August 26, 2026
When Nancy Hoyt Duncan and her late husband, Tim, established their first charitable fund with Central Carolina Community Foundation in 2003, they knew they wanted their philanthropy to reflect the values they shared. Together, they supported organizations dedicated to education, faith, the arts, women and families, and opportunities for young people. Years later, after returning to Columbia, reconnecting with the Foundation felt like a natural way to continue that legacy while investing in the community they call home.
"It was so seamless getting it started again," Nancy says. "The Community Foundation has been my portal for almost all of my charitable giving."
After returning to Columbia, Nancy and Tim established both the Hoyt Duncan Fund and Hoyt Duncan Legacy Fund in 2017 as new avenues for giving, particularly in areas important to them, including education, food insecurity, and conservation of the natural world. Through both funds, a wide range of organizations have been supported while working with the Foundation to plan for both current and future giving including FoodShare South Carolina, The COMET, and Call Me MISTER. Specifically, support for Call Me MISTER invests in the next generation of educators while helping expand the presence of Black male teachers in classrooms and communities.
“I feel extremely grateful and have a lot of gratitude for the Foundation,” Nancy says. “I trust the Foundation. I trust what you’re doing with people’s money, your mission, and how engaged you are in the community. It’s a real partnership.”
Her story reflects the many ways philanthropy can grow through connection, trust, and a desire to make a meaningful difference. As Central Carolina Community Foundation celebrates Black Philanthropy Month, Nancy hopes her story encourages others to discover that giving back doesn't require having all the answers. It simply begins with taking the first step.
"I think it's like everything," she says. "You take that first step."
For Nancy, that's what philanthropy is all about: investing in your community, trusting local partnerships, and knowing that one act of generosity has the power to inspire another.
Read more about the organizations, community members, and donors strengthening the Midlands, including those making an impact in the Black community. Learn more about how to give to an existing fund or establishing your own fund with us.