Welcome
Greenville Women Giving is a philanthropic organization serving Greenville County, SC and founded on the idea that women, informed about philanthropy and about needs in their community, collectively can make a real difference. We are committed to strengthening our community through the collective resources of our members by awarding high-impact grants in five areas: arts and culture, education, health, human services, and environment. Begun in 2006, we are modeled after successful similar organizations in other communities, including Seattle, Charlotte, Nashville, and Asheville.
GWG is a special initiative of the Community Foundation of Greenville, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2006. In recognition of that milestone, the Community Foundation agreed to match the contributions of the first 50 GWG members, increasing the impact of the group's grants during its own inaugural year. Appropriately, the matching monies came from the Jean Harris Knight Fund at the Foundation, a fund made possible by the generous bequest of this Greenville philanthropist whose generosity serves as an example to our group.
As we entered our second year, the Community Foundation agreed to contribute another $50,000, provided we were able to increase membership to a total of at least 200 women before the end of the 2007 calendar year, a goal that was exceeded.
Now in our third year, we are at 352 members as of August 2009!
For the third year, the Community Foundation of Greenville matched GWG's contributions with a grant of $50,000 from the bequest of Greenville philantrophist Jean Harris Knight.
Membership in the new organization is open to any woman who commits to donate $1,000 per year for 3 years to the collective fund. In addition, there is a $100 annual charge to cover GWG's administrative costs. Grants are made annually to local charities after GWG members research local needs and vote for their preferences. Your yearly $1,000 donation is awarded in its entirety to the local charities selected by our membership.
In addition, GWG offers educational opportunities throughout the year so that women can learn about community needs and the organizations attempting to address them. And while our goals are serious, we intend to have a lot of fun together while reaching them.
The ABCs of Grant Writing
Join us for a Workshop for Beginners and Organizational Multi-Taskers, designed to provide volunteers and staff members - especially those without formal development or grant-writing experience - with an overview of the key elements of a successful grant proposal, as well as helpful hints for managing any grant application process effectively.
Attendance is limited to 30 people. Spots are filling up quickly, so be sure to sign up soon.
Click here for further information - scroll down to the February 24th event
We're Award Winners !
GWG Ladies,
We wish you all could have been at the Community Foundation's Annual Donor Reception at the Poinsett Club on the night of November 12th, because it was there that Greenville Women Giving was given the Ruth Alexander Nicholson Award!
This award is the highest honor presented annually by the Community Foundation, and was given recognition for the innovation and leadership that have made GWG a major donor to the Greenville non-profit community.
Traditionally given to an individual, this year the Foundation's Executive Committee voted to give the award to GWG because of the impact our members have had collectivelly. Appropriately, the award is named for a Greenville woman who was one of the most effective of the Community Foundation's leaders.
We appreciate the honor, of course, but we want you all to know how much fun we had celebrating! Randy Fisher, chair of the Community Foundation Board, called all GWG members present to the front of the room to receive the plaque. You should have seen the smiles, the hugs, and the high fives among us!
Congratulations to all, and thank you for joining in this adventure!
Frances, Harriet and Sue
Calendar of Upcoming Events
For a calendar including all major dates for the upcoming 2009-2010 "academic" year, please click here
Letter to Each of our Members
We're writing to you with a sense of wonder at what has actually transpired in the past three years, and with enormous gratitude. Each of you has written a yearly check in hopes that a group of women, informed about needs in our community, together could make a difference.
In 3 years, the money you have given has been pooled with that of others, and together we've given $854,000 to 30 worthwhile projects in Greenville.
Think about just a few of them , and the lives they've made better: the school children who are learning more easily because art was infused into their curriculum, the single mother who can tuck her children into beds in a safe home for the first time, the little girl who has been abused whose medical exam is more comfortable and accurate because of new equipment, and the Greenvillians for generations to come who will enjoy the bridge at Conestee Nature Park. You have helped to make all of that possible, and so much more.
We hope that GWG has meant some good things to you personally, as well. We hope our educational sessions have revealed a few things you didn't know about Greenville. We hope you've met some interesting women you would not otherwise have met. We hope you've made new friends who share your interest in making our community a better place.
And we hope you know what a special place you hold in our three hearts. You have risked your money on an unknown organization. None of knew what would happen. You took a real "leap of faith" with us, and we are so grateful that you did.
We're grateful too for the energy you've put into GWG - for the good ideas you've brought to us, for working on committees, for telling your friends about our group, and for the careful thought you've given when filling out your ballot. You have made GWG infinitely better - more effective and much more fun! - than we dreamed it could be. Thank you.
We look forward to continuing to work, learn, and give with you. Please know how much we appreciate your support and treasure your friendship.
You are a Giving Greenville Woman!
Our best to you,
Frances, Harriet, and Sue
$382,000 in Grants Awarded at GWG's Third Annual Meeting
Greenville Women Giving presented grants totaling $382,000 to selected community non-profit organizations at its third annual meeting, held at Furman University's Younts Conference Center on May 21st. The event culminated a year of education about community needs, and a competitive grants process that ended with members voting on which organizations should receive funds pooled from members' contributions. With this year's grants, the organization has returned a total of $854,000 to the community in its three year existence.
The charities receiving grants were:
Camp Opportunity - $25,000 to fund a week of summer camp for children in DSS protective custody.
The Center for Developmental Services - $25,000 to replace their communications system.
Foothills Family Resources - $25,000 for co-located social services in Northern Greenville County.
Graduate Greenville - $50,000 for meeting its aim to increase the high school graduation percentage of Greenville County students.
Greater Greenville Interfaith Hospitality Network - $30,000 for funding transitional housing.
Greenville Literacy Association - $29,000 for their young adult job-readiness program.
Greenville Rape Crisis and Child Abuse Center - $25,305 to help their school education program.
Loaves & Fishes - $30,000 for a refrigerated truck.
Phillis Wheatley Association - $35,800 for a summer program devoted to at-risk children.
Safe Harbor - $25,000 for security equipment.
Speech, Hearing and Learning Center - $25,000 for developmental delay screening equipment.
Welvista - $30,000 to help fund their prescription assistance program.
Habitat for Humanity - $28,500 for their "Women Build" program.
For further details about each of this year's grant recipients, and to view all past grant recipients click here
To view all 212 photos taken at the event, please click here
To read letters from some of the grant recipients, please click here
Membership Update
Our group is now 352 strong, and, of course, we would like to encourage more women to join us.
Please think about who might be interested in joining us and tell them about GWG.
You may direct any prospective members to the Membership & Organization portion of our website, where they can download our Membership Commitment form.