SC nonprofit gets big $500K grant to help abused women, kids in Lowcountry. Here’s how
Hopeful Horizons, a nonprofit serving survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse across the Lowcountry, has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women.
The two-year grant, awarded through the Legal Assistance for Victims Program, will allow the organization to expand its free civil legal services to survivors in Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties.
Kristin Dubrowski, chief executive officer of Hopeful Horizons, said that this is “one of the largest grants” the organization has received. It will be used to support staff salaries, benefits and operational costs.
How will the funds be used?
The organization plans to bolster its legal team by hiring one part-time attorney and two full-time court advocate paralegals on top of its existing full-time attorney and one full-time paralegal. Recruitment is already underway, Dubrowski said.
Hopeful Horizons has been around since 1983 and provided civil legal services since 2002. It has received grant funding from LAV since 2009, typically reapplying every three years.
Dubrowski said that this grant cycle covers two years, totaling roughly $250,000 each year. It funds not only legal staff but also essential program operations such as training, licensing, attorney liability insurance, rent and mileage for court advocacy across rural areas.
The Legal Assistance for Victims Grant Program is competitive, according to Dubrowski, and is designed to improve access to comprehensive legal services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. It covers legal representation, safety planning, courtroom advocacy and assistance with restraining orders, custody and divorce proceedings, and victim compensation.
Congresswoman Nancy Mace, who submitted a letter of support for the grant, also emphasized the importance of the funding:
“This funding ensures victims will not be left to face those battles alone,” Mace said. “They’ll have attorneys and advocates in their corner every step of the way.”
How does Hopeful Horizon’s legal funding work?
Hopeful Horizons’ total annual operating budget is approximately $4.2 million, with $300,000 allocated to legal services, Dubrowski said.
The nonprofit is largely funded by grants such as this one, the South Carolina Bar Foundation and private foundation funding, often used for client legal expenses.
“In 2024, our legal team assisted 242 survivors,” Dubrowski said.
The organization is also looking for ways to fill ongoing service gaps, especially in areas like affordable housing, she said.
Hopeful Horizons’ main office in Beaufort is located at 1212 Charles Street. They have additional offices in Bluffton and Walterboro.
