100 Women Giving Back | Bluffton & Hilton Head Island

100 Women Giving Back Bluffton & Hilton Head | Local Nonprofits

What is 100 Women Giving Back to the Lowcountry?
100 Women Giving Back to the Lowcountry is a local women's giving group supporting nonprofit organizations throughout Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and the surrounding South Carolina Lowcountry. The group gathers five times a year. Members nominate local 501(c)(3) organizations, women informally speak on behalf of three selected organizations at each gathering, members vote, and each contributes $100 to the selected nonprofit.

At the September 2026 gathering at Burnt Church Distillery in Bluffton, women spoke on behalf of the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra, Second Helpings and Programs for Exceptional People (PEP). PEP was selected as the recipient, and approximately ten new members joined the group.

By Allison Cobb | The Cobb Group

Part of The Allison Cobb Collection — curated stories about homes, history, community and life in Bluffton, Hilton Head Island & the Lowcountry.

Good Times While Giving Back: 100 Women Gather in Bluffton

It was really good to see everyone again.

That may be my biggest takeaway from our September gathering of 100 Women Giving Back to the Lowcountry, generously hosted by Burnt Church Distillery in Bluffton. Summer has a way of scattering everyone in a hundred different directions, so there were lots of hugs, catching up across tables and more than a few versions of, "I haven't seen you in forever!"

There were plenty of new faces, too, which I loved. About ten women joined that evening, and watching this group continue to grow is exciting. Every new member means another $100 going toward a local organization, of course, but she also brings her own circle of friends, experiences and connections—and maybe introduces the rest of us to a local organization we've never heard about.

We've always called it "good times while giving back."

This night was a pretty perfect example.

Three Good Causes and One Very Hard Vote

We heard about three organizations that evening: the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra, Second Helpings and Programs for Exceptional People (PEP).

I should probably explain what I mean by "heard about," because it's one of my favorite things about how 100 Women works.

The nonprofits don't come in and give us professional presentations. There aren't elaborate PowerPoints or rehearsed fundraising pitches. Instead, someone stands up and tells us why she thinks an organization deserves our attention.

Maybe she works with the organization or volunteers there. Maybe she has a personal connection to its mission. Or maybe she simply knows about the work they're doing and thinks, More people need to know about this.

It's informal and sometimes a little impromptu, which I think is exactly what makes it so good. You're simply hearing one woman tell a room full of other women, in her own words, why something matters to her.

This time, the three stories couldn't have been more different.

We heard about the Beaufort Symphony and the role music plays in our community, including opportunities for young musicians. We learned more about Second Helpings and the work they do rescuing surplus food and helping get it where it's needed. And we heard about PEP—Programs for Exceptional People—and the opportunities they provide for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to work, learn, socialize and become more independent.

All three were presented beautifully, which did not make our job particularly easy.

In the end, PEP was selected as the recipient of our September donation, and we were thrilled for them.

I do hope the Beaufort Symphony and Second Helpings are presented again, though. One of the nice things about this group is that not being selected doesn't mean the conversation ends. Now a room full of women knows more about those organizations than we did before. Someone may volunteer. Someone may make a separate donation. Someone may tell a friend.

Sometimes awareness is valuable all by itself.

Then We Stayed for Dinner

Burnt Church Distillery couldn't have been more generous to us and put together a delicious buffet after the meeting. Many of us stayed for dinner, and honestly, that's one of my favorite parts of these evenings.

The meeting may officially be over, but no one seems particularly interested in leaving.

You finally get to talk to the friend you've been waving at from across the room. Someone introduces you to someone else. Chairs move around. Conversations get longer. And before you know it, you're still there considerably later than you intended to be.

This is where the "good times" part of good times while giving back comes in.

We're certainly there to raise money, but I never wanted 100 Women to feel like another obligation on anyone's calendar. Life is busy enough. If we're going to carve out an evening, it should be something we actually look forward to.

If You've Never Been, Here's How It Works

The idea behind 100 Women is intentionally simple.

We gather five times a year, and members nominate local 501(c)(3) organizations serving the Lowcountry. Three are selected for each meeting, and someone gets a few minutes to speak informally on behalf of each one.

You don't need to work for the organization. You don't need to sit on its board, and you definitely don't need to consider yourself a public speaker. If you know about a local nonprofit doing good work and can stand up for a few minutes and tell us why you think it deserves our attention, that's enough.

After hearing all three stories, we vote. Each member contributes $100, and those individual donations are combined into one much more meaningful gift for the organization selected that evening.

That's really it.

No gala, silent auction or major fundraising production. And no selling wrapping paper to your neighbors.

Just a group of women, $100 each and a shared interest in helping organizations doing good work close to home.

We Need Your Ideas

This is also my little nudge to everyone already involved with us: keep bringing us organizations.

There is so much happening throughout Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry that most of us never hear about. Some nonprofits have big names and strong visibility. Others are quietly doing wonderful work without nearly as much attention.

We want to hear about both.

And if you presented an organization before and it wasn't selected, please don't assume that's the end of it. Bring it back. Tell the story again. The vote may go differently the next time, and either way, you're putting that organization in front of more people who may want to help.

Come See Us in November

Our next gathering is November 17, 2026 at Poseidon at Shelter Cove on Hilton Head Island, and I'd especially love to see some new faces there.

You do not have to join before attending.

Come with a friend. Listen. Meet some people. See how it works. There are no strings attached.

If you decide it's your kind of thing, we'd love to have you become a member and participate in the next vote.

If not, you've spent an evening learning about three local organizations you may not have known much about before. That's not a bad use of a couple of hours.

Looking around Burnt Church that night, I was reminded why we started this in the first place. There are so many people doing good things in our community, and there are also a lot of women who would happily help if they simply knew where the need was.

100 Women puts those two groups in the same room.

Then we add dinner.

Good times while giving back.

I think we've got a pretty good thing going.

Hope you'll join us in November.

About 100 Women Giving Back to the Lowcountry

100 Women Giving Back to the Lowcountry was co-founded by Allison Cobb and Natalie Burnside, both Realtors with The Cobb Group, with a pretty simple idea: bring local women together, have a good time and collectively make a meaningful difference for organizations doing important work in our community.

The group gathers five times each year, and visitors are always welcome to come see what we're about before deciding whether they'd like to join.

Next Gathering: November 17, 2026
Poseidon at Shelter Cove | Hilton Head Island

Good times while giving back.

We'd love to have you join us.

Frequently Asked Questions About 100 Women Giving Back

How does 100 Women Giving Back to the Lowcountry work?

The group gathers five times a year. Members nominate local nonprofit organizations, three are selected for each meeting, and women informally share why they believe those organizations deserve support. Members vote, and each contributes $100 to the selected nonprofit.

Who can speak on behalf of a nonprofit?

You don't have to work for or officially represent the organization. Someone may speak because she volunteers there, has a personal connection to its mission or simply believes it's doing worthwhile work in the community. The presentations are intentionally informal and personal.

Can I attend before becoming a member?

Absolutely. Visitors are welcome to attend a gathering, meet the group and see how everything works before deciding whether they'd like to join. There are no strings attached.

What organizations can be nominated?

Local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Bluffton, Hilton Head Island and the surrounding Lowcountry may be considered.

Who received the September 2026 donation?

Programs for Exceptional People (PEP) was selected after women spoke on behalf of PEP, Second Helpings and the Beaufort Symphony Orchestra.

When is the next 100 Women Giving Back gathering?

The next gathering is November 17, 2026 at Poseidon at Shelter Cove on Hilton Head Island. Visitors are welcome.

About Allison Cobb | The Cobb Group

Allison Cobb is an experienced Realtor serving Hilton Head Island, Bluffton and the South Carolina Lowcountry. Through The Allison Cobb Collection, she shares stories about homes, people, community and life in the place she loves calling home.

Strategic Moves. Lasting Relationships.

Written by Allison Cobb

The author assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or emissions in the content of this blog. The information provided on is an “as is” basis with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness.