Spartanburg County Foundation: Continuous Improvement Grant

The Spartanburg County Foundation's Continuous Improvement Grant aims to enhance the lives of Spartanburg County residents by funding nonprofit organizations that focus on quality of life, educational achievement, and economic mobility. Grants of up to $35,000 are available to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations. The foundation prioritizes projects that demonstrate alignment with its mission, utilize data-driven strategies, and foster community engagement, ensuring diverse populations receive necessary support and resources.

Continuous Improvement Grants of up to $35,000 are focused on supporting nonprofit organizations that align with the three amplified areas in the Foundation’s vision statement: quality of life, educational achievement, and economic mobility. These grants are designed to help strengthen efforts in these vital areas, ensuring all Spartanburg County residents can reach their full human potential.
Quality of Life: This area addresses opportunities to improve the overall well-being of Spartanburg County residents through access to community and cultural programs, activities, and green spaces; improvement of physical and mental health with cultural competence; and access to resources that provide household stability. Examples of these opportunities may include, but are not limited to:Community/cultural programs, physical activities that strengthen health and well-being, outdoor spaces accessible to the communityCare for uninsured adults and children, Spanish speaking staff, programs to address mental health needs for diverse populationsMobile food markets, rent/mortgaging assistance, utility assistance, home repairsEducational Achievement: This area is focused on reducing barriers to academic success and improving the educational achievement of Spartanburg County residents through supportive services and programs for K-12 students, access to post-secondary education and careers, and opportunities for return-to-learn adults. Examples of these opportunities may include, but are not limited to:Mentoring, out-of-school-time programs, summer learning/learning loss prevention
Internships, programs for first-year college students
GED completion, internet access, books and other academic materialsEconomic Mobility: This area is focused on improving the potential for upward economic mobility in the Spartanburg County community through increased ability for financial self-sufficiency, opportunities for asset building, and access to affordable and reliable transportation. Examples of these opportunities may include, but are not limited to:Job training/certification, job search/placement, financial coaching
Small/minority business development, home ownership assistance programs
Supplements for transportation costs, transportation programs for rural areas, ride sharing

Eligibility

The Spartanburg County Foundation only considers organizations and institutions that are recognized as 501(c)(3) nonprofit and/or tax-exempt entities providing services to residents of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. Institutions and organizations located outside of Spartanburg County may be eligible for funding; however, funding is restricted to benefit Spartanburg County residents only. Organizations that serve multiple counties must clearly show impact in Spartanburg County and that the funds will remain in Spartanburg County. Organizations must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal non-discrimination laws and policies.Grants from the Spartanburg County Foundation are for a period of one year.The Spartanburg County Foundation seeks to support organizations who can demonstrate the following:Alignment with the Foundation’s mission and vision.
Services that help Spartanburg County residents achieve their human potential.
Data-informed responses to one or more of the three Continuous Improvement areas (Quality of Life, Educational Achievement, & Economic Mobility).Comprehensive measurement and evaluation tools that track organizational and programmatic outcomes.Potential to leverage funding from multiple sources.

Ineligibility

The Spartanburg County Foundation does not Generally Provide Funding for: Organizations that have been operating for less than one year.
Annual fund campaigns.
Endowments.
Film projects.
Publication of books or reports.
Fundraising events, celebrations, or dinners.
Other grantmaking institutions.The Spartanburg County Foundation does not Provide Funding for:Lobbying activities, political organizations, or candidates for public offices.
Direct grants to individuals.
Organizations that require membership in certain religions, require participation in a religious activity, or advance a particular religious faith.Faith-based organizations with a 501(c)3 status may be eligible if they welcome and serve all members of the community regardless of religious belief.Research that is of a non-community nature or that does not have promise of near-term benefits to the residents of Spartanburg County.Debt reductions, deficits, or previous obligations.
Retroactive expenses/activities.
Individual schools, including public, private and charter schools.If the project or program is district or county-wide, please contact the Spartanburg County Foundation.