Season of Giving 2026: Vote for a Local Nonprofit
12 Nonprofits. One Big Season of Giving. $60,000 to Lowcountry Non-profits.
FWDG is giving back to the Lowcountry with our annual Season of Giving—and we want you to help us decide where the generosity goes.
Our community has many organizations working every day to make a difference. Through FWDG’s Season of Giving, we’re giving $5,000 each to 12 local nonprofit organizations doing meaningful work in our community.
Voting runs September 9, 2026, through September 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Voting open to residents of Beaufort and Jasper Counties only.Vote for a nonprofit that deserves to be recognized and supported.
Whether they’re helping families, supporting children, protecting animals, serving seniors, improving our community, or making a difference in another way, we want to hear about them.
FWDG Season of Giving — Voting
How Voting Works
- Vote once online AND once in-store, per category, per day.
- In-store votes count 5x. Visit FWDG at 745 Robert Smalls Pkwy to make your vote count five times.
- Vote both ways in the same day. You may vote in-store and online on the same day. However, you may only cast one vote per category per day.
- Vote in every category, every day! Be sure to visit the ballot each day and cast your vote in every category to support your favorites.
- Daily voting resets each day. Your voting opportunity resets at the beginning of each new voting day.
Choosing the Winners
At the conclusion of the voting period:
- One Overall Winner will be selected from all nominees based on the highest total number of votes.
- One Category Winner will be selected for each individual category based on the highest total number of votes within that category. ( The Overall Winner is not eligible to also win their individual category; if the Overall Winner has the highest number of votes in their category, the organization with the second-highest number of votes in that category will be named the Category Winner.)
- Winners will be announced at the Season Of Giving Ceremony. One representative from each organization must be present at the ceremony in order to accept the winning. If a representative fails to attend, the runner up will be named the winner.
Remember: You can vote every day, so make your voice count — vote in every category, every day!
VOTING CATEGORIES
Kids & Youth, | Education, Arts & Literacy | Medical & Healthcare | Wellness & Recreation | Food & Self-Sufficiency | Family & Community Support | Inclusion, Disability & Independent Living | Military, Veterans & First Responders | Animal & Conservation – Multiple Species | Animal & Conservation – Single Species | Adult Services
One vote per category, per person, per day is permitted, with each new voting day beginning at 12:00 AM. Each in-store vote is equivalent to five (5) online votes for the selected category, and participants may vote both in-store and online on the same day. Voting is open to residents of Beaufort and Jasper Counties, South Carolina; a valid zip code is required. Winners will be determined by the highest number of votes received.
Voting opens September 9, 2026, and ends September 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM, and the awards ceremony will take place on September 18, 2026, at FWDG, 745 Robert Smalls Parkway, Beaufort, SC, where all winners will receive their award. A representative from each winning organization must be present at the ceremony to accept their award and winnings; otherwise, the award passes to the next-highest vote-getter. FWDG reserves the right to disqualify any votes deemed fraudulent, duplicated, or otherwise invalid.
Twelve winners will each receive $5,000. Eleven Category Winners will be selected — the organization with the highest number of votes in each category. One At Large Winner will be selected — the second-place finisher with the highest number of votes across all categories. No organization may receive more than one award. In case of a tie, the award will be split among the tied nonprofits. A nonprofit may only win one award.