Hebrew Orphan Society (Charleston, S.C.)

Founded in 1801, the Charleston, S.C., Hebrew Orphan Society was incorporated the next year, making it "the oldest incorporated Jewish charitable organization in continuous existence in the United States." Its goal was "relieving widows, educating, clothing and maintaining orphans and children of indigent parents." Orphans on the "bounty" of the organization were maintained in private homes until the 1860-1863 period when the organization maintained an orphanage in the building it owned on Broad Street. (The Society owned this building from 1833 to 1931.).

In 1944, the Society no longer accepted general members but restricted membership to eighteen, election being a recognition of community service. In 1951, the Society became a member of the Charleston Jewish Social Services, which began to channel Society funds to meet the needs of the community; in later years, it has funded grant proposals, along with its annual gifts to the Charleston Jewish Social Services.