In 2007, a group of visionary women formed a collaborative venture with the Spartanburg County Foundation with the goal of enhancing our community’s quality of life through the power of collective giving. This venture is what we know today as Women Giving for Spartanburg. Since 2008, Women Giving for Spartanburg has given $3,869,113 in grants, and are on track to hit the $4 million mark in 2027! Today, the group boasts over 150 members.
Women Giving for Spartanburg had their annual meeting this past May to award their 2026 grants, and it was also when Dr. Katharine Gibb was installed as the 2026-2027 Board chair. Previously, Dr. Gibb served Women Giving for Spartanburg through a variety of roles on the Grants Committee and has been a member for 12 years. Dr. Gibb retired from USC Upstate as the Dean of the Mary Black School of Nursing, now the Mary Black College of Nursing. Today, she continues to stay involved in and serve the Spartanburg community. Alongside her Women Giving for Spartanburg duties, she also serves on the board for Rebuilding Together Spartanburg. Read below to learn more about Dr. Gibb and Women Giving for Spartanburg through her Philanthropic Profile.
Dr. Katharine Gibb
What drew you into getting involved with Women Giving for Spartanburg?
While I was working at USC Upstate, the rigor of my duties did not allow me to be as involved in the organization as I wanted to be. However, since my retirement, I have served on the Grants Committee, which has been the greatest blessing. My nursing background instilled in me a deep compassion for people from all walks of life and reinforced my belief that every individual is important. Whenever I have the opportunity to contribute my time or resources to support others and strengthen our community, I feel compelled to get involved. Women Giving for Spartanburg is a collective of caring women with a mission to improve our community. Together we have a powerful impact on our community through our grant process and leadership.
What has been your favorite moment or event working with Women Giving for Spartanburg so far?
There have been so many amazing moments. My seven years on the Grants Committee are a definite highlight and now serving as the Board Chair. One really enlightening visit was to a grant recipient in Mayo, SC with Hand in Hand. The grant provided food and clothing for local elementary school students. I saw a community struggling, and children needing support with many parents struggling to make ends meet. This need was only just down the road from my own home.
We have also held several events that stand out to me, for example, we held a big conference last fall at Converse University on the educational challenges faced by those living in poverty. We had an amazing group of panelists who talked about the issues both children and parents face. We are planning another conference for this fall, so keep an eye out for more details.
What does philanthropy mean to you?
Caring for people has always been a passion of mine. I spent all of my career as a nurse, at many different levels, and it was instilled in our brains that nursing is a ministry. Then I transitioned into nursing education after I had told myself I would never be a teacher, since both of my parents were teachers. I learned a lot and was passionate about the work and had the capacity to give more of myself to my students and my patients. When I became a dean, I had a reputation as the “hugging dean” as students could come to me for a hug anytime, even when walking across the stage at graduation. From bedside nursing to teaching and finally administration, I firmly believe every life station has prepared me for the next one, including this philanthropic role at Women Giving for Spartanburg. My time on the grants committee allowed me to see how philanthropy in action can change a community. We were able to provide a pathway at Hatcher Gardens, for example, and make the playground at the School for the Deaf and Blind Handicap accessible, and these seemingly simple things can have large effects on the community.
How can the people of Spartanburg County support the work you are doing?
Keep in touch. Connect with us through our social media or our website. For those who are unable to join or attend our open events, we still appreciate your support and you spreading the word about the work we do. We have also had Spartanburg County businesses or organizations donate to us or support us over the years, seeing the value in the work we are doing. I have spoken to organizations before, like the Rotary Club, to share information about Women Giving for Spartanburg, and can sometimes find myself talking to rooms largely of men. I have had some men ask me why I was speaking at those meetings. I tell them that everyone knows or is related to a woman – mothers, spouses, sisters, daughters, coworkers, and more. They could sponsor a woman to be a member or take a pamphlet and help get the word out about our group. We appreciate all that the people of Spartanburg County have done for us and their support.
Is there anything that you wish more people knew about your organization?
People in the community often think our organization is secret, and that you need a special invitation or certain credentials, but that is not true. We want our community to know about Women Giving for Spartanburg, and that you can join at any point. There are no requirements for membership, outside of your dues, which goes back into funding our grants. We want women who are passionate about our community and making it better to be a part of helping those in need. Our dues are $1200 a year, but those younger than 35 years of age or older than 75 years old have a discounted member rate of $600. We want our group to be as accessible as possible, allowing more members to join. As a forward funded group, our membership dues fund our grants for the following year. I believe all members are important and needed, whether they can only attend one event a year or can serve on a committee. We are celebrating our 20th anniversary, and it is a very exciting time of growth and celebration in the organization. We hope to share more information about our anniversary and how the community can celebrate with us soon.
We enjoyed getting to spend time with Dr. Gibb, learning more about her career and work with Women Giving for Spartanburg. To learn more about Women Giving for Spartanburg please visit their website. If you are interested in attending an event, check out their Fall Social on Tuesday, October 6. Find more information about this event here.
