South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development

What South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development does

South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit coalition founded in 1994 and headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina. The organization functions as the state's trade association and funding intermediary for community-based economic development, serving a membership of more than 200 Community Development Corporations (CDCs), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), and grassroots economic development organizations operating across all 46 South Carolina counties.

SCACED's core programs include the Community Development Institute (CDI) for professional training, the Community Impact Fund (CIF) grant program funded primarily by the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, the SC Community Development Tax Credit reservation system (offering 33% credits on equity investments and 50% on cash donations to certified CDCs/CDFIs), and the SC Commerce Certification Program for CDCs and CDFIs. The organization also operates The Opportunity Center, a collaborative workspace and business incubator in North Charleston co-located with three partner nonprofits, and hosts the annual Opportunity SC Conference — described as the largest comprehensive community development convention in South Carolina. In May 2024, SCACED launched the Ecosystem Resource Guide platform to help Lowcountry entrepreneurs navigate business assistance resources.

The organization's business model is hybrid: recurring revenue from membership dues is supplemented by foundation grants (Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation, USDA-NRCS), government grants (notably a $2.5 million SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program award in 2022), and fee-for-service administration of state-funded programs including the Community Development Tax Credit. SCACED does not develop proprietary technology products; its value proposition rests on regulatory authority, network convening, and capacity-building services for South Carolina's community economic development sector. Under the continuous leadership of President and CEO Bernie Mazyck since 1998, SCACED and its member organizations report cumulative economic impact exceeding $400 million statewide, including over 2,500 first-time home purchases and 6,000 jobs created through the network.

Name

South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development

Legal name

South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development

Website

https://scaced.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development (SCACED) is a Charleston-based 501(c)(3) coalition of over 200 CDCs, CDFIs, and economic development organizations that administers the state's Community Development Tax Credit program and provides training, grants, and advocacy services across South Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Economic Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Business Associations (81391), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Community economic development
• Nonprofit association services
• Affordable housing financing
• Community development tax credits
• Nonprofit capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: SCACED operates as a membership-based organization with over 200 member organizations including Community Development Corporations, Community Development Financial Institutions, and grassroots economic development organizations.
2. Grant Funding: The organization receives grant funding from foundations such as the Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation to operate programs like the Community Impact Fund, voter engagement mini-grants, and Hoop House grants.
3. Community Development Tax Credit Administration: SCACED administers the SC Community Development Tax Credit program, a state-sponsored program allowing taxpayers to claim credits against state income tax, bank tax, or premium tax liability for investments in certified CDCs and CDFIs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SCACED is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit trade association and funding intermediary that supports community economic development in South Carolina. It serves a coalition of over 200 member organizations (CDCs, CDFIs, and grassroots economic development groups) by administering grant programs, certifying community development entities in partnership with the SC Department of Commerce, managing the state Community Development Tax Credit program, and delivering professional training through the Community Development Institute.

Product overview

SCACED operates as a coalition of over 200 organizations supporting community economic development in South Carolina. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs including the Community Development Institute for professional training, the Community Impact Fund grant program, the CD Tax Credits program for incentivizing community investments, the SC Commerce Certification Program for certifying CDCs and CDFIs, The Opportunity Center as a collaborative workspace and business incubator, the annual Opportunity SC Conference, and various grant programs including Voter Engagement Mini-Grants, Hoop House Grants, and Community Garden Grants in partnership with USDA. The Ecosystem Resource Guide platform was launched in May 2024 to help entrepreneurs navigate available resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Community Development Institute (CDI): Professional development and training program offering skills building, peer learning, and connections to state, regional and national resources for community economic development and nonprofit management.
• Community Impact Fund (CIF)
• Opportunity SC
• Opportunity Center

Products and services

• Community Development Institute (CDI) Professional development training program offering structured sessions on community economic development and nonprofit management topics for community development practitioners and nonprofit staff.
• Community Impact Fund (CIF) Grant program providing funding to SCACED member nonprofit organizations for capacity building, affordable housing development, and economic development projects serving low-wealth communities in South Carolina.
• Community Development (CD) Tax Credits State tax credit reservation and administration program enabling taxpayers to claim credits against state income tax, bank tax, or premium tax liability for investments and cash donations to certified Community Development Corporations and CDFIs in South Carolina.
• SC Commerce Certification Program Certification program for Community Development Corporations and Community Development Financial Institutions operating in South Carolina, conducted in partnership with the SC Department of Commerce.
• Opportunity SC Annual Conference Annual conference and forum for community economic development practitioners, described as the largest comprehensive community development convention in South Carolina.
• SC Community Navigator Pilot Program Small business resource support program operating through a hub-and-spoke model with eight partner organizations across South Carolina, providing outreach and assistance to underserved entrepreneurs.
• Hoop House Grants Grant program in partnership with USDA-NRCS providing funding for hoop houses and community gardens in food insecure areas across South Carolina.
• Ecosystem Resource Guide Online resource guide platform helping Lowcountry entrepreneurs navigate agencies and resources to find specific assistance for business enhancement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2,500 families purchased their first home through SCACED's members and partners
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• SC CountscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SC Counts to empower, educate, and engage local communities around civic activities like census completion and redistricting. Jointly funded 2024 Voter Engagement Mini-Grants totaling $35,500 to 44 organizations.
• Charleston Metro Chamber of CommercemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Lowcountry Minority Business Partnership (LMBP) along with Coastal Community Foundation, hosting events like the Small Business Resource Mixer 'Capital Conversations' at The Opportunity Center.
• Coastal Community FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Lowcountry Minority Business Partnership (LMBP) to bring resources to small and minority-owned business owners, including the Ecosystem Resource Guide platform.
• SC Department of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCACED partners with SC Commerce to certify CDCs and CDFIs, administer the Community Development Tax Credit program, and manage the CED Fund grant program.
• NeighborWorks AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing training, data, and resources related to community development and affordable housing. Listed as a resource partner on SCACED's supporters page.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• North Carolina Community Development Association: State-level community development trade association serving CDCs, CDFIs, and grassroots economic development groups in North Carolina. Directly comparable to SCACED as a regional peer operating the same coalition/intermediary model in an adjacent Southeastern state.
• CDFI Coalition: National membership coalition advocating for CDFIs and the institutions that finance underserved communities. Closely comparable to SCACED's advocacy and intermediary role for CDFIs, though operating at the federal policy level rather than state.
• National Association for Community Development (NACEDA): National membership-based trade association for community development practitioners, CDCs, and CDFIs. Most direct peer to SCACED at the national level, functioning as a coalition/funding intermediary for the same constituent base.
• Coastal Community Foundation: South Carolina-based community foundation that partners with SCACED in the Lowcountry Minority Business Partnership. Comparable as a regional grantmaking and community development intermediary in the same geography and overlapping member base.
• South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations: Statewide membership association serving South Carolina nonprofits with training, advocacy, and capacity-building services. Closely comparable in mission, geography, and member-services model to SCACED, though serving the broader nonprofit sector rather than just community economic development.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit focused on affordable housing and community development with investment, advocacy, and advisory capabilities. Comparable as a multi-state community-development intermediary with capital deployment and policy advocacy functions analogous to SCACED.
• NeighborWorks America: National housing and community development network supporting more than 250 affiliated nonprofits. Already listed as an SCACED partner/resource, and structurally similar as a coalition/intermediary providing training, capital, and certification across a member network.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National nonprofit community development intermediary that finances and supports CDCs, CDFIs, and affordable housing initiatives. Comparable to SCACED as a community-development coalition/funding intermediary, but operating nationally rather than at the state level.
• Opportunity Finance Network (OFN): National membership network of CDFIs including many community development lenders. Comparable to SCACED as an intermediary/coalition supporting CDFIs, with overlapping training, advocacy, and capital deployment functions, though at the national level.

Regional players

• Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce: Regional chamber that jointly partners with SCACED on small business and minority economic development initiatives. A peer in regional convening, advocacy, and member services in the Charleston market, but with a broader for-profit business mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCA4CED
• Facebookfacebook.com/sca4ced

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 South Carolina Association for Community Economic Development