Upon his passing in 2000, Mr. Hollingsworth’s textile machinery and real estate fortune, valued at $275 million, was transferred to Hollingsworth Funds to serve as his charitable legacy for generations to come.
Over the past 25 years, Hollingsworth Funds has advanced economic mobility for those most in need in Greenville by investing in people, partnerships, and systems — helping to match Greenville’s opportunity rates with its growth rates, working to ensure everyone is actively participating in our economy, and building the civic infrastructure needed for lasting, community-wide success.
During that time, Hollingsworth Funds has distributed over $140 million in grants to strengthen the Greenville community, supporting Furman University, the YMCA of Greenville, and more than 220 local nonprofits. With a strategic focus on economic mobility, opportunity, and systems change, Hollingsworth has fueled collaborative efforts in education, workforce development, affordable housing, and transportation to help people get ahead in Greenville and make their best life here.
To date, Hollingworth Funds and its related entities have divested of the vast majority of Mr. Hollingsworth’s land holdings, which have helped grow the liquid portfolio from $0 to $300 million with more than $415 million in total assets including our remaining real estate held at book value. Land sales and development have served as an economic development engine for Greenville leading to the Shops at Greenridge, CU-iCAR, ZF Transmissions, and the 1100-acre master-planned community of Verdae. Hollingsworth real estate has also contributed to education and public infrastructure projects such as Camperdown Academy, Beck Middle, Kerns Elementary, the Parallel Parkway, Fire Station 1, and the Swamp Rabbit Trail Greenline extension, among others.
Its unique combination of mission-aligned land use and strategic philanthropy has positioned Hollingsworth Funds as a key driver of long-term, community-centered impact in Greenville County. We invite you to join us over the next several months as we celebrate our 25th anniversary and the growth of our community over the past 25 years.
