(Columbia, SC) — Families need dependable support, and the organizations providing it need resources to keep up. New findings from Central Carolina Community Foundation’s 2026 Community Assessment bring both concerns into focus.
The assessment surveyed 3,377 Midlands residents and 168 nonprofit leaders. Nearly 81% of nonprofit respondents reported increased demand for services over the previous year, while just 33% said they had adequate staffing and 16% reported sufficient financial capacity to meet current community needs.
Those figures invite a closer look at the relationship between community expectations and nonprofit capacity. For organizations serving minority communities, the assessment offers a starting point for conversations with donors and public officials about what it takes to provide consistent, accessible support.
Among parents and caregivers surveyed, fewer than half reported reliable access to child care, after-school, or summer programs for their children. Fewer than half of resident respondents said they could easily find information about what was happening in their communities.
The findings also identified strengths: nearly two-thirds reported feeling welcome in public spaces, and 63% said they could reach the places they needed to go. These are survey responses across the region, rather than findings specific to any one racial or ethnic group.
The information gap deserves particular attention. A program’s availability and a family’s awareness of it are separate challenges. For community news outlets, churches, neighborhood associations, and service providers, the findings suggest an opportunity to examine how information reaches residents—and where those connections could improve.
The foundation has made assessment findings available through an interactive dashboard. Its broader assessment process is intended to inform grantmaking, community leadership, partnerships, and donor engagement. Additional analysis will examine regional needs alongside public data and community perspectives.
For local leaders, the value of the assessment will depend on what follows. It provides an opportunity to ask practical questions: Which services are hardest to access? What support would help nonprofits retain staff? How can families more easily find existing resources?
Those questions can help turn community feedback into decisions about funding, communication, and service delivery.
Readers, nonprofit leaders, and community organizations can explore the findings through Central Carolina Community Foundation’s Community Assessment resources.
