As Hollingsworth organized its work around the concept of economic mobility, the question of how to achieve a vision of a vibrant, just, and inclusive Greenville where equitable opportunities exist for all to advance and thrive became a core question.
The answer became clear: collaboratively. We have always believed in collaboration. Before our work was focused deeply on economic mobility, it was guided by core values, of which collaboration was fundamental.
Since then, Hollingsworth’s goals have continued to narrow in scope but deepen in impact, centering on a SMIRF (Social, Moral, Intellectual, Relations, and Financial) capital framework to evaluate broader community well-being. With this shift came a collective impact lens, a collaborative approach where diverse organizations work together with a shared vision and coordinated efforts to solve complex social problems.
We believe that Hollingsworth’s role is based in the relationships and networks that foster change. We co-design solutions by working with a cross-section of community partners because bringing together our experiences and resources leads to lasting change.
Therefore, Hollingsworth does not work alone but convenes, connects, and supports collaborative, multi-stakeholder efforts that drive change at scale. Community is the co-creator and we are a partner lifting up community voices and investing in local leadership.
This is why we:
- Founded the Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy, which eventually merged with the Nonprofit Alliance to become Greater Good Greenville – a hub for research, best practice, and partnership in our sector.
- Invested in OnTrack Greenville, a community initiative helping middle school students stay on track toward high school graduation through solutions to attendance, behavior and course work, since its inception.
- Supported the ASPIRE Scholars Initiative – a transformative initiative at Greenville Tech improving retention and graduation rates 400+ highest-risk, highest-need students by providing comprehensive, tailored support to overcome obstacles and achieve their academic and career aspirations.
- Led a multi-stakeholder coalition of community leaders to identify Greenville’s housing affordability gap which eventually led to creation of the Greenville Housing Fund – generating a pipeline of more than 1,100 affordable homes in Greenville.
- Most recently, partnered with The Greenville Housing Authority’s Moving to Work Initiative to help 1,700 households find a path to financial stability.
- Supported Greenville Together, a community-driven initiative uniting nonprofits, local leaders, landlords, and neighbors to address homelessness and housing instability in Greenville County.
From public-private partnerships to multisector collaboration and collective impact initiatives, our work is deeply rooted in collaborations that amplify the change and impact we seek to see in Greenville. Local partnerships drive us, and our work is designed to reflect the voices and needs of the community.
