Foundation Increases its Grantmaking to Support Spartanburg Nonprofits

The Mary Black Foundation announced today that it awarded new grants to 19 nonprofit organizations serving Spartanburg County, bringing its total grantmaking commitment in 2020 to over $3.1 million. “We are proud to support the many nonprofit organizations working to improve the health, wellness, and success of Spartanburg County,” said Molly Talbot-Metz, President & CEO. “This year has been extremely challenging for the nonprofit sector and the many individuals and families they serve. In response, our board of trustees made the bold decision to increase our spending in 2020 to meet the many needs facing our community this year.”

In early summer, the Mary Black Foundation awarded its first round of grants to organizations impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation recognized there was still an urgent need for more support and opened an additional opportunity for funding.

The Foundation’s most recent grant cycle focused on the short term and longer-term, systemic challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically basic needs of individuals and nonprofits, mental health, and the growing health and education lag. A description of the grants awarded are below.The Foundation’s next application cycle will open early 2021. Information related to grant applications will be posted at www.maryblackfoundation.org.

• Adult Learning Center received $9,000 to assist with staffing and training needed to offer comprehensive adult education services while adhering to COVID-19 safety protocol.
• Angels Charge Ministries received $15,000 in general operating support to serve women during and after incarceration by providing assistance with housing, case management, and advocacy to reduce recidivism and to facilitate a healthy productive reentry into our community.
• Children’s Museum of the Upstate received $15,000 to assist with operational costs at the downtown Spartanburg location, specifically related to efforts to provide high quality learning opportunities for young children in Spartanburg County.
• EMERGE Family Therapy and Teaching Clinic received $176,000 over 18 months to support efforts to increase community awareness of mental health services and to increase its capacity to serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in the Spartanburg community.
• Habitat for Humanity Spartanburg received $15,000 to assist with general operating expenses related to their work in providing housing and home repairs for low-income families.
• Hatcher Garden and Woodland Preserve received $25,940 for the construction of two structures that will provide educational and fitness activities for all abilities and ages.
• Middle Tyger Community Center received $120,000 to support This is My Child, an early learning and education program that serves children, ages 6 weeks – 4 years, in Spartanburg County School District Five.
• Mount Moriah Baptist Church received $75,000 to support the community with needs specific to COVID-19, including mental health and wellbeing services, providing on-site and virtual academic tutorial services for students kindergarten through 12th grade, and expanding food distribution to address food insecurity and food inaccessibility.
• Reach Out and Read-Spartanburg County received $95,550 over two years to support an early literacy program based in pediatric medical offices and to provide professional development for early childhood educators.
• Ruth’s Gleanings received $200,000 over 2 years to support their work in increasing healthy food access by rescuing excess fresh produce from local farms and placing it in food pantries, soup kitchens, and mission homes throughout Spartanburg County.
• The Salvation Army received $15,000 to assist with operational costs for safety net services including case management, rent and utility assistance, food, clothing, and programming for under-resourced youth.
• Sherman College of Chiropractic received $15,000 to support the low-cost health clinic that provides chiropractic care to uninsured and underinsured individuals in Spartanburg.
• SC School for the Deaf and the Blind Foundation received $15,000 to support K-12 education for deaf and blind children in Spartanburg.
• Spartanburg Area Mental Health Center received $214,385 over 18 months to address the stigma within communities of color about accessing mental health resources.
• Spartanburg Interfaith Hospitality Network received $27,000 to support a part-time case manager for one of its programs, the Opportunity Center. The program supports several of the basic needs faced by individuals who are currently without safe, stable housing.
• Spartanburg Youth Soccer Club received $20,000 to launch the “Live Your Dream” program that will offer fully-subsidized recreation soccer training for players between the ages of 5 and 8.
• United Way of the Piedmont received $25,000 to support the Opportunity Housing Collaborative, which will guide the development of funding, policies, and programs to ensure sustainable neighborhoods and increase affordable housing options.
• Upstate Family Resource Center received $15,000 in general operating support to provide safety net services that help families overcome crisis and stabilize financially.
• Upstate Workforce Futures Corporation received $9,200 to support the ACHIEVE program, which offers employment and educational opportunities for young people ages 16-24 through GED preparation and employability training.