Rebuild Upstate Named Bank of America’s 2023 Neighborhood Champion®

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Nonprofit Will Receive $50,000 in Grant Support and Virtual Leadership Training to Advance Economic Mobility in the Upstate

GREENVILLE – Bank of America today announced Rebuild Upstate as the 2023 Neighborhood Champion® awardee for their work advancing economic mobility and building up underserved neighborhoods in the Upstate. Through this multi-year grant funding and leadership training for the nonprofits’ leadership, programs and services addressing critical home repairs and preservation for low-to moderate income homeowners will be able to expand across Upstate South Carolina. Without these repairs, existing homeowners would be forced to seek housing elsewhere that they can’t afford or face homelessness.

As part of the bank’s Neighborhood Builders program, one of the largest philanthropic investments into nonprofit leadership development in the nation, Neighborhood Champions provides funding and leadership training to nonprofits that are advancing economic mobility and building up underserved neighborhoods.

Through the program, Rebuild Upstate will receive the opportunity to participate in virtual leadership training delivered by experts in the nonprofit sector on topics like human capital management, increasing financial sustainability and storytelling and a $50,000 grant over two years.

Rebuild Upstate helps tackle the affordable housing crisis by enabling longtime Upstate residents to remain in the homes they already own. Over the organization’s 17-year history, Rebuild Upstate has served over 1,470 homeowners with critical repairs and safety/accessibility modifications. This new grant funding will help expand the nonprofit’s home repair and ramp programs. This grant will support and cover the operating and program expenses for up to ten homes and nearly 40 repair projects or home ramps.

“We are honored to be this year’s recipient of the Neighborhood Champions grant. This grant is transformational in helping us to serve low-income homeowners who cannot afford repairs otherwise,” said Jake Beaty, CEO of Rebuild Upstate. “Everyone deserves to live in a safe and healthy home that they can afford. We’re grateful for Bank of America’s commitment to advancing economic mobility and responsible community growth.”

The invitation-only program is highly competitive, and nonprofits are selected by a committee comprised of community leaders and past awardees. Five nonprofits have been selected as Neighborhood Champions in the Upstate since 2019, with the bank investing $250,000 into these local nonprofits collectively.

“Rebuild Upstate leads the way in helping our neighbors remain in their homes by providing the critical repairs and improvements needed to make daily life safer and easier,” said Stacy Brandon, president, Bank of America Upstate. “Bank of America is pleased to support this unique approach to affordable housing through flexible funding and leadership training to benefit the nonprofit’s long-term success and make a lasting impact for these families in our community.”

Since 2004, Bank of America has invested more than $300 million in nearly 100 communities across the U.S., partnered with more than 1,600 nonprofits, and helped more than 3,000 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills through the Neighborhood Builders and Champions program.

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