SCF Grantmaking

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants of up to $10,000 are focused on strengthening the internal capacity or infrastructure of community-based organizations throughout Spartanburg County. Nonprofit Effectiveness grants are designed to grow organizational capacity.

For 2025, applications will be reviewed quarterly. Grant applications are completed through our online grants portal and must be submitted by 5 PM on the the following dates:

• Q1- Monday, February 24, 2025
• Q2- Tuesday, May 6, 2025
• Q3- Tuesday, August 5, 2025
• Q4- Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

Applying for a Disaster Relief Fund Grant 

The Spartanburg County Foundation Disaster Relief Fund will offer grants of up to $10,000 * to nonprofit organizations that are providing relief, recovery, and rebuilding assistance to Spartanburg County residents affected by natural and or manmade disasters. *Grant requests above $10,000 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Grant Guidelines

The Spartanburg County Foundation considers only those organizations and institutions that are recognized as 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations.

The Spartanburg County Foundation Disaster Relief Fund will not provide funding for:
• Projects not associated with relief, recovery or rebuilding efforts for the impacted regions of Spartanburg County
• Fundraising projects
• Endowment development or capital campaigns
• Sponsorships

If you have any questions, please contact Hailey Barnhill, Grantmaking Officer.

Continuous Improvement Grants of up to $25,000 will focus on the three amplified areas in the Foundation’ vision statement by which all Spartanburg County residents can reach their human potential: quality of life, educational achievement, and economic mobility.

More information to come regarding 2025 Continuous Improvement grant opportunities.

The Spartanburg Interfaith Alliance and Spartanburg County Foundation present the Community Thanksgiving service on the Tuesday evening before Thanksgiving hosted by a different faith community each year. The service offering, collected before and during the service is granted to a local nonprofit agency through the Foundation. The Foundation sets up on online giving site prior to the service where donations may be made. The Foundation matches the offering, up to $5,000. The selected organization is also provided time for a representative to share about the mission and impact of the organization on the local community. In addition, the Spartanburg County Foundation works with the grantee to create a short promotional video.

Grant Process

The grant application is currently open. To apply for funding from the Spartanburg Community Thanksgiving Service, please complete the Thanksgiving Grant Application through the Foundation’s online grant portal following the guidelines stated below.

Eligibility

Information about the 2025 Thanksgiving Grant opportunity will be released later in the year. You are welcome to review the 2024 guidelines for reference.

Organizations eligible to apply for the Spartanburg Community Thanksgiving Service funding must have annual budgets not exceeding $500,000 and provide services in one of the following areas:

• Family Services
• Food, Hunger & Shelter
• Health Services
• Youth Services

There is not an application process for Just Because grants.

Just Because grants bring awareness to issues throughout the County and highlight nonprofit organizations that are working diligently to meet those needs. The increased social and reputational capital through these grants is just as important as the financial capital. Nonprofit organizations are selected based upon the work that they do, geographic location, and the need that is being addressed. These are unrestricted grants, meaning that there was no stipulation made on how the funds must be used, allowing the recipient organizations the support needed to meet their most pressing need to continue their work in service to Spartanburg County residents. Learn more about the history and purpose of these grants and consider donating to the Just Because Fund to be a part of this important effort to support nonprofit organizations working to meet the needs of Spartanburg County residents.

In 2024, the Spartanburg County Foundation announced that 80 Just Because grants would be awarded from the Just Because Fund in honor of the Foundation's 80+ years of service to the community. The 80 grantees were selected by staff, community members (selected randomly at our Annual Meeting), provided to nonprofits participating in Foundation and community events, and directed by local college students learning about philanthropy. We encourage you to LEARN MORE about the organizations that received these grants.