Staff Report
Published Aug. 26, 2009

Five regional nonprofits have received $1,000 grants from Pluff Mud Connect to help them build their organizations.

Previous coverage:

• New online service connects nonprofits, businesses for future relationships

More than 50 nonprofits participated in the Thrive contest. Area nonprofits were invited to compete for the money, and they signaled a variety of needs, including marketing support, volunteer program development, strategic planning and new governance structures. Members of Pluff Mud Connect — a Web-based matching service for nonprofits and local businesses — voted on the final winners:

• Rural Mission on Johns Island will retain a consultant to guide a new strategic plan.
• Alzheimer’s Respite and Resource on Hilton Head Island will secure a sign for its first permanent location and its new name, “Memory Matters.”
• Born To Read in Beaufort will secure fundraising expertise for its all-volunteer organization that encourages parents to read to their children.
• Palmetto Project in Mount Pleasant will use the prize as seed capital for a Web site redesign.
• Mediation and Meeting Center of Charleston will print outreach packets to reach families in need and let them know about their services.

“Reviewing so many Thrive prize applications showed us that area nonprofits are addressing the current economic times with a blend of optimism, strategic thinking and perseverance,” said Laura Deaton, founder of the site. “We saw very thoughtful requests from organizations with real staying power. Thrive prize funds now allow them to partner with Pluff Mud Connect’s enrolled businesses and service providers to get the help they need.”

Complete Thrive prize descriptions are available at Pluff Mud Connect. The prizes were inspired by Pluff Mud Connect’s mission to help nonprofits grow capacity and sustainability. As such, they focused solely on one-time projects to strengthen a nonprofit’s staff, volunteer base, fundraising, marketing or other infrastructure needs.

Members of Pluff Mud Connect must be physically located in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Jasper or Hampton counties.

Launched on May 15, Pluff Mud Connect has more than 150 member organizations. The organization reported that the collective buying power of its registered nonprofits totaled more than $124 million as of mid-August. Its business members provide services across more than 75 subcategories, including infrastructure and technology, Web design and other marketing services, printing and direct mail, fundraising, human resources, legal services and accounting services.