At a time of unprecedented health care and economic crises due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Community Foundation of Greenville’s Board of Directors has voted to distribute $400,000 to 20 local nonprofit organizations in Greenville County. These funds, originally slated to be awarded in February of 2021, will be dispersed immediately in order to address the urgent need among the most vulnerable members of the community.
$100,000 in Capacity Building Grants and $300,000 from the Margaret Linder Southern Endowment will be provided to a number of longstanding partners that provide essential services to Greenville County residents. Each grant will be unrestricted so that the organization can use it as needed during this time.
2020 Capacity Building Grant Recipients
Center for Community Services – $5,000
Center for Developmental Services – $7,500
CommunityWorks – $7,500
Foothills Family Resources – $5,000
Greenville Free Medical Clinic – $7,500
Greenville Homeless Alliance – $7,500
Greenville Housing Fund – $7,500
Greer Relief & Resources Agency – $5,000
Hispanic Alliance – $7,500
Meals on Wheels of Greenville Inc. – $7,500
Mental Health America of Greenville County – $5,000
Project Host Inc. – $7,500
Taylors Free Medical Clinic Inc. – $5,000
Triune Mercy Center – $7,500
United Ministries – $7,500
2020 Margaret Linder Southern Endowment Recipients
A Child’s Haven – $50,000
Meyer Center for Special Children – $50,000
Project Hope Foundation – $25,000
Greenville Humane Society – $150,000
The Children’s Museum of the Upstate – $25,000
These grants, in addition to $430,000 previously contributed by the Community Foundation of Greenville in response to the pandemic, are to assist nonprofit organizations working in areas identified as having a high number of affected individuals by providing food, emergency shelter and small business capital.
“We have been able to respond quickly to the pandemic thanks to our current donors and the families who have entrusted us with endowments,” said Community Foundation of Greenville President Bob Morris. “We are proud to put these funds to good use and know they will make a difference in the lives of those most affected by this crisis. We thank these organizations for their service, and we look forward to continuing to work together to recover as a community and pursue an equitable future for all.”
“For the last 64 years, the Community Foundation of Greenville has been committed to connecting resources to the evolving needs of our community,” said Board Chair Lesa Kastler. “Our vision is to make all of Greenville County a thriving community where everyone can reach their full potential. While we don’t know what we will face in the coming days and months, we know these funds will provide support to our community’s most vulnerable. And, our responsiveness will continue.”
Since 2014, the Community Foundation of Greenville has awarded more than $800,000 to local nonprofits through Capacity Building Grants. Funds are made possible by income generated by the Foundation’s unrestricted endowment and donor contributions.
The Margaret Linder Southern Endowment Fund was established in 2013 with an $8.4 million bequest from Margaret Southern. This fund makes perpetual annual distributions to benefit early childhood education, special education for children and youth, and the Greenville Humane Society.
