Back to The Feed
We’re Celebrating Years of Empowering Greenville Nonprofits with Marketing Support
Five years ago, in the hopes of supporting our GVL community in more meaningful ways, we introduced the FUEL for Good Grant. We offer a biannual grant to help support Greenville, SC-based nonprofits (without national affiliations) experiencing an all too common—and debilitating—challenge: limited resources but endless needs. For those organizations handpicked by our team to receive the grant, we contribute a specified amount of marketing support at zero cost.
To date, we’re proud and so fulfilled to have worked with over sixteen diverse and incredibly deserving nonprofits hailing from a variety of industries (theatre, literacy, hunger) with a variety of needs. We’ve completed briefs for the full spectrum of services, including rebranding, brand story creation, video production, marketing campaigns and collateral, as well as website design. And no matter how many nonprofits or types of projects come our way, the selection process never gets easier. Christina, our Head of Production, said it perfectly: “The hardest part is selecting the winner. There are so many meaningful non-profits in Greenville County who could use the support, and it’s hard not to say ‘Yes!’ to everyone!” (Believe us, we want to.)
We experience the same struggle every time the team gathers to review the grant submissions and cast their votes—a collective process we adopted with the initiation of the grant. However, one thing we never struggle with is, once the votes have been counted, introducing the winning non-profit to a team of passionate brand strategists and marketers who feel a deep connection to their cause and are more than ready to roll up their sleeves.
If you ask anyone from the FUEL team what projects meant the most to them over the years, no one will offer the same answer, or even a definitive answer. Sometimes, it’s just personal.
For Nora Carson, our UX specialist and an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, it felt second nature to be invested in Naturaland Trust, a land protection trust that purchases green areas for permanent protection and public enjoyment: “Working with the folks at Naturaland Trust was an absolute privilege, and we were so excited to help refresh their brand and create a brand video highlighting the landscapes they protect. The critical work they’re doing to preserve the Upstate’s green spaces is unparalleled and we were honored to be able to lend our creativity to tell their story!” And the praise went both ways. For Mac Stone, the Executive Director of Naturaland Trust, the benefits of working with FUEL were clear: “FUEL’s team helped us craft a brilliant message and strategy to reach our supporters and those who don’t yet know who we are.”
And for Amy, one of our Account Managers deeply invested in women’s issues, she was surprised to discover the issue of period poverty in the first place. “One of my favorite projects was for The Period Project. First, I had no idea how many girls and women struggle to get access to menstrual health products. When I vote for an organization, I want to focus on non-profits with needs that also surprise me because that could mean the rest of the community is also in the dark. The work we created for their team was spot on strategically and visually powerful. I really felt like we made a genuine impact through first elevating their brand perception, and then spreading awareness of their work and mission, which they needed more than anything.”
And most recently, not long before Hurricane Helene reached The Carolinas, we were able to support a new non-profit designed for disaster relief. From our teammate Ally: “I really enjoyed the project that we just wrapped with the SC Restaurant and Lodging Association. They rolled out a new program called À la Heart, which is an emergency relief fund for restaurant and hospitality workers here in Greenville County. We supported the team with naming and brand design, but little did we know at the time, and as soon as the project wrapped, that the first emergency would arrive with Hurricane Helene. Due to widespread power outages, a large number of hospitality professionals found themselves out of work. While our grant work was technically complete, FUEL opted to create a quick web page for the SCRLA so that they could start collecting donations for workers who needed the additional coverage. I was really proud of how quickly we were able to rally to support such an important initiative.”
And these success stories, gathered from among the 16 partners we’ve had the privilege to collaborate with, just scratch the surface of our impact on the local non-profit landscape. President and COO of FUEL, Meredith Kinsey, had this to add: “This grant program has been one of the most meaningful parts of our journey at FUEL. It’s not just about marketing—it’s about connecting with incredible organizations that make a real difference in our community. It’s deeply personal and has reminded us how impactful our work can truly be.”
As we grow our business within Greenville and beyond, we intend to grow our FUEL For Good Grant, as well. The purpose and the vision of the grant couldn’t be more clear, according to FUEL CEO and Head of Creative, Mary Church Cornette: “The grant program is how we bring our purpose to life—using creativity to make a positive impact on our community. Getting to know these inspiring nonprofits and supporting their incredible work brings us so much joy and fulfillment.”
Inspiring times ahead.
Do you know of, or work for, a nonprofit in need of crucial marketing support? We’d love to lend a team. Watch additional non-profit testimonials here then contact us directly if you have any additional questions.
