Get to Know Greater Good Greenville
We believe that nonprofits, funders, and mission- minded individuals are essential to a strong community.
We serve as a multiplier of their work for the greater good. In any given month, you might see us:
- Hosting a training for dozens of nonprofits on outcome measurement or fundraising.
- Convening philanthropic foundations to collaboratively fund a community-wide project.
- Featuring a nonprofit board and CEO at a Greenville County Council meeting.
- Interviewing local and state candidates for political office for the Simple Civics podcast.
- Introducing new residents to causes that align with their philanthropic interests.
Our Mission
Greater Good Greenville is a community accelerator that galvanizes nonprofit organizations, philanthropic funders, and mission-minded people
Our Vision
Greenville County is an inclusive and vibrant community grounded in equity and opportunity, where all people can thrive.
What We Value
We ask “why?” and “why not?”
We don’t assume we have all the answers, and we seek multiple perspectives and a deeper consideration of what’s happening now and what’s possible. We then develop strategies with partners informed by what we learn and what we imagine.
Our work is by community, for community
The community drives the work; ideas and energy come from nonprofit leaders, neighborhood residents, philanthropic funders, and anyone who cares about the greater good. Our role is one of support, to accelerate, and to multiply the impact of their good work.
Trust is at the heart of collaborative work
We always strive to behave in a way that builds trust. We seek to build trust with and among our partners by being reliable, honest, and taking responsibility.
We celebrate authenticity
Our board members, staff, and partners have unique perspectives, experiences, skills, and styles of thinking and communicating, and we are better when all of those are brought to the table. When there is conflict, we assume good intentions and take a stance of curiosity rather than opposition.
Our History
Catalyzed by the merger of the Nonprofit Alliance and the Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy, Greater Good Greenville was born in 2022 to combine the missions of both longstanding nonprofit organizations in Greenville.
Through the union of these two nonprofits, Greater Good Greenville can better support funders and nonprofits alike, creating more capacity and connections in the nonprofit sector.
The NonProfit Alliance began in 2011 as a constituency group of the Greenville Chamber after several nonprofit leaders realized the need for a nonprofit affinity group. Following a reorganization of the Chamber, NPA operated under a steering committee and then a formalized Board of Advisors. For more than a decade they helped propel the impact of nonprofit organizations in Greenville County by serving as a collective voice and connection point for the sector.
Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy was born in 2013 as a coalition of Greenville funders learning and working together to make our community a better place for all. Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy worked to maximize the impact of funders by connecting grantmakers of diverse backgrounds to increase their knowledge, improve practice, and pursue opportunities for positive change.
The two organizations began a close partnership the week that COVID closed down schools in the state, including offering weekly virtual meetings for funders and nonprofits to network and learn about things like applying for the Paycheck Protection Program and strategic repositioning, and leading the charge for advocacy around Greenville County CARES Act dollars, which resulted in $28 million going to nonprofits. Eventually, the boards of both organizations appointed a task force to initiate a nearly year-long study to investigate a merger.
The Merger Process and Our Leadership
The task force process determined that greater good could be done by both organizations joining forces. The unique positions of each to support and catalyze nonprofits and funders eventually led to the formation of Greater Good Greenville, which was announced in June of 2022.
Katy Pugh Smith’s role as Lead Facilitator at Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy, which was preceded by a storied nonprofit career in Greenville, and Catherine Puckett’s leadership as Interim Executive Director of the NonProfit Alliance during the 2020 COVID crises, created a dynamic team to lead Greater Good Greenville. Both organizations laid a foundation of trust for Greater Good Greenville to build upon in Greenville County.
Through merging, the organization could better support funders and nonprofits alike, creating more capacity and connections in the nonprofit sector. Since launching in 2022, Greater Good Greenville has experienced growth and increasing recognition. The organization is able to fill in a gap to serve the nonprofit and philanthropic community through collaboration and problem-solving.
What We Offer
Equip
We equip you with trainings, workshops, and other resources to multiply your impact
Advocate
We advocate and make connections between you and policy makers, and we speak up for nonprofits, donors, and the people we serve
Transform
We support you in transformational work by bringing partners and new ideas together for greater good
Greater Good Greenville serves as a collective voice for the nonprofit and philanthropic sector and functions to connect nonprofits and funders. We offer a wide variety of resources for the community including:
- Educational events and networking opportunities
- Resources for nonprofits, funders, and community-minded people
