It was great to see so many of you yesterday afternoon for the annual Summer Solstice gathering of Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy and the NonProfit Alliance. This event recognizes the interconnectedness of the work of nonprofits and funders and creates time for us to build relationships and celebrate the work we do together.
At the gathering, we shared a big announcement:
The NonProfit Alliance and the Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy have merged to create Greater Good Greenville.
Our organizations have always enjoyed a strong partnership, and the last two years have taught us that when we galvanize the forces for good – philanthropic funders, nonprofit organizations, and mission-minded individuals – for collaborative problem-solving and learning, advocacy, and joint investing, we can make Greenville greater for all who live here.
This merger is the result of a nearly year-long study by a dozen volunteer task force members appointed by the boards of both the Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy and the NonProfit Alliance. The task force thoughtfully walked through how a merger could better support funders and nonprofits in their work as well as our community as a whole. This process determined that there was real value to coming together for the greater good.
By greater good, we mean helping each of you do your work in a greater way by supporting your capacity and connections. And we also mean by bringing all of us together to make the whole of us greater than the sum of our individual organizations. We firmly believe that when we nonprofits and funders have the knowledge and skills to do transformational work, and when our work is grounded in trust and relationships, when mission-minded individuals are invited to the table as donors, investors, and collaborators, and when together, we join forces to solve problems and advocate for change, we can truly transform our community to be better for all who live here.
The boards of both GPP and NPA elected a new board to govern Greater Good Greenville, and I’m proud and appreciative of the board for naming me as the executive director. I’m delighted to be joined by Catherine Puckett who led the NonProfit Alliance and who will serve as our Program Director.
While this merger represents the belief that we are stronger together, we will continue to have spaces for nonprofits and for funders to learn and network on their own. We have steering committees for each to develop the programming for these two affinity groups. Stay tuned as we launch these programs and more in the fall.
Greenville County is great because of YOU and the mission work that you do, whether that’s leading or working in a nonprofit organization, volunteering on a board or in an agency, donating funds or making grants, or all of the above! Please know that we are here for YOU, and we look forward to connecting with you for the greater good.
Best,
Katy Smith
Executive Director, Greater Good Greenville
