2025 Annual Report
CVSC & CVSC Education Fund
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your steadfast support over the years. Your dedication to conservation has been the cornerstone of our efforts for more than 22 years, protecting South Carolina’s air, land and water while bringing these critical issues to the attention of our elected leaders and voters. We appreciate your contributions to elevating the work of Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC) and Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund (CVSCEF). Because of you, important environmental topics and the protections that support them are discussed far and wide, from kitchen tables in our homes to conversations within the halls of government.
In 2025, your actions and generosity powered some bold efforts for CVSC and CVSC PAC. We addressed the major growth issue in our state by introducing SC Prosper & Preserve, which includes a suite of sustainable land-planning tools to help communities address sprawl and congestion. With a commitment to developing innovative solutions that deliver economic benefits, we made significant progress in addressing an issue affecting communities across the Upstate, the Midlands, and the coast. We also challenged and opposed energy legislation that poses considerable risks and high costs for ratepayers and could hinder progress toward a more sustainable, cleaner energy future.
Furthermore, CVSC also designed new ways for conservationists across the state to lend their voice and take action through the Conservation
Advocates Alliance. We’re continuing to spotlight preservation in conservation by working toward the protection of our state’s Rosenwald Schools, a project we, along with a number of partners, hope will become part of a trail network that preserves historic lands and the story of these schools.
CVSC actively participated in several special elections for House races across the state, strategically forging relationships and generating momentum as we gear up for the pivotal election year in 2026, a year critical for electing more conservation champions to the General Assembly.
CVSC Education Fund also celebrated milestones. CVSCEF launched the South Carolina Electric Cooperative Engagement Program, a new initiative designed to deliver avenues of participation for member-owners of South Carolina’s 19 electrical cooperatives. CVSCEF also continued with our dynamic leadership program, the Palmetto Leadership Academy. In its second year, this program helps aspiring leaders connect with opportunities to step into leadership roles surrounding conservation decisions on public boards and commissions.
CVSCEF continues to lead and connect South Carolinians across the state with resources to inform the public. We’re also proud to serve as a facilitator of transformative partnerships and coalitions, because we believe a strong conservation movement starts with coordinated, focused collaboration.
The conservation movement in South Carolina is on the rise, and to support this momentum, our staff and the Board of Directors have unveiled a new 10-year strategic plan. This plan will steer our efforts toward achieving bold and measurable goals over the next decade. We’re proud to work alongside you, our dedicated supporters, who generously contribute your time and resources. Together, we are energized to carry out this important work every single day.
This annual report serves as a reflective overview of a significant year, underscoring the achievements made possible through your generous support. We are committed to advancing our mission and ensuring that conservation remains a priority across the state. The upcoming year presents many challenges, but with your continued support, we are motivated to create positive change and improve our state for future generations.
I cannot express enough how excited I am to be back with CVSC and to continue this work alongside you. It means a great deal to have such strong support behind this work, and I know that together we are well-positioned to make an undeniable impact on this place we call home.
With gratitude and determination,
Meagan Diedolf President CVSC
CVSC Mission
CVSC fights for our air, land and water through bipartisan and pragmatic political action, making conservation and environmental issues a top priority among South Carolina’s elected leaders, political candidates, and voters.
Board of Directors
Mark Robertson, Chair
Willie Morgan, Secretary & Treasurer
Catherine Edwards
Greg Gregory
Kevin Kay
Mary Anne Inglis
Lee Manigault
Arnold Nemirow
Taylor Speer
Ann Warner
1,813 4,326 3,286
Donors & Action Takers
Online Actions Taken
Emails to Legislators
10,565
Followers on Social Media Platforms
95
Advocates Joined the Conservation Advocates Alliance
46
Fellows through the Palmetto Leadership Academy
Conservation Advocates Alliance
In 2025 CVSC formed the new Conservation Advocates Alliance (CAA) , a growing statewide network of everyday South Carolinians standing up for conservation and equity in their own communities. In its first year, 95 advocates joined the CAA, representing 22 counties and completing 470 hours of activism.
CVSC Vision
Our vision for South Carolina is one where natural resources are recognized as an irreplaceable part of our economy, history, and culture — and where economic development and conservation goals align.
Staff
Meagan Diedolf, President
Zach Bjur
John Brooker
Jalen Brooks-Knepfle
Emily Doscher
Kate Durand
Katie Welborn Hagan
Anna Kimelblatt
Shea Maple
Meredith McNeely
Tori Oluseyi
Evan Renshaw
Erin Siebert
Letter from CVSC Board Chair
Dear Friends and Supporters,
2025 reminded us what’s possible when people come together around a shared commitment to South Carolina’s future. With your support, Conservation Voters of South Carolina continued working to protect our air, land, and water while helping communities across the state chart a more sustainable path forward.
That shared commitment translated into meaningful progress for conservation statewide. This year, CVSC introduced a suite of new tools to help local governments plan responsibly during unprecedented growth. CVSC continued pushing for energy policies that are cleaner and more affordable for South Carolina families, and launched innovative new ways for supporters to take action and make their voices heard through a new program known as the Conservation Advocates Alliance.
CVSC also proudly celebrated conservation leadership through the 17th Annual Green Tie Awards, honoring incredible individuals working at the Statehouse and in communities across South Carolina to preserve precious open land and protect our state’s rich natural heritage.
In 2025, CVSC made important changes. In the fall, we welcomed Meagan Diedolf back as our new President. After roughly a year away as the Director of State Government Affairs at Charter Communications, Meagan returns, building on her prior work with
CVSC as Senior VP for Policy and Government Relations. In that role, she helped shape key policies and build strong relationships. Last year also marked the launch of a new strategic plan to guide this work for the next ten years. These changes show our commitment to taking action and improving the protection of South Carolina’s environment.
These accomplishments reflect the power of partnership. Your support ensures that CVSC remains a strong, credible voice for conservation. One that shows up consistently, builds lasting relationships, and delivers real results for our state. Because of you, conservation has a seat at the table where decisions about South Carolina’s future are made.
Thank you for standing with CVSC. Your dedication inspires us every day and makes our successes possible. Together, we are shaping a future for South Carolina where nature thrives and people prosper. Here’s to continuing this important work in the year ahead!
With gratitude,
Mark Robertson Chair, Board of Directors
CVSC
Legislative Priorities
SC Prosper & Preserve
Sandy beaches, golden marshes, and quiet forests characterize the landscapes of South Carolina. Across the state, South Carolinians cherish these natural features. This deep passion underscores the importance of land protection, which remains central to our mission.
As South Carolina’s population grows, our state has an important opportunity to find a balanced approach to development. Instead of attempting to halt development, CVSC is pursuing a more measured strategy to mitigate these challenges.
In 2025, CVSC introduced the SC Prosper & Preserve initiative, proposing land-use planning tools to help local governments manage rapid development. With support from nearly two dozen bill sponsors and committed partners, CVSC sought to build momentum for these creative solutions.
The first, Transferable Development Rights (TDR) serves as a valuable tool for communities aiming to strategically manage growth in a way that aligns with their infrastructure capabilities.
TDRs offer a market-based approach to managing growth. Landowners in designated conservation areas can sell their development rights to developers, who use them to build in targeted growth zones. This directs density to the right places while creating a financial incentive to protect our landscapes, all without relying on public funding.
This approach not only facilitates expansion in suitable locations but also supports community objectives, ensuring the protection of the features and resources that matter most.
Through TDRs, communities can balance the need for development and growth with the desire to maintain the character of places we call home. These programs can even benefit agricultural land by enabling farmers to generate income through development rights, which they can reinvest in their farms.
Concurrent Infrastructure Requirements
(CIR) play a crucial role in ensuring that future development is accompanied by essential plans for roads, schools, and utilities. By establishing these requirements, taxpayers can be better prepared for the expenses that come with community growth.
CIR fosters sustainable planning by aligning infrastructure development with community expansion, helping to preserve the unique identity and character of our state. This strategy guarantees that as populations grow and new neighborhoods arise, the necessary facilities and services are accessible to all residents. Ultimately, implementing CIR promotes responsible, forward-thinking development that helps to maintain the identity of a place while removing some of the burdens that may fall on current residents and local governments.
Thoughtful planning is crucial to ensure that development is aligned with infrastructure capabilities, as rapid growth without adequate support can lead to increased congestion and strain on vital resources. By working together, we can foster a thriving environment that preserves our state’s unique charm while accommodating progress.
This vision, coupled with Governor McMaster’s 2025 announcement to preserve 10 million acres of land in our state, lays the foundation for making significant strides in this crucial work. Together, thanks to your passion for this work, we are making a remarkable impact.
Securing South Carolina’s Future
In 2025, CVSC developed a new strategic plan to ensure we are ready
to meet the environmental challenges facing South Carolina today and in the years ahead. Informed by the real and growing environmental threats facing communities across South Carolina including, sprawling development, rising energy costs, and increasing pollution of our air and water, this plan focuses on the long-term strides needed to protect what makes our state unique, now and for generations to come.
At CVSC, people are at the heart of our work. We know that a healthy environment is inseparable from our health and quality of life. This 10-year strategic plan reflects our commitment to building a strong, durable bench of conservation leaders, both at the Statehouse, within local governments in communities across South Carolina.
That means training advocates, supporting candidates for both elected and appointed offices, and equipping everyday citizens to navigate public processes that too often feel inaccessible.
Creating meaningful change requires bold action, bold investment, and a bold vision for the future. As you’ll see throughout this report, CVSC is developing new and innovative ways for those who care deeply about this work to engage and lead. We invite you to learn more about our strategic plan and to join us in shaping a stronger conservation future for South Carolina.
Scan to view our strategic plan online
C4 Income
C4 Expenses
Programming $1,226,897 Admin $289,956 Fundraising $84,686
CVSC Donors
Abacus Planning Group
Hal & Cookie Adams
Bill & Penny Agnew
Paul & Robyn Agnew
Arlene Andrews
Nancy Appel
Linda Ashley
Audubon South Carolina
Laura Bagwell
Dana & Virginia Beach
Richard Beck & Karen Lovelace
Kara Berly
Andy Berly
Charles & Frances Bethea
Elise Blackwell
Lisa Blighton
Deborah & Gilbert Boissonneault
Tara Boone
Laura Booth
Carla Borders
Barbara & William Bowers
Sally Boyd
Jim Bradley
Amy Bradshaw
Mary Bull & Craig Kridel
Guilford Bulman
Robert Bunch
Moultrie & Fran Burns
Robert Byko
Joseph Cantey
Meta Carter & Eileen McGuffie
Les Case
Nancy & William Cave
CCM Investment Advisors
Ed Chaplin
April Childress
Coastal Conservation League
Coca-Cola Consolidated
Wes & Ann Cooler
Peter & Lucy Cram
Michael Criss
Jeannie B. Croxton
Cumulus Media
Thank you to our generous donors. We are deeply grateful to the following donors who made cumulative gifts of $100 or more in 2025.
Catherine Cuneo
Jason Czerwinski
Donna Davis
Frank DeBolt
Deer Park Water
Peter Delorme
Steve Dennis
Curtis & Arianna Derrick
Mimi Dias
Ann Dibble
Debra Dickinson
Robert Donelson
Gloria Douglass
Susan Dressler
Beverley DuBose
Michael & Jean Durkee
Elliott & Elliott, P.A.
Ed Epps
Barbara Ervin
Sue F. Fehr
First Tuesday Strategies
Forward Communications
Francis Marion Hotel
Suzi Garland
Basil Garzia
Harriette Gause
Ed Good
Mark & Diane Gould
Courtneylove Gowans
Greentech Renewables
Richards Gregory
Kay Grinnell
Becky & Evan Groth
Dvera Hadden
Mitchell Hambright
Stephen Hanson
David J. Harmon
Rebecca Hartness
John Hartz & Susan Grey
Kay Haun
Karin Haupstein
Richard & Connie Hayes
Rebecca Haynes & Bobby Davis
Susan Hilfer
Glenn & Heather Hilliard
Stephen & Susan Hoffius
Horry County Solid Waste Authority
Marie Ingle
Rob & Cailey Inglis
Carol Jackson
Trish Jerman & Mark Tompkins
Gerrit Jobsis
Timothy Joy
Bill Kee & Frank Lee
Linda Ketner
Margaret Kherlopian
Lauren Kindred
Anthony J. Koelker
Wade Kolb
Robert J. Kosinski
Judith Kramer & Peter Wallace
Lawrence LaBonte
David & Betsy Lamp
Carolyn Lattanzio
Wannelle & Marty Lefkowitz
Joe & Ruth Lesesne
Herbert Lord
Carole & Joe Lyles
John Maccarthy
Erwin & Nancy Maddrey
Lee Manigault
Shea & Nichole Maple
Deb Matherly
Maynard Nexsen PC
Suzanne McCullough
Clarkson & Mary Ann McDow
Cecily McMillan
Meredith & Scott McNeely
Arthur Meeder
Willie Morgan
Wendy Zara & Dean Moss
Naturaland Trust
Linda Neely
Nelson Mullins
Ruth & Charles Nicholson
OceanaGold Haile Operation
Kevin O’Hara
Glenn Olf
Jeanne Owen
Palmetto Pride
Linda Parker
Charles & Celeste Patrick
Tony & Brooke Peay
Jennie & Vincent Pezé
Ashley Pfirman
Bess Pierce
Davis C. Poore
Catherine Powell
Christopher Pracht
William Prioleau
David Quick
Elliotte Quinn
Lou & Robert Rainey
Bruce & MaryRose Randall
Renewable Water Resources
Ezra Riber
Mark & Debbie Robertson
Amy & Martial Robichaud
Craig Robinson
Jeanne Robinson
Robinson Bradshaw
Nick & Marcelle Ross
Tony & Joenne Royal
David Ruef
John & Geales Sands
SCACED
Andrea G. Schechter
Robert Schofield
SC Women Lead
Senior Golfers of America
Norm Sharp
Harry Shealy
Liz Shelly
Harold & Joanne Shuman
Bill Simpson
Gary Smith
Philip Snead
Richard Sommer
South Carolina Native Plant Society
South Carolina Water Utilities, Inc
Southern Environmental Law Center
Spartanburg Water
Gaye & Joel Sprague
Eve Stacey
Patricia & Mark Stamey
Peter Stangel
James F. Stewart
Joseph Sullivan
Sun Solutions
Sustain South Carolina
Sustaining Way
Cynthia Swanson Powell
Jim Taylor
John Thompson & Julia Forrester
Timberlake Communications
Trust for Public Land
William Turner
John & Mary Virginia Tynan
Upstate Forever
Herman Walker
Tanner Wall
William Want
Ann Warner
Cheryl Watson
Margaret Watson
Elizabeth D. Watson
David Whiteman & Lee Jane Kaufman
Dan & Sherrie Whitten
Mary Wilder
Terry Williams
Chisolm Wilson
Lee Wilwerding
Ellen Wood
Ann Willbrand & Pat Woody
Dr. Rhonda Wright
Brad Wyche & Diane Smock
June Yanick
Andrew Yasinsac & JoAnne Day
Laurel Society Donors
The Grove Donors
Green Tie Sponsors
Thank you for following the work of CVSC to protect South Carolina’s treasured spaces and natural resources. Please consider a gift of your own in support of SC’s environmental future. Visit cvsc.org/give. Contributions to CVSC are not tax deductible. To make a tax deductible gift in support of South Carolina’s air, land, and water please visit cvscef.org/contribute.
Leadership
Carrying Conservation Forward in South Carolina
In 2025, CVSC entered an exciting new chapter with the return of Meagan Diedolf as our President. Meagan previously served as CVSC’s Senior Vice President of Policy & Government Relations from 2021 to 2024, where she played a critical role in advancing CVSC’s policy agenda and building bipartisan support for conservation priorities across South Carolina. Her leadership helped strengthen relationships at the Statehouse and beyond, ensuring that environmental protection remained a shared value across party lines.
Meagan brings a deep understanding of South Carolina’s political landscape, a proven track record of effective collaboration, and a clear vision for the future. Meagan looks forward to building on the strong support that makes this work possible as CVSC continues to protect South Carolina’s air, land, and water for generations to come.
“South Carolina is growing at a remarkable pace, but there is a shared desire across regions and political lines to protect what makes our state uniquely beautiful. CVSC is uniquely positioned to build on that momentum by bringing together strong policy expertise, trusted bipartisan relationships, and grassroots support to help turn that vision into lasting conservation outcomes.”
— Meagan Diedolf
CVSC Education Fund Mission
CVSC Education Fund is dedicated to maximizing the participation of conservation-minded citizens in decisions regarding South Carolina’s environment, natural resources, and community health made at the state and local levels.
Board of Directors
Cynthia Powell, Chair
Arnold Nemirow, Vice Chair
Ken Harvin
Michael Brown
Susan Hilfer
Letter from CVSCEF Board Chair
Dear Supporter,
As the Board Chair of the Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund, I thank you for your support in helping us achieve the remarkable progress we made in 2025. Your contributions help us to expand our accomplishments. By educating, engaging, and empowering South Carolinians about the threats to our air, land, and water, we are making a significant difference together.
In our commitment to South Carolinians, CVSCEF facilitates community forums, workshops, and educational webinars. These initiatives make sure that voices from every corner of our state are heard in the crucial decisions that affect us collectively. As we look ahead to 2026, we are proud to lead an expanding network of passionate advocates. Our supporters and friends are dedicated both to preserving South Carolina’s natural landscapes and also to enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
Also, CVSCEF launched new resources through the South Carolina Electric Cooperative Engagement Program to help families better understand their roles as member-owners of our state’s electric cooperatives. By increasing awareness and civic participation, we, along with our partners, are strengthening community voices in decisions that shape South Carolina’s energy future.
In 2025, we continued the Palmetto Leadership Academy (PLA), a program designed to prepare aspiring leaders to serve on public
boards and commissions. By equipping fellows with the skills and knowledge to champion conservation from within these institutions, the PLA is cultivating a new generation of leaders committed to safeguarding South Carolina’s environment and communities. Since launching the program in 2024, nearly 90 individuals from across the state have graduated from the PLA and are actively pursuing and stepping into meaningful conservation leadership roles.
Finally, our CVSCEF staff continues to lead and strengthen partnerships and coalitions across the state, working alongside organizations and community leaders who share a deep investment in South Carolina’s future.
Thank you for being a vital part of this effort. Your dedication to conservation education and community engagement drives our progress and makes all of this possible. Together, we are shaping a more informed, empowered, and resilient South Carolina for future generations.
Again, many thanks –
Cynthia Swanson Powell Chair, Board of Directors CVSCEF
Key Achievements and Impact | CVSCEF
Palmetto Leadership Academy
19
South Carolina counties represented by PLA 86% of PLA alumni have applied to public board or commission 30% have been appointed or elected to a position 71% have attended or participated in public meetings
The Palmetto Leadership Academy (PLA), a program of CVSCEF, continued to grow in its second year. The PLA graduated two cohorts of fellows, a total of 47 dedicated participants. So far the program has assisted with an exciting 17 placements on public boards. These placements have included workforce development and zoning commissions boards, conservation advisory councils, historic neighborhood association boards, and local democracy leadership councils.
In a survey of PLA alumni, to assess strength of the program, 86% reported improved understanding of conservation policy in South Carolina. 100% of alumni reported increased confidence to pursue public service or leadership roles.
Another cohort of PLA fellows kicked off in September of 2025, and will wrap up in May of 2026.
South Carolina Electric Cooperative Engagement Program
South Carolina Electric Cooperative Engagement Program (SCECEP) is a conservation-driven initiative to educate, empower, and mobilize members-owners of South Carolina’s 19 electrical cooperatives. Cooperatives in South Carolina serve more than 1.5 million people. In 2025, CVSCEF and its partners launched mysc-coop.com, including a comprehensive scorecard tool that cooperative members can use to see how their utility provider stands in critical areas. Electric cooperatives were scored on a number of metrics, including board transparency, member access to decision-making, availability of energy-efficiency resources, and access to clean energy programs such as residential rooftop solar.
With assistance from SCECEP, Dr. Debbie Bryant was elected to Berkeley Electric Cooperative’s Board with 65% of the vote. With CVSCEF’s campaign support, Dr. Bryant brings a perspective Berkeley Electric Cooperative, rooted in conservation, cleaner and more diverse energy options.
The SCECEP website also offers ways for member-owners to get involved and take action. View the scorecard and all of the resources on mysc-coop.com.
CVSCEF Financial Overview
(Unaudited)
CVSCEF Donors
Bill & Penny Agnew
Carrie Agnew
Tom Balliet
Howell & Nancy Beach
Henry & Kitty Beard
Blackbaud Giving Fund
BlueCross Blue Shield of South Carolina
Boeing
Jim & Marian Brailsford
Butler Conservation Fund
William & Ylva Byars
Charlotte Caldwell & Jeffrey Schutz
Matthew & Elsbeth Chaney
Andrea & Edwin Cooper
Cindy Cox & Randall Gaston
Wade Crow
Harry Dalton
Elizabeth Darden
Connie Darden-Young
Ann Donaldson
Steve Dopp & Wendy Meyer Dopp
Carol Ervin
Gerry & Walter Fiederowicz
Martha Fowler
Friends of Bald Rock
Thank you to our generous donors. We are deeply grateful to the following donors who made cumulative gifts of $100 or more in 2025.
Carol & Brooks Gallagher
Emily Gay
Betsy & Samuel George
Greenville Water
Greg & Sherri Gregory
Kent & Coleen Griffin
Nikki & Allen Grumbine
Rick Hahnenberg
Susan Hamilton & Thomas Gross
The Harriet & Herbert Keyserling Endowment
Carroll Heyward
Susan Hilfer
Harriet Holliday
Bill Holt
Marion Huggins
Julia Krebs & Roger Hux
Bo Ives
Arlene Jacquette
James F & Nelle E Burgess Foundation
Jay James
Ben Johnson & Elizabeth Caughman
Andrea & Carson Johnson
John & Susan Jordan
Ramona Jordan
Laurel Society Donors
Kevin & Julia Kay
Bill Kee & Frank Lee
Kathleen Kempe & Ron Sobczak
Tom & Sandra Kester
Cassandra King
Jessica Lathren
Wood & Janice Lay
William & Joanne Lehman
Joe & Ruth Lesesne
Valerie Marcil & Henry Nechemias
Peter Maronge
John McClanahan
Christe McCoy-Lawrence
Jamie McCulloch
Kyle Michel
Mills Bee Lane Memorial Foundation
Willie Morgan
Arnold Nemirow
Tori Oluseyi
Paul T. Palmer Jr
Dwight Patterson, Jr.
Mandy Powers Norrell & Mitch Norrell
Jackie & Jean Rion
Mark & Debbie Robertson
Katherine Robinson
The Grove Donors Green Tie Sponsors
Susan Robinson
Betsy A. Russell
Mary Ryan-Morris & Kevin Morris
Charles Sasser
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Schulze
Susan Hill Smith
Sonoco Foundation
Eve Stacey
Susan & Russell Stall
Jim & Emelia Stephenson
Christy Taucher
Thad & Judy Timmons
Mike Tinkey
Brad Turley
Unite America
Jan & Ron Urban
Laurie Walden
Bill & Winnie Walsh
Meira Warshauer & Sam Baker
Dick Watkins
Tad Whiteside
Brad Wyche & Diane Smock
Thank you for following the work of CVSCEF to protect South Carolina’s treasured spaces and natural resources. Please consider a gift of your own in support of environmental future. Visit cvscef.org/contribute.
