Heart and Hope
Greenville Women Giving celebrates two decades of giving
Turn back the clock to the new millennium. Greenville was about to embrace its contemporary identity, with Liberty Bridge, Fluor Field, and a reimagined Main Street. The city would capture the nation’s attention to become a hotbed for visiting tourists, new retirees, and adventurous professionals ready to relocate.
Riding a wave of growth and hope in 2006, Frances Ellison, Sue Priester, and Harriet Goldsmith founded Greenville Women Giving, the recipient of this year’s Philanthropic Spirit Award. “The founders still talk about how they had no idea the group would grow as large as it has,” shares GWG Co-Chair Jane Pannier. “To be here 20 years later as an incredible, active, growing organization, it’s amazing.”
The idea was simple: women would pool their resources to help others. Each member would commit to giving $1,000 a year. To kick-start the group, the Community Foundation challenged the group with a $50,000 match if they could find 50 willing women. The budding initiative unearthed 135 ladies willing to open their hearts, minds, and wallets to better the community. Since then, GWG has awarded 159 grants, totaling more than $9 million, to 92 nonprofit organizations across Greenville County.
“We have five focus areas,” explains Pannier. “Arts, education, environment, health, and human services. The latter always gets the most requests as it’s a broad category addressing everything from homelessness to food insecurity. It’s where we find the most needs.”
When the retired attorney moved to Greenville, Pannier fell in love with the idea of collective giving and the positive effect GWG has upon neighbors. “It’s well established and well run with a holistic approach to helping the community,” she says. “We’re 550 very diverse women, with varied concerns and opinions, yet it’s one woman, one vote. I like that women can come together to demonstrate parity.”
From replacing stage flooring at Greenville Theatre to purchasing laptops and licensing for suicide lifeline volunteers, grants range from $50,000 to $100,000. “We initially started giving small grants,” says Pannier. “But we quickly made the decision to occupy a space that’s not addressed as strongly, for high impact. So, in the spirit of making significant change, we increased the size of our grants.” The group has even created an endowment fund that currently holds $775,000, which will secure the organization’s giving in perpetuity.
As the founders navigate their golden years, Greenville Women Giving is well positioned for decades to come. “We average about 60 new members a year, including a lot of younger women,” Pannier says. “We span the spectrum—educators, professionals, educated women, working women, women who stay home. We’re all concerned individuals who are smart and compassionate.” They’ve found a meaningful way to pool that compassion to make a difference.
GWG hosts Spotlight events that are open to the public. Upcoming topics include:
Nov. 13: Education: Empowering High-risk Kids to Succeed in School
Jan. 21: Health: Aging in Greenville with Choice & Dignity
Feb. 12: Human Services: Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies
March 12: The Arts: Fine Arts Come Alive through the ARMES Program