The new funding advances Google’s mission to provide AI workforce development and training to over
one million Americans
Columbia, SC – (April 10, 2025) Google.org — the company’s philanthropic arm — announced $1
million in funding to Central Carolina Community Foundation to provide AI training to local nonprofits
through the company’s AI Opportunity Fund. Project Evident—another recipient of the Fund—is
supporting community-based nonprofits in South Carolina, providing a range of capacity-building
support, including technical assistance and a program to help them adopt AI skills for improved
efficiency and impact. Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund aims to equip one million Americans with AI
skills.
In a 2024 report on the use of generative AI among nonprofits, Google found that, of the nonprofits
surveyed, more than 40% of respondents said that none of their staff were trained, educated, or fluent
in AI. With support from Google, Project Evident will help Central Carolina Community Foundation
provide AI training to nonprofits. The programming will include in-person working sessions, webinars,
the development of a tailored AI adoption roadmap, access to one-on-one coaching, and peer learning
opportunities. This work recently started with a “Discovery Day” launch event in Columbia, where local
nonprofit organizations attended a day of programming and AI training.
“Nonprofits are addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges, and Google.org is committed to
empowering them with AI skills to help them accelerate their impact,” said Maggie Johnson, VP and
Global Head, Google.org. “We’re proud to support Project Evident and Central Carolina Community
Foundation as they provide nonprofits with technical assistance and AI training at no cost. This will help
nonprofits improve efficiency, focus on their mission, and reach even more people.”
“We are grateful for Google.org’s generous funding, which will enable us to provide AI training to
nonprofits across the Midlands. This support will allow nonprofits to harness the power of AI to improve
their efficiency, focus on their missions, and impact even more people in our community,” said South
Carolina Representative Seth Rose.
Central Carolina Community Foundation connects charitable people and companies with nonprofits in
the Midlands and statewide. The Foundation makes grants, supports philanthropic giving, and builds
the capacity of nonprofits to be even more effective at carrying out their missions. In partnership with
Project Evident, Central Carolina Community Foundation will utilize Google.org’s funding to facilitate AI
training for nonprofits across the Midlands.
“We are thrilled to receive this funding from Google.org, which will provide training, coaching, and
grants to a cohort of twenty South Carolina nonprofits committed to learning and integrating AI into their
work,” said Georgia Mjartan, President and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation. “We
know how valuable these nonprofits are to the people they serve, which is why we are committed to
providing them with the tools they need to be even more efficient and effective in serving their
communities. This initiative is a critical step in ensuring nonprofits can harness the power of AI for
positive impact.”
Today’s announcement builds on the impact of Google.org’s $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, which will
help over one million Americans learn essential AI skills by providing funding to best-in-class workforce
development and education organizations across the country. To date, Google has trained more than
162,000 people on digital skills through partnerships with organizations such as public libraries,
chambers of commerce, community colleges, and more.
Supporting Quotes
“Our research shows that nonprofits are adopting AI at a rapid pace and grantmakers have an
opportunity to shape the role of AI in civil society,” said Kelly Fitzsimmons, Founder and CEO of
Project Evident. “Nonprofits are at the center of everything we do and our collaboration with
Google.org is giving more practitioners access to support and tools that allow them to use AI for more
efficient and impactful work.”
About Google in South Carolina
Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Google Cloud,
Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has
become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google has proudly called South
Carolina home for more than 15 years with data centers in Berkeley and Dorchester Counties.
About Central Carolina Community Foundation
Central Carolina Community Foundation connects local citizens with high-impact philanthropy. With
more than $250 million in assets and over 515 charitable funds, the Foundation serves 11 counties in
the Midlands through grants and scholarships, promotes giving to nonprofits through Midlands Gives,
and provides support to statewide philanthropic initiatives, including the One SC Fund.
About Project Evident
Project Evident harnesses the power of data, evidence, and technology to create greater impact. We
are at the forefront of next-generation evidence practice in the social and education sectors. Project
Evident enables practitioners (nonprofits, districts, and state education agencies) and their funders to
make better use of these resources by advancing an inclusive R&D approach and embracing scalable,
ethical, and cost-effective technology, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to achieve meaningful
and equitable outcomes.
List of Central Carolina Community Foundation’s AI Accelerator Grant Recipients:
Human Services
Able South Carolina (Statewide)
CARE House of the Pee Dee (Pee Dee)
FoodShare SC (Statewide)
Harvest Hope (Midlands, Statewide)
Landmarks for Families (Lowcountry)
Lighthouse Ministries (Pee Dee)
Senior Resources (Midlands)
SC Center for Fathers and Families (Statewide)
SC Legal Services (Statewide)
SC Thrive (Statewide)
Sumter United Ministries (Midlands)
Transitions (Midlands)
Health
Community Initiatives, Inc. (Upstate)
Girl Get Up Society (Midlands)
Healthy Learners (Midlands, Lowcountry, Pee Dee)
Lions Vision Services (Midlands)
The Therapy Place (Midlands)
Community and Economic Development
Hispanic Alliance (Upstate)
Mill Village Ministries (Upstate)
Turn90 (Upstate, Midlands, Lowcountry)
