5 takeaways from the Lower Richland Alumni Foundation investigation
The State Media Co. spent several months reporting on a Richland County nonprofit’s use of an $800,000 federal criminal justice grant it received in spring 2023 and a related $156,000 reimbursable county grant it was awarded a few months later.
More than two years after the Lower Richland Alumni Foundation announced the money would be used to launch an anti-crime initiative in rural Richland County, it’s not clear how the nonprofit is spending or has spent much of the federal award. Richland County reallocated the majority of the alumni group’s county grant after officials determined that many of the group’s expenditures were impermissible.
The State’s attempts to track down the federal money raised as many questions as answers and brought to light concerns about the nonprofit’s stewardship of public dollars.
Five takeaways from the investigation
Community Cares project launch: In April 2023, a collection of powerful Richland County Democrats announced the Community Cares Project, an anti-crime initiative funded by an $800,000 federal grant from U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a Columbia Democrat. The project, led by the Lower Richland Alumni Foundation, aimed to address crime in the rural Richland County communities of Eastover, Gadsden, and Hopkins.
Financial transparency issues: More than two years later, there is little clarity on how the funds have been spent. The Lower Richland Alumni Foundation has not responded to requests for comment, and a public records request seeking information about the grant returned only a smattering of heavily-redacted documents.
Limited involvement of partners: Although the project claimed partnerships with several public bodies and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, many partners reported minimal involvement. The sheriff’s department, for instance, was only marginally involved in a youth program and not in other aspects of the project.
Questions about use of funds: The Lower Richland Alumni Foundation’s financial practices raise questions, including the possibility that grant funds were misused. There are discrepancies in financial reports provided to Richland County that indicate funds intended for educational centers may have been used for an unauthorized project.
Leadership and accountability: Despite these issues, Clyburn defended the decision to fund the foundation, citing community needs.
An AI tool assisted with compiling and summarizing the takeaways in this story. The story was then edited by The State’s journalists.
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "5 takeaways from the Lower Richland Alumni Foundation investigation."