To support this mission, Empower Charleston invested $100,000 in Charleston Hope from 2023-2024, driving significant growth and impact. Most notably, Charleston Hope’s school-based counseling programs expanded from 29 students receiving 348 hours of therapy in 2022 to 70 students receiving 840 hours of therapy in 2024.
Empower Charleston Lead Partner, Sarah Castle, played a key role in Charleston Hope’s growth by providing strategic planning expertise and leadership coaching. Working closely with Founder & Executive Director, Emily Kerr, she helped develop a three-year strategic plan, refine the organization’s mission and vision, and strengthen board leadership by recruiting new members with aligned experience. This support provided Charleston Hope with the structure and foundation needed to scale its impact.
Over the two-year investment period, Charleston Hope saw a revenue increase of $92,000, nearly doubling its budget, expanded to a new school in North Charleston, hired additional staff including a dedicated Program Director, and implemented a customized database to streamline operations and improve staff efficiency. In addition, Charleston Hope established six new Master’s Program partnerships, making Charleston Hope a leading graduate-level internship site for future mental health professionals.
Recognizing its outstanding work in the community, Charleston Hope was honored as the 2025 Nonprofit of the Year by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.
“The funding and partnership from Empower Charleston enabled us to make impactful program improvements based on stakeholder feedback, ensuring high-quality and responsive mental health services for students.”
— Emily Kerr, Founder & Executive Director