Featured News
December 17, 2025
When the federal government scaled back many grant programs in early 2025, local nonprofits began asking an urgent question: What’s next?
Enter RevUp GVL, a first-of-its-kind event designed to help nonprofits think like startups, find new revenue sources, and strengthen the foundation that keeps Greenville’s community thriving.
The idea sparked when Greater Good Greenville saw the ripple effect of shrinking federal funding. Rather than wait for more uncertainty, they took action by partnering with 20 Degrees, a national organization that helps nonprofits diversify income streams. They also knew they needed a local partner with deep ties to Greenville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and experience helping founders refine their stories and pitch with confidence. That is where NextGEN came in.
With years of experience supporting founders across industries, NextGEN brought the structure, energy, and collaborative spirit of Greenville’s startup scene into the nonprofit world.
Together, Greater Good Greenville, 20 Degrees, and NextGEN launched RevUp GVL, a pitch event created not to fuel competition but to fuel collaboration.
Five local nonprofits took the stage:
🌳 TreesUpstate, whose mission is to keep Greenville’s tree canopy healthy and green, pitched their plan to earn revenue with tree care packages and strategic partnerships with HOAs in new development communities.
💰 CommunityWorks, a financial empowerment nonprofit, shared their vision for a “one-stop shop” crowdfunding platform to help small businesses access capital.
🥕 Loaves & Fishes, known for rescuing surplus food to address food insecurity and waste, introduced an innovative idea to turn un-salvageable food into compost.
📦 Brother Box, originally a microlearning platform for Black boys, unveiled a new membership community for parents that creates space for learning, connection, and collective care.
🌿 Conestee Nature Preserve, fresh off opening their new immersive outdoor experience, showcased how they are bringing learning and play into nature through a new party-rental program.
Prior to the big night, these 5 nonprofits had the chance to pitch to the NextGEN team to receive feedback and make real time changes to their pitches before running through it again. This session reflected the same process that NextGEN uses with local founders, helping presenters clarify their message, define their “why,” and deliver their stories with confidence and authenticity.
After receiving personalized feedback, the nonprofits regrouped with 20 Degrees for a final tune-up before the main event. What began as a learning exercise became a full-fledged pitch experience.
The goal was connection, not competition. RevUp GVL was about lifting up one another and the collective community, sharing networks, and building a stronger foundation for everyone involved.
Greenville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem thrives on adaptability, creativity, and resilience. The same mindset is now becoming essential for nonprofits.
For decades, many nonprofits have relied heavily on grants and donations. As funding landscapes shift, the ability to pivot like a startup has become critical to their survival and impact. Through RevUp GVL, NextGEN introduced the same tools and frameworks that founders use every day, such as business modeling, storytelling, and customer discovery, helping these organizations reimagine how they can grow and sustain their missions.
By helping nonprofits adopt this entrepreneurial mindset, RevUp GVL ensures they can continue serving the community, whether that means planting trees, empowering small business owners, rescuing food, or creating spaces for learning and connection.
At its core, RevUp GVL is not just about helping nonprofits. It is about helping Greenville as a whole. When our nonprofits are strong, our entire community thrives.