The Spartanburg County Foundation is a trusted philanthropic leader with a rich history and track record of engaging people, institutions, and resources to collaboratively address Spartanburg County’s most critical indicators. The Foundation’s ability to build relationships across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors has enabled us to effectively engage the community in creating long-term, positive change. Below are some of the Foundation’s key leadership efforts:
CONVENER
The Foundation plays a unique role in connecting the community as a convener, bringing people together from all sectors around issues and opportunities. As a knowledge source and thought leader, the Foundation promotes collaboration and embraces innovation through various deliveries to foster awareness, inform decision-making, and spark collective action on problems facing the people of Spartanburg.
INITIATIVES
Beyond grantmaking, the Foundation serves as a catalyst to bring the community together to collaborate, form partnerships, address issues, foster giving, and involve people for the purpose of creating long-lasting, positive change. As a result of this work, several of our leadership initiatives have gained both regional and national attention around the areas of innovation and impact. Strategic Spartanburg and Citizen Scholars Institute were supported in their development and launch from the Foundation and are now working as independent nonprofit organizations.
The Spartanburg County Foundation has launched several initiatives designed to support the local organizations meeting the needs of Spartanburg County residents every day.
From monthly Nonprofit Connect lunch-and-learn sessions to the in-depth training offered during the Nonprofit Capacity Building Boot Camp and individualized Technical Assistance, the Foundation is committed to helping nonprofits increase their impact as they work to improve the lives of Spartanburg County residents.
Minority Business Connect began with a joint interest from the Foundation and Spartanburg County Government to meet the need for small and minority-owned businesses to build their capacity as vital components of our community’s drive to build economic mobility.
The Minority Business Connect initiative strengthens three pillars of success: Learning, Sharing, and Connecting. These work together to build social capital, knowledge, and local connections, helping local business owners and entrepreneurs to thrive.
GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
The Grassroots Leadership Development Institute (GLDI) is a seven-month leadership training program designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skill-set, and resources to be effective in leading change throughout the greater Spartanburg County community and beyond. Developed as a part of Strengthening Voices, the program is designed to empower the community to assume responsibility for positive social change and equip them with the tools needed to make a difference.
Donor Connect is an outreach the Spartanburg County Foundation provides to its donors, fundholders, and community members, with opportunities to participate in and learn more about Foundation resources, topics of interest, and community initiatives.
These educational sessions take a variety of forms. From lunch-and-learns to community tours and afternoon panel discussions, the goal of Donor Connect is to encourage community engagement. These events are promoted through our e-news, calendar and social media.
GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
The Grassroots Leadership Alumni Association is leading the celebration for the 20th Anniversary of the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute. To view a schedule of celebration events, CLICK HERE.
To join GLAA or renew your membership, click on the button below.
Founded in 2007, Women Giving for Spartanburg is an open membership group of passionate women who have joined together to enhance the quality of life in the Spartanburg community through collective giving. This women’s giving circle pools its money, energy, and ideas in order to create a measurable impact on the local nonprofits funded via their annual Grant process. Members vote on annual grant recipients and participate in various community activities.
MARY L. THOMAS AWARD FOR CIVIC LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY CHANGE
The Mary L. Thomas Award for Civic Leadership and Community Change recognizes the contributions of individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to improving the quality of life in the community. The recipient is recognized at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting.
PARTNERSHIPS
The Spartanburg County Foundation embraces and values the importance of building strong partnerships to effectively lead efforts to improve the lives of our residents across the county. We work closely across sectors with residents, nonprofits, community leaders, businesses, philanthropic leaders, and local governments, each bringing their own unique strengths to the table, which results in scaled initiatives with amplified progress and an increased impact. The Spartanburg Academic Movement launched as a result of community data, partnerships, and seed funding provided by the Foundation and its generous donors.
The Institute for Youth Justice introduces 11th and 12th graders to the criminal justice system to help them gain a deeper understanding of its inner-workings, eliminate misconceptions, and build long-lasting relationships with criminal justice officials.
SPARTANBURG INTERFAITH ALLIANCE
The Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance, a partnership between area clergy and The Spartanburg County Foundation, is a county-wide network of clergy, lay leaders, and faith communities that have joined together for the purpose of contributing to the common good.
Strategic Spartanburg works to present present data and engage the community in dialogue and strategy leading to positive change in Spartanburg County. The nonprofit facilitates organizations and individuals as they actively promote civic prosperity by using community indicator data to inform and guide their progress.
Confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.