The 2025 Nonprofit Effectiveness Grant Opportunity, administered by the Spartanburg County Foundation, provides funding of up to $10,000 to support capacity building and infrastructure development for 501(c)(3) organizations that serve residents of Spartanburg County, South Carolina. The Foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life, educational achievement, and economic mobility across the county. This grant opportunity aims to strengthen the internal effectiveness of nonprofit organizations so they can better fulfill this mission.

Eligible organizations must either be based in Spartanburg County or demonstrate that the proposed project exclusively benefits Spartanburg County residents. Multi-county organizations are welcome to apply but must clearly designate local impact. The Foundation does not fund lobbying, direct grants to individuals, or schools (unless the program is county-wide), among other restrictions outlined in their guidelines.

Examples of fundable capacity-building activities include board governance improvements, financial management enhancements, fundraising strategies, collaboration initiatives, strategic communications, succession planning, and program evaluation systems. The Foundation prioritizes organizations that can demonstrate alignment with its mission, use of data-informed strategies, measurable goals, and opportunities to leverage additional funding.

Applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis, with awards disbursed at the end of each quarter. The four application deadlines in 2025 are:

Q1: February 24
Q2: May 6
Q3: August 5
Q4: October 28

All applications must be submitted via the Foundation's online application portal. Required information includes a detailed budget, organization’s mission, a description of the capacity-building need, project goals, and measurable outcomes. Attachments include the organization's annual budget, most recent IRS Form 990, a board roster, and a consultant proposal (if applicable). All funded activities must be completed within one year of the award date.

For example, grants awarded at the end of Q1 2025 must be used during the period of April 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026. Organizations are expected to track and report progress on SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound).