Wholespire

What Wholespire does

Wholespire is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, that works to expand access to nutritious food and physical activity across South Carolina communities. The organization operates through a Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) change framework, convening coalitions, advocating at the state and local level, and providing technical assistance, mini-grants, professional development, and youth programming to drive durable improvements in community health. Its core programs include The HYPE Project (a registered-trademark youth civic action program for ages 12-17), the Healthy Palmetto statewide coalition (40+ organizations, where Wholespire serves as backbone), the SC Schools Network workgroup, Walkability & Community Mobility services including a Walk Audit Toolkit and Community Mobility Ambassador Training, and the HEAL Mini-Grant program (up to $6,000 per award).

Wholespire has no proprietary technology platform; delivery is primarily through in-person workshops, webinars (with CHES/MCHES continuing education credits), coalition facilitation, advocacy at the SC State House, and grantmaking. Staff are certified in Results Based Accountability (RBA) through Clear Impact, supporting outcome measurement.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded. Revenue streams include foundation grants (notably BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation for HEAL Mini-Grants and Diabetes Free SC for walkability programming), individual and corporate donations processed through a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation channel, and contracted HYPE Project package fees that vary by host organization size and include travel, materials, advisor training, technical assistance, and a two-year authorization. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and led by Executive Director Meg Stanley. Recent operational signals include a strategic transition to a 100% contractor-based staffing model following funding cuts and the launch of a new 2025-2028 strategic plan.

Name

Wholespire

Legal name

Wholespire

Website

https://wholespire.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wholespire is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that drives community health improvements across South Carolina through Policy, Systems, and Environmental change, operating the HYPE youth program, the Healthy Palmetto coalition, walkability services, and HEAL mini-grants funded by foundations and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Health Promotion, Prevention & Community Health Programs (BPAIAJAC), Community Health, Health Promotion & Behavior Change (SBCC) (BPADAIAL), Health Systems Strengthening & Primary Care Development (HLAJAKAJ)

Keywords

• Community health services
• Public health nonprofit
• Policy systems environment
• Youth health empowerment
• Walkability active transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Wholespire receives grant funding from foundations and government agencies to support community health improvement initiatives, including HEAL mini-grants distributed to community organizations.
2. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Wholespire accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support their mission of inspiring wellness in all communities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wholespire delivers community health improvement programs and services across South Carolina using Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) change strategies. Its core offerings include youth empowerment through The HYPE Project, walkability and active transportation technical assistance, policy advocacy, professional development webinars, the SC Schools Network, the Healthy Palmetto statewide coalition, and HEAL Mini-Grants that fund local-level community health projects.

Product overview

Wholespire is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community health improvement programs and services centered on Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE) change strategies. The core offerings include: The HYPE Project for youth empowerment (ages 12-17) teaching civic action for health; the SC Schools Network workgroup connecting school health professionals; Walkability & Community Mobility services with training and walk audit resources; and Policy & Advocacy support. Supporting programs include the Healthy Palmetto statewide coalition, HEAL Mini-Grants (up to $6,000 per project), the Connecting Communities and Schools Webinar Series with professional development credits, and the Community Mobility Ambassador Training. These services work together to expand access to nutritious food and physical activity opportunities across South Carolina communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The HYPE Project (Healthy Young People Empowerment) A curriculum-based youth empowerment program for ages 12-17 that teaches civic action on obesity prevention, health disparities, and chronic disease through Policy, Systems, and Environmental change approaches. Delivered through host sites including schools, churches, nonprofits, and civic organizations with multi-year authorization, advisor training, and technical assistance.
• Healthy Palmetto Coalition A statewide coalition of 40+ organizations operating under a collective impact model with shared plans and common measures, dedicated to improving health outcomes through unified efforts around healthy eating and active living in South Carolina.
• SC Schools Network A workgroup facilitating collaboration among South Carolina school representatives working on student health issues, providing forums for sharing, learning, and improving efforts through virtual meetings on topics such as healthy school meals, physical activity, and wellness policies.
• Walkability and Community Mobility Services Technical assistance services helping communities transform with solutions for walkability, active transportation, and community mobility, including walk audits, planning resources, and support for creating safer, more accessible spaces across South Carolina.
• Policy and Advocacy Services Advocacy services working with decision-makers to strengthen access to healthy choices through policy changes, with legislative priorities organized across three engagement tiers (Active Leadership, Strategic Support, Monitor and Assess).
• Connecting Communities and Schools Webinar Series A webinar series offering CHES and MCHES Category I CECH credits, covering topics such as family engagement, physical activity, healthy schools, disability inclusion, and collaborative strategies between communities and schools.
• Community Mobility Ambassador Training A hybrid training program for community members and coalitions to lead mobility efforts locally over 4-6 months, covering walkability foundations, PSE change strategies, partnership building, walk audit skills, and community-driven action planning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of public school children in South Carolina now have access to free school meals
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Food is Medicine South Carolina (FiMSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Wholespire is actively involved in Food is Medicine South Carolina initiatives, working to integrate nutrition into healthcare plans. Meg Stanley and Zack King of DellaRa Consulting represent FiMSC at national workshops.
• Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation of Harvard Law SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Hosted the 2025 Food is Medicine Implementers' Workshop where Wholespire participated to learn about advancing nutrition-based interventions.
• University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012The HYPE Project was originally created with funds from the CDC Community Transformation Grant (2012) in partnership with the University of South Carolina Arnold School of Public Health.
• Healthy Palmetto CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthy Palmetto is a coalition of 40+ organizations committed to improving health outcomes in South Carolina. Wholespire serves as the backbone organization, providing coalition support and technical assistance for the Community Mobility priority alongside the SC Department of Public Health.
• SC Governor's Council on Physical FitnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Council aims to enhance health and well-being through physical activity. Wholespire occupies an at-large seat on the Council and partners with them on the SC Schools Network and Connecting Communities and Schools webinar series.
• South Carolina Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholespire partners with SCDHEC on nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention initiatives. They co-lead the Healthy Palmetto coalition and collaborate on walkability and active transportation projects.
• National Association of Chronic Disease DirectorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NACDD and CDC to provide the Walkability Action Institute/Walkability Virtual Academy, bringing national experts to South Carolina communities.
• Children's MercyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHYPE Project implementor organization working with youth on healthy eating and active living civic action projects.
• 7th District AME ChurchminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChurch-based HYPE Project implementor expanding youth empowerment into faith-based communities.
• Louisiana State University AgCenter/4HminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHYPE Project implementor organization engaging youth in healthy eating and active living through 4H programming.
• South Carolina Office of Rural HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner that introduced Wholespire to Results Based Accountability (RBA) methodology.
• Special Olympics South CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on inclusive health training webinars for the Connecting Communities and Schools series.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UChOGIQM_vedTlpSi6nU42yw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Wholespire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wholespire
• Instagraminstagram.com/wholespireinc
• Xx.com/wholespire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wholespire