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Spartanburg County Foundation

Annual Giving
$28.4M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Spartanburg County Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $28,414,705 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $224.7 million (2023)
  • Grant Awards: 272 awards made in 2023
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (2-7 months)
  • Grant Range: Up to $35,000 (competitive grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Spartanburg County, South Carolina

Contact Details

Address: 424 East Kennedy Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302
Phone: (864) 582-0138
Website: https://spcf.org
Grants Portal: Online application system
Grantmaking Officer: Hailey Barnhill, (864) 582-0138

Overview

Founded in 1943 by Walter Scott Montgomery, the Spartanburg County Foundation is the oldest community foundation in South Carolina. With assets of $224.7 million and annual giving of over $28 million, the Foundation manages more than 1,100 philanthropic funds for individuals, families, nonprofits, and community groups. The organization's mission is to improve the lives of all Spartanburg County residents by promoting philanthropy, encouraging community engagement, and responding to community needs. In 2018, the Foundation opened the Center for Philanthropy, South Carolina's first such facility, demonstrating its commitment to advancing charitable giving throughout the region. Since 2007, the Foundation has maintained National Standards accreditation from the Council on Foundations, meeting the nation's highest standards for operational quality, integrity, and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants: Up to $10,000
Focused on strengthening organizational capacity and infrastructure for community-based nonprofits. Examples include improvements in board governance, financial management, fundraising, partnering & collaboration, strategic communications, succession planning, and program evaluation. Applications reviewed quarterly through online portal.

Continuous Improvement Grants: Up to $35,000
Supporting organizations aligned with the Foundation's three priority areas: quality of life, educational achievement, and economic mobility. Single annual cycle with letter of interest process followed by invited full applications.

Just Because Grants: $2,500 (typically)
Unrestricted awards highlighting nonprofit organizations addressing community needs. No formal application process; recipients selected by staff and community members to bring awareness to overlooked needs.

Disaster Relief Grants: Amounts vary
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations offering relief, recovery, and rebuilding assistance to Spartanburg County residents affected by natural or manmade disasters.

Scholarships: Various amounts
Scholarships to students of Spartanburg County for attendance at Converse College, Wofford College, Spartanburg Community College, Spartanburg Methodist College, USC Upstate, and Spartanburg Day School.

Priority Areas

The Foundation's vision statement emphasizes three amplified areas:

  • Quality of Life: Supporting initiatives that improve overall well-being for county residents
  • Educational Achievement: Programs that enhance learning outcomes and educational access
  • Economic Mobility: Projects that help residents advance economically and overcome poverty

Additional focus areas include:

  • Nonprofit capacity building and organizational development
  • Community leadership development through the Grassroots Leadership Development Institute
  • Women's philanthropy through Women Giving for Spartanburg
  • Long-term disaster recovery initiatives

What They Don't Fund

  • Individual K-12 schools (district or county-wide programs may apply)
  • For-profit entities or individuals
  • Organizations not providing services to Spartanburg County residents
  • Organizations not compliant with nondiscrimination laws
  • Non-tax-exempt organizations (must be 501(c)(3) or equivalent)

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Troy M. Hanna - President & Chief Executive Officer
Troy became the sixth Foundation President and CEO in 2014, bringing experience from TD Wealth and Wachovia Bank. He stated when accepting the position: "I am extremely excited about the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity, and I am especially excited to work with the staff and board of Trustees of The Spartanburg County Foundation to continue building the momentum of the initiatives that are currently underway in Spartanburg." On the Just Because Grants program, he noted: "The Foundation aims to illuminate their impactful work, addressing often overlooked needs of Spartanburg County residents. Just Because grants connect the dots by bringing resources and awareness to organizations that improve the lives of Spartanburg County residents."

Ashley Whitt - Vice President of Grants and Community Impact
Leads the strategy and direction of the Foundation's Grantmaking Framework, Community Leadership initiatives, and community impact.

Hailey Barnhill - Grantmaking Officer
Primary contact for grant applicants at (864) 582-0138.

Lakesha McCutchen - Community Engagement Officer
Joined in 2023, responsible for implementing and managing Foundation initiatives as part of the Community Leadership Team.

Board of Trustees

Ricky Richardson - Board Chair (6th Year Trustee)
First Vice President and Financial Advisor with The Richardson Group at Morgan Stanley, with 40 years of experience specializing in investment strategies and fiduciary responsibilities.

Cathy McCabe - Former Board Chairwoman
On trustee appointments, she stated: "Norman will continue that rich history while ensuring that the Foundation's mission of improving the lives of Spartanburg County residents remains forefront in our work."

Norman Chapman - 2nd Year Trustee
Chairman and CEO of Inman Mills, a textile manufacturer founded in 1901 by his great-grandfather. Holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Clemson University.

Hon. Don Beatty - Trustee (joined January 2025, serves through 2031)
Recently retired as South Carolina's Chief Justice (2017-2024), the state's second Black Chief Justice.

Additional trustees include Nancy Coté, Vic Bailey, Scott Montgomery, and Dr. Leonard Starks.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through the Foundation's online grants portal by 5 PM on designated deadlines. Grant seekers are encouraged to review RFP documents and webinar recordings available on the website before applying.

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants (Quarterly Reviews):

  • Q1 Deadline: Late February
  • Q2 Deadline: Early May
  • Q3 Deadline: Early August
  • Q4 Deadline: Late October

Continuous Improvement Grants (Annual Cycle):

  • Letters of Interest Due: Late May
  • Invited Applications Due: Late August
  • Award Notification: Mid-December

Just Because Grants: No application process; recipients selected by Foundation staff and community members.

Decision Timeline

Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants: Applications reviewed quarterly, with decisions typically within 4-8 weeks of the quarterly deadline.

Continuous Improvement Grants: Multi-phase process spanning approximately 7 months:

  • Letters of Interest reviewed (May-June)
  • Invited applicants notified (June-July)
  • Full applications reviewed (August-November)
  • Award decisions announced (December)

Applicants receive email notification of award decisions.

Success Rates

The Foundation made 272 grant awards in 2023, distributing $28,414,705. Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed. Historical trends show consistent annual awards: 272 (2023), 223 (2022), 214 (2021), 191 (2020), and 219 (2019).

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Organizations are encouraged to contact the Grantmaking Officer for guidance on reapplying.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes projects that advance quality of life, educational achievement, and economic mobility for Spartanburg County residents. Applications should clearly demonstrate how the proposed work addresses one or more of these areas.

Community Impact Focus: As CEO Troy Hanna emphasized, the Foundation seeks to "illuminate impactful work, addressing often overlooked needs of Spartanburg County residents." Successful applications demonstrate measurable community benefit and address genuine gaps in services.

Organizational Capacity: For Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants, applicants should articulate specific capacity-building needs such as board governance, financial management, fundraising infrastructure, strategic communications, or evaluation systems. The Foundation values organizations committed to strengthening their operational foundations.

Data-Informed Approaches: The Foundation's 2024 Annual Report is subtitled "Mission-Aligned; Data-Informed," signaling the importance of evidence-based decision-making and measurable outcomes.

Geographic Requirement: All funded work must directly serve Spartanburg County residents. This is a non-negotiable eligibility criterion.

Technical Assistance Opportunity: The Foundation's Community Leadership Team offers free technical assistance consultations to help nonprofits develop their applications. These personalized sessions provide "knowledge, brainstorming, and solution-building support." Organizations are encouraged to request TA before applying.

Nonprofit Capacity Building Engagement: Participating in the Foundation's Nonprofit Capacity Building Boot Camp or other Foundation-led initiatives demonstrates commitment to organizational excellence and may strengthen relationships with Foundation staff.

Recent Award Examples:

  • Palmetto InnovaSphere received a 3-year, $150,000 grant (2025) for life sciences talent recruitment
  • AARP Foundation partnership distributed $100,000 for disaster relief supporting older residents through organizations including Help for Our Elderly, St Luke's Free Medical Clinic, Benjamin E. Mays Family Resource Center, Spartanburg Housing, Mobile Meals, and The Salvation Army

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Demonstrate clear alignment with at least one of the three priority areas: quality of life, educational achievement, or economic mobility—these are the Foundation's core strategic focus areas
  • Leverage free technical assistance offered by the Community Leadership Team before submitting; these personalized consultations can strengthen your application significantly
  • For Continuous Improvement Grants, invest effort in the Letter of Interest—this is the gateway to being invited to submit a full application
  • Emphasize capacity building for Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants by articulating specific infrastructure or operational improvements needed, not just programmatic needs
  • Use data and measurable outcomes to demonstrate impact; the Foundation explicitly values data-informed approaches
  • Highlight community engagement and how your work addresses overlooked or underserved needs within Spartanburg County
  • Submit applications on time through the online portal—late applications are not accepted, with 5 PM deadlines strictly enforced

References

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