstanding historic preservation
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Anson Street African Burial Ground Project (ASABG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the Mapping Charleston's Black Burial Grounds Project. ASABG and PSC co-conducted two years of community engagement (2023-2024) including listening sessions and empowerment sessions to document burial grounds significant to neighborhoods and families.
• City of Charleston Department of Planning & PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Mapping Charleston's Black Burial Grounds Project, providing GIS data and supporting transparent land use decision-making. PSC also advocates for policy changes with the City's planning and preservation departments.
• International African American MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in burial ground protection initiatives and mapping projects, supporting community engagement and descendant outreach efforts in Charleston.
• Avery Research Center for African American History and CulturemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with PSC to digitally map the Humane & Friendly Society Cemetery (1856), an African American Burial Society Cemetery, documenting 229 people interred.
• College of CharlestonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on Brotherly Association Cemetery Mapping Project (2024) as part of Alternative Spring Break Program, with students documenting 272 people interred. PSC has ongoing advocacy related to College of Charleston's proposed development at 106 Coming St. burial ground.
• Preservation Design PartnershipmajorTechnology or IntegrationHeritage planning and design firm led the development of the Resilience Guidance for Charleston, the first comprehensive climate resilience guidelines for Charleston property owners.
• Protect and Respect the Bodies CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner in advocacy for burial ground protection, including advocacy related to the historic public burial ground at 106 Coming St.
• Mother Emanuel AME ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosted Dr. Michael Blakey's lecture on burial ground protection and African American cemetery stewardship.
• Carriage PropertiesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor of the 72nd Carolopolis Awards (2026), providing recognition and marketing partnership for the annual preservation awards ceremony.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Historic Charleston Foundation: Charleston's other major preservation nonprofit, operating historic house museums and advocating on preservation issues in the same city. Closest direct comparator given overlapping mission, geography, and member base.
• Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia: Regional preservation nonprofit serving a major historic American city. Comparable structure: advocacy, events, member-based support, and educational programming for historic urban preservation.
• San Francisco Heritage: City-focused preservation nonprofit operating tours, advocacy, and educational programming in San Francisco. Direct comparable in scale, mission, and member-supported nonprofit model.
• New York Landmarks Conservancy: NYC-based preservation nonprofit providing advocacy, educational programs, and grants for preservation projects. Comparable membership-driven nonprofit with city-focused historic preservation mission.
• Foundation for Historic Louisiana: Regional preservation nonprofit operating tours, advocacy, and educational programming in Louisiana. Comparable Southern historic city preservation organization with similar events and member base structure.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The national umbrella preservation organization operating broadly across the U.S. Comparable as a membership-driven preservation advocacy body, though at significantly larger scale and broader geographic remit.
• Nantucket Historical Association: Heritage organization operating historic properties, museums, and tours in Nantucket. Comparable as a heritage nonprofit generating revenue through tours, memberships, and retail at scale in a single historic destination.
• The Trustees of Reservations: Massachusetts-based nonprofit preserving historic properties and natural landscapes. Comparable nonprofit steward of heritage assets with membership, events, and educational programming.

Regional players

• Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities: Long Island regional preservation organization with advocacy and historic property programming. Comparable regional preservation mission focused on historic districts and architectural heritage.

Emerging players

• Driehaus Museum: Chicago-based historic house museum offering tours, exhibitions, and programming in a preserved Gilded Age mansion. Comparable as a heritage tourism and education nonprofit operating within a historic city context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thepsofc
• Facebookfacebook.com/ThePSoC
• Instagraminstagram.com/preservationsociety

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Preservation Society of Charleston