South Carolina Association of Counties

What South Carolina Association of Counties does

The South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC) is a non-partisan, nonprofit statewide association chartered on June 22, 1967, that serves as the sole collective voice for county government in South Carolina. Its membership comprises all 46 counties in the state, with membership automatic at the county level and extending to all elected and appointed county officials. SCAC is headquartered in Columbia, SC, with a staff of approximately 60+ employees across executive, administrative, insurance services, claims, communications, governmental affairs, IT, and support functions.

SCAC's core service portfolio is built around four pillars: (1) Advocacy Services, including governmental affairs, legislative alerts, policy development, and legal assistance with case law and regulations tracking; (2) Events & Education, encompassing the Annual Conference (drawing 400+ attendees), Institute of Government training, e-learning courses, leadership development, and specialized training like Planning & Zoning Officials Training; (3) Insurance Trusts, administering the SC Counties Property & Liability Trust and SC Counties Workers' Compensation Trust with underwriting, claims management, and risk management services; and (4) Programs, including a scholarship program ($5,000 awards), the J. Mitchell Graham and Barrett Lawrimore awards competitions, corporate partner program, cooperative service programs, debt collection (Setoff Debt & GEAR), and an OPEB Trust. The underlying technology stack consists of a conventional association management platform with a member website, event registration system, native mobile application (SCAC App, launched 2026), and the Institute of Government Online Learning Portal, plus content distribution channels including County COMPASS newsletter, Friday Report, and County Focus magazine.

SCAC's business model is funded through annual county membership dues from all 46 counties, insurance trust premiums from participating counties, event registration fees, publication sales, and corporate partner sponsorships. Distribution is direct to member counties with no intermediary sales channels. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors composed of county officials and holds leadership positions within the National Association of Counties (NACo). SCAC maintains strategic partnerships with the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities (Institute of Government delivery), Clemson University's Master of Public Administration program, and corporate partners including Dominion Energy, Tyler Technologies, Alliance Consulting Engineers, GovDeals, First Citizens Bank, and Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina.

Name

South Carolina Association of Counties

Legal name

South Carolina Association of Counties

Website

https://www.sccounties.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

South Carolina Association of Counties is a statewide nonprofit agency that empowers advocates to promote an efficient county government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

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, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. County Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from all 46 South Carolina counties, providing access to advocacy services, educational programs, publications, and insurance trust programs
2. Insurance Trust Programs: SC Counties Insurance Trusts offering property and liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage to member counties, generating revenue through premiums
3. Event Registration and Conferences: Revenue from registration fees for Annual Conference, Institute of Government, Legislative Conference, Attorneys' Institute, and other educational events
4. Publications and Resources: Sale of publications including Directory of County Officials, County Profiles, Wage and Salary Reports, and other research materials

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SCAC delivers collective advocacy, education and training, insurance trust programs (Property & Liability and Workers' Compensation), publications, and shared service programs to all 46 South Carolina county governments through an automatic membership model. Core deliverables include legislative representation, the Institute of Government professional development curriculum, the SC Counties Insurance Trusts, scholarships, awards programs, and research resources such as the County COMPASS newsletter and County Focus magazine.

Product overview

The South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC) is a non-profit membership organization offering a portfolio of services to its 46 member counties. The organization operates as a single, unified service platform rather than a modular product architecture. Its core offerings include Advocacy Services (governmental affairs, legislative support, legal assistance), Events & Education (Annual Conference, Institute of Government, E-Learning, Leadership Development), Insurance Trusts (Property & Liability Trust, Workers' Compensation Trust with risk management), and Programs (Scholarship Program, Awards, Corporate Partner Program, Cooperative Service Programs, Debt Collection, OPEB Trust). Additional services encompass Resources & Publications (County COMPASS newsletter, County Focus magazine, Directory of County Officials, Wage and Salary Reports, County Conversations video series) and a mobile SCAC App available in App Store and Google Play. SCAC's offerings are interconnected through advocacy, education, insurance services, and resource sharing to support efficient county government operations across South Carolina.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Services Collective advocacy representing South Carolina county governments at the state level, including governmental affairs, legislative tracking (Friday Reports, Legislative Alerts), policy input and development, and legal assistance with case law and regulations updates. For elected and appointed county officials and the 46 member counties.
• Events & Education (Annual Conference and Institute of Government) Conferences, meetings, and educational programs including the Annual Conference, Institute of Government, E-Learning, Leadership Development, and Planning & Zoning Officials Training. For elected and appointed South Carolina county officials.
• Insurance Trusts (SC Counties Property & Liability Trust and Workers' Compensation Trust) Pooled insurance trust programs providing property and liability insurance coverage and workers' compensation coverage to member South Carolina counties, with risk management services and resources. For all 46 South Carolina counties participating in the trust pools.
• Scholarship Program Scholarship program awarding Presidential Scholarships and Board of Directors Scholarships of $5,000 each to graduating high school seniors in South Carolina counties. Awards are one-time grants for students attending South Carolina colleges.
• Awards Program (J. Mitchell Graham and Barrett Lawrimore) Annual awards competitions including the J. Mitchell Graham Memorial Award (recognizing county innovation) and Barrett Lawrimore Regional Cooperation Memorial Award (recognizing inter-county collaboration). For South Carolina counties to showcase innovation and best practices.
• Cooperative Service Programs Cost-saving shared service programs offered to member counties, leveraging collective purchasing and administration. For South Carolina county governments seeking operational efficiencies.
• Debt Collection Services (Setoff Debt & GEAR) Debt collection services including the Setoff Debt Collection program and GEAR program for member South Carolina counties. For county governments seeking recovery of delinquent debts.
• OPEB Trust (Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust) Other Post-Employment Benefits Trust program providing prefunding and administration of retiree health and other post-employment benefits for member South Carolina counties.
• SCAC Mobile Application Mobile application for iOS and Android providing access to conference schedules, event details, and association information for the SCAC Annual Conference and member resources.
• Institute of Government E-Learning Course - Orientation to County Government I First online course offered as part of the Institute of Government program, available at no cost to elected and appointed South Carolina county officials. Covers roles and responsibilities, State Ethics Act, Freedom of Information Act, budgeting, and risk management.
• Corporate Partner Program Partnership program connecting South Carolina counties with vetted corporate partners providing engineering consulting, utility, technology, banking, surplus auction, and government technology services (e.g., Alliance Consulting Engineers, Dominion Energy, GovDeals, Tyler Technologies, First Citizens Bank, Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina). For counties seeking trusted vendor relationships.

Quantifiable outcome

• County CERT91 program reduced system congestion and improved response times with over 2,100 calls handled
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Alliance Consulting EngineersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner program member providing engineering consulting services. Listed among current corporate partners on SCAC website.
• Dominion EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner program member. Listed among current corporate partners on SCAC website as a utility provider.
• GovDealsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner program member providing government surplus auction services. Listed among current corporate partners on SCAC website.
• National Association of Counties (NACo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCAC participates in NACo policy steering committees covering community development, justice, telecommunications, transportation, agriculture, finance, and health. South Carolina officials hold leadership positions on NACo committees including County Technology Advisory Committee and Finance Steering Committee.
• Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSCAC partners with the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston to deliver the Institute of Government for County Officials training program.
• Clemson University Master of Public Administration ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClemson University's Master of Public Administration Program is a sponsor of the Institute of Government for County Officials, contributing to professional development of county officials.
• SC Counties Property & Liability TrustcoreOthersSCAC administers the SC Counties Property & Liability Trust providing property and liability insurance coverage to member counties.
• SC Counties Workers' Compensation TrustcoreOthersSCAC administers the SC Counties Workers' Compensation Trust providing workers' compensation coverage to member counties.
• Electric Cooperatives of South CarolinaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner program member representing electric cooperatives in South Carolina. Listed among current corporate partners on SCAC website.
• First Citizens BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner program member providing banking services. Listed among current corporate partners on SCAC website.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Counties (NACo): National federation representing all U.S. counties. SCAC participates in NACo committees and leadership positions; NACo provides the federal-level counterpart to SCAC's state-level advocacy, training, and insurance/risk management resources.

Direct peers

• Georgia Association of Counties (GAC): State-level membership association for Georgia counties offering advocacy, training, and group insurance/self-funded programs. Directly comparable in mission, member model (mandatory/voluntary county membership), and product portfolio to SCAC.
• North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC): Statewide association representing all 100 North Carolina counties. Comparable to SCAC in advocacy, training (LGC), member services, and insurance trust administration. Strong structural peer with similar member-driven revenue model.
• Florida Association of Counties (FAC): Statewide association for Florida's 67 counties offering legislative advocacy, training, and member services. Comparable in scope and product mix to SCAC, though operating at larger scale.
• Virginia Association of Counties (VACo): Statewide Virginia association representing county governments through advocacy, education, and member services. Closely aligned mission and structure to SCAC.
• Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG): Note: ACCG and GAC are the two principal Georgia county associations. ACCG focuses on county commissioner advocacy and training programs, offering functions closely matching SCAC's Institute of Government and advocacy services.
• Tennessee County Services Association (TCSA): Statewide association representing Tennessee counties. Provides advocacy, training, and insurance/risk management services comparable to SCAC's program mix.
• Alabama Association of Counties (AAC): Statewide Alabama association representing county governments with advocacy, legislative tracking, training, and insurance programs. Very close structural and functional parallel to SCAC.

Regional players

• South Carolina Municipal League: State association representing South Carolina municipalities (cities/towns). Same geographic footprint and similar advocacy, training, and insurance trust services but for municipal rather than county governments. Adjacent comparable organization.

Others

• Public Risk Management Association (PRIMA): National association for public sector risk management. While not a county association, PRIMA serves the same risk management training and insurance/risk management function that SCAC's Insurance Trusts provide, making it a functional peer in the risk management segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SCCounties
• Facebookfacebook.com/SCCounties
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-carolina-association-of-counties
• Instagraminstagram.com/sccounties

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 South Carolina Association of Counties