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The organization owes $1,870, said Renee Daggerhart, the state office's media relations director. State law allows the secretary of state to fine organizations $10 for each day a report is late, up to $2,000.
Strive to Excel, founded 10 years ago, serves students at Hilton Head and Bluffton middle and high schools. It offers emotional and academic support to students as they prepare for post-secondary education and careers, according to the organization's website. The program also offers scholarships.
The charity was put on suspension in late June. Suspended charities are not allowed to accept or solicit donations, Daggerhart said.
Tim Singleton, Strive executive director, said he didn't learn about the suspension until about a week ago. He then sent the office a check to pay the fine right away, he said.
"I don't know how we dropped the ball, but we did," he said. "And now we're taking care of it."
Daggerhart said suspensions are lifted once fines are paid and the required annual registration is approved.
Strive submitted its financial report in April, but the office has not yet received payment of the fine, Daggerhart said.
Singleton said the suspension shouldn't affect the organization's summer fundraising. The annual Hawkfest, a back-to-school event benefiting Strive, Hilton Head Island High and other schools, will be held as planned Aug. 21, he said.
"It hasn't hurt us at all," he said.
The program uses office space in public schools, but superintendent Valerie Truesdale said the organization is separate from the county school district, which has no purview over the program's finances.
Strive, like other charitable organizations, must register annually and submit financial reports within 4 1/2 months of the close of each fiscal year, Daggerhart said.
Strive's fiscal year that drew the fine ended in May 2009. Daggerhart said the group did not submit a report by the deadline and was sent a certified notice of the violation last fall and a notice of the fine was sent in January.
Daggerhart said the office tries to give charities several opportunities to pay fines or negotiate payment plans before they are suspended. Because many charities rely on volunteers, it's not unusual for groups to miss a deadline.More than 200 charitable organizations -- some based in South Carolina and others elsewhere across the nation -- are listed as suspended on the secretary of state's website.
Strive's financial reports are filed by the law firm Minor, Haight and Arundell, Singleton said.
Bob Arundell, also vice chairman of the Beaufort County Board of Education, said he believes Strive appropriately filed for an extension of the deadline to turn in its 2009 financial report. He said his office was working Thursday to correct the issue.
"We'll have (Strive) off the list quickly," Arundell said.
