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In honor of its 75^th anniversary, The Spartanburg County Foundation wanted to give back to the community.  In 2018, the Foundation awarded a total of $750,000 through unique grantmaking opportunities, such as multiple grant cycles, Just Because ambush philanthropy, and an endowment challenge to promote and sustain nonprofits in perpetuity.

“This has been an exciting year as the Foundation has recognized its 75^th Anniversary.  As a part of the milestone, we felt that it was more important to give back to the community, which is why we decided to expand our grantmaking program and offer unique opportunities for organizations to obtain the funding they need to fulfill their missions each day,” said Troy Hanna, President and CEO of The Spartanburg County Foundation.  “All of the nonprofits in our community make a tremendous impact on those they serve.  We are pleased that The Spartanburg County Foundation and its partners are able to respond to community needs through the Community Fund.”

The following organizations received over $210,000 through the Foundation’s 2018 Grant Cycles:

• The Chapman Cultural Center received a $12,675 grant to up-fit studios and exhibit galleries within their new Arcadia Mayfair Mill campus, developing an arts incubator that will bring together a diverse constituency to learn about and make art, discover each other’s cultures, and build a new, vibrant, and economically sustainable community in Spartanburg County.
• Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas received a $5,576 challenge grant for the purchase and installation of family support casework software that will improve the accuracy and efficiency of Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas’ Family Advocates, enabling them to better serve children and families facing cancer.
• Girls on the Run Spartanburg received a $4,500 grant to contract with a partner agency for the creation and execution of a one-year fund development plan, which includes establishing a solid donor base for the organization and increasing brand awareness. Girls on the Run seeks to help young girls develop life skills, and to prevent unhealthy behaviors, such as physical inactivity and negative body image.
• GoForth Recovery received a $10,000 grant to provide basic necessities for its residents such as food, clothing, and personal hygiene products. GoForth Recovery was founded in April 2018 to provide housing in a structured, defined, and accepting environment for men in recovery from addiction.
• Greer Relief is the recipient of an $8,960 grant to support its Crisis Prevention Program that assists low-income working individuals by identifying and either treating, correcting, or improving their barriers to success. The goal of the Crisis Prevention Program is to break the cycle of poverty by empowering individuals in need to achieve financial goals, to live healthier lifestyles, and to plan for a brighter future.
• Homes of Hope is the recipient of a $10,000 grant to complete phase two of the Brawley Street model block in the Northside community. Brawley Street will include 15 homes that will be available to residents of Spartanburg County who meet specific income criteria as a part of Homes of Hope’s affordable housing program, which provides safe, affordable, and energy-efficient housing for low-to-moderate income families and/or individuals.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) received a $3,500 challenge grant to implement “Ending the Silence,” a program for middle and high school students that teaches them the warning signs of mental health conditions and how to get help for themselves or a friend.
• SAFE Homes – Rape Crisis Coalition received a $2,408 grant to hire a consultant that will work with the Board and staff to develop a transition plan from the current executive director’s 30 year tenure to the hiring process for a new executive director in 2019.
• The Shepherd’s Center of Spartanburg received an $8,680 grant to expand access to health and fitness programs for seniors residing in Spartanburg’s public housing developments and under-resourced neighborhoods.
• The Southeastern Chapter of the National Safety Council is the recipient of a $9,650 grant to expand the state-wide Alive at 25 program, which is taught by local off-duty law enforcers and focuses on the behaviors, decisions, and risks that students face every time they get behind the wheel of a car.
• Spartanburg Art Museum – COLORs Program received a $15,000 grant to begin a Community Outreach Pilot Project, which will serve school-aged students by providing opportunities to experience high quality art instruction in a safe and supportive environment during the critical after-school hours, free of charge.
• Spartanburg Breakfast Optimist Club received a $15,000 grant to update their facilities at Optimist Acres by renovating restrooms to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations. The Spartanburg Breakfast Optimist Club works to develop and encourage youth through optimism.
• Spartanburg Community College Foundation (SCCF) received a $5,000 grant to engage a consultant in crafting a strategic plan and facilitating training for the Board of Directors. The Spartanburg Community College Foundation secures funding to provide scholarships, curriculum resources, equipment, facilities, and faculty development.
• Spartanburg County School District Two received a $5,000 grant to purchase a Giant Mars Map and corresponding curriculum through the Buzz Aldrin ShareSpace Foundation, which will serve over 6,700 students. The Spartanburg Science Center and several Spartanburg County School Districts partnered together to purchase the Giant Mars Maps in order to strengthen STEAM education.
• Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network (SPIHN) received a $15,000 grant to assist with the expansion of the Day Center in order to increase its service capacity for homeless children and their families. The Day Center allows homeless families to work with a case manager to ascertain all the resources needed to achieve independence and sustainability.
• Spartanburg Regional Foundation received a $40,000 grant to establish a new nonprofit organization focused on senior services. This organization will lead efforts in keeping seniors independent, healthy, active, learning, and engaged in the Spartanburg community.
• Stone Soup Storytelling Institute received a $2,284 grant to engage a consultant in assessing the organization and creating an operational plan that will set strategic priorities for the path forward. The mission of Stone Soup Storytelling Institute is to harness the power of story to educate, communicate, and connect.
• Upstate Family Resource Center received a $10,000 grant to support the PASOs Spartanburg program, providing tools and resources to reduce disparities for Spartanburg Latino children and families. PASOs was founded in 2005 after research revealed that Latino families had great strengths, yet limited access to maternal and child health information and resources.
• Urban League of the Upstate received a $12,675 grant for its Project Ready initiative that will assist 60 under-resourced Spartanburg County students complete high school and pursue a post-secondary degree or certification.
• YMCA of Greater Spartanburg received a $15,000 grant to assist with the construction of a pavilion in memory of Robert Hett Chapman, III. This 3,000 square-foot pavilion will be used for youth programming, youth sports, parent meetings, community group meetings, and private events and will provide a safe and inviting space in which children and teens can learn, grow, and thrive.

 Each year, Foundation Trustees set an unrestricted grantmaking budget made possible from the Community Fund to award grants to nonprofit organizations serving Spartanburg County.  The above mentioned grants were awarded from the following funds: The Spartanburg County Foundation Community Fund; the Bain Foundation Trustee Initiated Fund; the Rose and Vic Bailey, Jr. Trustee Initiated Fund; The Balmer Foundation, Inc. Trustee Initiated Fund, the Community Fund Appeal; the Stanley W. Converse Fund; the John and Kate Dargan Trustee Initiated Fund; the Erwin N. Darrin Fund; the Miller Foster Family Trustee Initiated Fund; the Tracy and Thomas E. Hannah Trustee Initiated Fund; the Harriet Smith Harris, Philip Guy Harris, and Philip Guy Harris, Jr. Trustee Initiated Fund; the Inman-Riverdale Foundation Trustee Initiated Fund; the Betty and George Dean Johnson Trustee Initiated Fund; The R. E. and Marion Littlejohn Fund P Trustee Initiated Fund; the Betty James and Walter S. Montgomery, Jr. Trustee Initiated Fund; the John and Lynne Poole Trustee Initiated Fund; the Virginia U. Russell Fund; and the Zimmerli Foundation, Inc. Trustee Initiated Fund.

Learn More on our Grants Page!