All Aboard: Grantmaking Boards Turn to Community for Leadership
Trend: FFTC’s affiliates see the benefits of dedicated local grantmaking boards that understand their communities' needs.
In an era when local engagement is paramount, volunteer grantmaking boards have taken center stage in making charitable investments that resonate with their communities. This trend highlights a shift in the way philanthropy and community development are approached – recognizing that the people who live, work and engage with the community are the ones who hold the most profound understanding of its intricate challenges.
Take the Foundation's 13-county region, for instance: Each of our regional affiliates has its own local grantmaking board of advisors, made up of local leaders who live and work in the community the affiliate serves. When nonprofits across the region apply for the grants our affiliates offer, it's the proactive involvement and insights of local board members that ensures grant decisions align closely with the needs and aspirations of the very communities they serve.
At Foundation For The Carolinas, we’ve seen many examples in the years since the pandemic, but two stand out: The work of the boards from our Foundation For Black Philanthropy and Cherokee County Community Foundation. (Continued below.)
“We have provided opportunities to increase the education, participation, support, visibility and generation of giving in our community. We appreciate the number of nonprofits and funding organizations that have taken a seat at our table. The exchange of information, training and volunteerism to help us move from A-Z has been phenomenal"
- Jodi Turner, co-chair of Foundation For Black Philanthropy
(RIGHT, from left: FFBP grantees Elijah Watson, S.T.A.R.S. Math and English Academy; Jania Massey, Stiletto Boss University; Shakieta Maloye, Another Chance House of Refuge.)
Local Wisdom for Lasting Impact
“Who takes better care of home than someone who lives there or in close proximity?" said Jodi Turner, co-chair of Foundation For Black Philanthropy’s board of advisors. FFBP is an affiliate of Foundation For The Carolinas that supports nonprofits serving the local Black community. It has grown to new prominence since 2020, thanks to a more engaged board of directors and support from FFTC.
Turner emphasized the profound significance of local presence in shaping decisions that bear upon a region or community: No one tends to the home better than those who dwell within it or in close proximity. It's the residents, intimately acquainted with the nuances of their communities, who possess an unparalleled understanding of the pressing needs, inherent strengths and challenges.
In addition to an annual grantmaking program overseen by Foundation For Black Philanthropy’s board of advisors, FFBP allows FFTC fundholders to affiliate their funds with Foundation For Black Philanthropy. The benefit is grants issued from those funds display the FFBP logo, which highlights the collective power of Black giving. So far, four present and former FFTC governing board members have aligned their funds with FFBP: Kieth Cockrell, Malcomb Coley, Jada Grandy Mock and Jewell Hoover.
In addition, the Foundation For Black Philanthropy's board of advisors thoughtfully awards grants from the Elizabeth S. Randolph Fund for Education and Prosperity as well as the Lethia Henderson Fund for a Healthy Black Community.
“We have provided opportunities to increase the education, participation, support, visibility and generation of giving in our community,” said Turner. “We appreciate the number of nonprofits and funding organizations that have taken a seat at our table. The exchange of information, training and volunteerism to help us move from A-Z has been phenomenal.”
Since inception in 1993, Foundation For Black Philanthropy has distributed more than $500,000 in grants to local nonprofits. They recently awarded $20,000 in grants to local nonprofits supporting programs that address a wide range of community needs across Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
Among the 2023 grantees was a $5,000 grant to S.T.A.R.S. Math and English Academy, a local nonprofit that helps improve the math, English and reading skills of children needing educational assistance by at least two grade levels.
“Because of the generous funding from Foundation For Black Philanthropy, the S.T.A.R.S. Math & English Academy can hire five additional teachers and serve 30 more students,” said Elijah Watson, founder and executive director of S.T.A.R.S. Math & English Academy. “Our grant will enable us to strengthen our operational infrastructure, which will continue to help us with our vision to equip students with the knowledge and resources to be college and career ready.” (Continued below.)
The Cherokee County Community Foundation Board of Advisors
Fueled by Local Dedication
The Cherokee County Community Foundation was established as a permanent endowment at FFTC in 1994 by local leaders to encourage philanthropy and mobilize resources to tackle local challenges. Through a steadfast commitment to local decision-making, the foundation has been instrumental in effecting positive change and addressing pressing needs within Cherokee County, S.C.
CCCF was founded, in part, by civic leader and the late Trustee Emeritus, John Travers – the general manager at Timken's roller bearings plant in Gaffney for two decades. The Timken Company – the global manufacturer started by the Timken family, members of which began the Timken Foundation – has a plant in Gaffney and has helped support local nonprofits for nearly 50 years.
That’s why the Cherokee County Community Foundation received a $250,000 award from the Timken Foundation. The funds will be added to the Cherokee County Community Foundation's endowment, increasing the amount of money CCCF can grant out each year to the local community. The additional funds put the spotlight on the foundation’s local board of advisors who vote on grantmaking decisions for Cherokee County.
Local decision-making isn't without its challenges – there’s a complexity to allocating resources amidst a sea of deserving organizations – so the additional funds from Timken will help make decisions easier.
"Our biggest challenge, honestly, has been deciding which organizations to assist each year, because every single one that applies is doing great things in our community,” said Charles Wyatt, chair of CCCF’s board of advisors. “But the nonprofit organizations we have been able to support over the years have provided so many important services to our community. We are thankful for the opportunities we have to support their efforts.”
The heart and soul of any community lies in its people, its unique challenges and its opportunities. In this light, local grantmaking boards emerge as beacons of change, driving transformative decisions that shape the future of our region. The Cherokee County Community Foundation's board of advisors has demonstrated their commitment to the community through a series of impactful grantmaking decisions.
This local touch brings forth unparalleled insight into the community's needs, allowing for decisions that resonate with and uplift the region. Since inception, the Cherokee County Community Foundation has awarded more than $500,000 in grants to local nonprofits addressing crime and safety, economic development, education, family and youth, and public health. Their 2023 grantees include, among others:
- $5,000 to Academic Technology and Wellness Academy for its Backpack Buddy initiative.
- $5,000 to The Jerusalem Project to provide home repairs to homeowners in Cherokee County at no cost to the homeowner.
- $5,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate to serve five Cherokee County elementary school-based Kids Clubs.
One grant awardee this year was The Jerusalem Project, which coordinates more than 400 adults and teenagers to do home repair that helps local homeowners make necessary house improvements.
“Since 2004, the Jerusalem Project has helped local homeowners that need repairs on the exterior of their homes, such as porch and step repairs and wheelchair ramps,” said Martin Hogg, treasurer of the Jerusalem Project. “This work is done at no charge to the homeowners because local adults and students provide the labor and grants, like the one through the CCCF, covers the cost of the building materials.”
“Since 2004, the Jerusalem Project has helped local homeowners that need repairs on the exterior of their homes, such as porch and step repairs and wheelchair ramps. This work is done at no charge to the homeowners because local adults and students provide the labor and grants, like the one through the CCCF, covers the cost of the building materials.”
- Martin Hogg, treasurer of the Jerusalem Project