Beyond Our Gates Foundation
There Are Many in Need Just Beyond Our Gates
Within just a few miles of Kiawah and Seabrook there are tens of thousands of people living lives that are so close to us in proximity, just Beyond our Gates, but in such stark contrast to ours in reality. Please join the Beyond Our Gates Foundation in making an impact – together, we can change lives and communities.
A Message From Our Founders
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
Every day across the Charleston Sea Islands, just beyond our gates, families face impossible choices: between food and rent, medicine and heat, or repairing a roof and providing their children with basic needs. For many of us living on Kiawah and Seabrook, these worries may feel distant, yet our less-fortunate neighbors face them daily. This dichotomy inspired us to create the Beyond Our Gates Foundation – to extend support, connection, and opportunity to those most in need.
Today, the challenges are only becoming more daunting. The ongoing affordability crisis, driven by rising housing costs, inflation, and limited access to essential services, is putting immense pressure on families already struggling to make ends meet. The needs in the communities we serve continue to grow, and so must our commitment to meet them.
In 2025, thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we awarded $525,000 in grants to 25 incredible nonprofit partners working on the front lines of need. These dedicated organizations, and the heroes who lead and staff them, are helping families put food on the table, repairing homes for seniors, expanding access to affordable healthcare, and supporting children in a myriad of ways. They’re also there for those navigating mental health and disability challenges, and for families facing sudden crises by offering compassion, care, and immediate relief when it matters most.
Across three grant cycles, the Beyond Our Gates Foundation has made 65 grants totaling more than $1.3 million. All of these funds have been invested in strengthening the Charleston Sea Islands community and creating opportunities for those most in need. Every grant reflects a simple belief: that everyone deserves the chance to live with dignity, security, hope and opportunity.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our current donors whose generosity makes this work possible. We also invite more of our Kiawah and Seabrook neighbors to join us—make a gift, volunteer your time, or tell others about our mission. Your involvement will help build a stronger, more resilient Charleston Sea Islands community for all who call it home.
With hope and gratitude,
– Brian and Karen McDonagh
100,000 total focus area population
20% living in poverty
50% existing below subsistence
<35% Title 1 school students testing at proficiency level
1/3 of residents can no longer afford to stay in their community
10,000+ people without health insurance
5,000+ children living in poverty – larger than the total population of Kiawah and Seabrook combined
10% of residents struggle with daily food insecurity
*Data from The College of Charleston’s Joseph P. Riley Center for Livable Communities and other sources
Mission Statement
Improving the lives of our less-fortunate neighbors in the nearby Charleston Sea Islands by investing in them, connecting them to urgently needed resources, and empowering them to build a future filled with hope and opportunity.
Grant Focus Areas
Education
Housing
Poverty & Crisis Services
Child Services
Family Services
Healthcare
Mental Health
Food Insecurity
Recreation
Ways to Help
One-Time Gifts
Recurring Gifts
Major Gifts of $10,000 to $1,000,000+
Cash
Appreciated Securities
IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
Wills, Trusts and/or Estate Gifts
For Major Gifts, please contact us here.
Volunteer Assistance
How to
Contact Us
130 Gardeners Circle Drive,
PMB 605, Johns Island, SC 29455
(843) 640-3000