Read the full 2025-2026 Annual Report.
Dear Friends of the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation,
2025 was a year of building, not only in the physical sense, but in the sense of purpose, community, and resolve.
As we mark another year in our journey toward a permanent memorial for the Emanuel Nine, I am proud to report that the work of the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation has moved steadily
and meaningfully forward. This past year the integral elements of the Memorial Courtyard arrived week after week. From the massive marble sections of the Fellowship Benches to the intricate components for the Fountain of Grace, the vision materialized. Soon, local, national, and international visitors will gather to pause, reflect, and remember the nine lives we are here to honor.
Behind every milestone is community support. In 2025, we deepened our relationships with donors, civic partners, and volunteers who believe, as we do, that this work is vital to moving us forward in unity. We strengthened our governance, expanded our operational capacity, and continued to build the infrastructure that will sustain this memorial for generations.
We look ahead to 2026 with tremendous anticipation. The completion and public opening of the Emanuel Nine Memorial represent a threshold moment for our foundation, but also for Charleston and for our nation. It will be a day long in coming, earned through years of commitment by survivors, families, community members, and supporters like you.
We are grateful for every step you have taken with us. Because of your continued belief in this work, the Emanuel Nine will be honored as they deserve, and we will bring forth opportunities for our nation to gather in the spirit of healing and reconciliation.
With deep gratitude,
Deona Smith
Executive Director
Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation
