SCF Grantmaking Framework supports work to improve the lives of Spartanburg County residents and raise awareness about local nonprofit organzations.
The Spartanburg County Foundation is uniquely positioned to offer varying levels of support to the nonprofit community in Spartanburg County. Seeking to strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem, grow their capacity to serve, and continuously improve.
Each year, the Foundation sets an unrestricted grant budget to fund grants to nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations and institutions that provide services to residents of Spartanburg County. Resources from the Spartanburg Community Fund support these grants.
We host live webinars to inform the public about our grantmaking strategy and application process. Webinar recordings are shared as ongoing resources for organizations seeking grants from the Foundation.
You may review the Foundation’s overall grantmaking strategy and details about different grant opportunities below.
The Spartanburg County Foundation’s Grantmaking Framework guides the work to provide financial support to nonprofit organizations providing direct services to Spartanburg County residents.
2026 Grant Opportunities
The Spartanburg County Foundation recognizes its role as a grantmaker that responds to the ongoing needs in the Spartanburg County community. The following is a list of our grant opportunities. Click on each one to learn more about the each grant type, its window of availability, application process, deadlines, and additional resources for each specific grant type.
Spartanburg County Foundation and Spartanburg Academic Movement are partnering to facilitate Catalytic Grantmaking to deepen the capacity of place-based nonprofits serving Spartanburg County. A place-based partner is a network of people or organizations in the same geographic area who work together to change systems, improve community outcomes, and achieve shared goals.
The Catalytic Grantmaking opportunity aims to support the refining of place-based nonprofit operational processes. Grants of up to $20,000 will be awarded to placed-based 501(c)3 organizations to strengthen their ability in one or more of the following areas:
Talent Recruitment, Retention, and Development
Financial Management and Development
Marketing, Communications, and Fundraising
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Grant Opportunity opens within the GoApply portal
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 Application deadline
Thursday, June 4, 2026 All applicants notified of status by email
Nonprofit Effectiveness Grant – Currently Accepting Applications
Nonprofit Effectiveness Grants of up to $10,000 are focused on strengthening the internal capacity or infrastructure of community-based organizations throughout Spartanburg County. Nonprofit Effectiveness grants are designed to grow organizational capacity.
For 2026, applications will be reviewed quarterly. Grant applications are completed through our online grants portal and must be submitted by 5 PM on the following dates:
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.
Information about 2026 Continuous Improvement Grants and related deadlines is coming soon.
Just Because Grants
There is not an application process for Just Because grants.
Just Because grants bring awareness to issues throughout the County and highlight nonprofit organizations that are working diligently to meet those needs. The increased social and reputational capital through these grants is just as important as the financial capital. Nonprofit organizations are selected based upon the work that they do, geographic location, and the need that is being addressed. These are unrestricted grants, meaning that there was no stipulation made on how the funds must be used, allowing the recipient organizations the support needed to meet their most pressing need to continue their work in service to Spartanburg County residents. Learn more about the history and purpose of these grants and consider donating to the Just Because Fund to be a part of this important effort to support nonprofit organizations working to meet the needs of Spartanburg County residents.
In 2024, the Spartanburg County Foundation announced that 80 Just Because grants would be awarded from the Just Because Fund in honor of the Foundation's 80+ years of service to the community. The 80 grantees were selected by staff, community members (selected randomly at our Annual Meeting), provided to nonprofits participating in Foundation and community events, and directed by local college students learning about philanthropy. We encourage you to LEARN MORE about the organizations that received these grants.
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 nondiscrimination laws and policies.
The Foundation does not provide grants to individuals or for-profit companies/organizations.
What projects are most likely to receive a grant?
Projects are reviewed for how they address community needs according to the specific grant opportunity guidelines.
Click HERE to review organizations that received SCF Grants in 2025.
Can individual schools apply for grants?
The Spartanburg County Foundation does not provide funding for individual K-12 schools, including public, private and charter schools. (If the project or program is district or county-wide, please contact the Spartanburg County Foundation.)
Does the Foundation award multi-year grants?
Except in unusual circumstances, multi-year grants are not considered. The Foundation will not normally make more than one grant within a 12-month period to the same organization.
Does the Foundation make site visits?
The Foundation will initiate site visits if necessary.
How do I stay informed about Grant opportunities?
All of the Foundation’s grantmaking updates are posted on the Foundation’s website. Additionally, you may sign up to be added to our nonprofit mailing list so you can stay informed about future funding opportunities and the work being done by the Foundation.
Please CLICK HERE to sign up for our Nonprofit Connect emails. A newsletter is sent out monthly along with invitations to special events and opportunities for nonprofit organizations serving Spartanburg County residents.
Recent Grants
Learn more about our most recent grantees, the focus of their work and their impact across Spartanburg County.
