Sustaining Way

What Sustaining Way does

Sustaining Way is a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 45-4887679) founded in January 2012 by Rick Joye in Greenville, South Carolina. The organization delivers a portfolio of community sustainability programs anchored by Annie's House — a net-zero demonstration site (solar PV array, battery storage, native pollinator garden, commercial kitchen) located at 60 Baxter Street in the historic Nicholtown neighborhood. Sustaining Way organizes its work around a Six Areas of Sustainability Framework (food and landscape, energy and energy efficiency, consumption and waste, healthy lifestyles, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability) and serves historically marginalized neighborhoods in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties.

Programs include the Backyard Garden Program (agroecological home gardens), the Energy Home Visit (EHV) diagnostic program, the weekly Meals & Masks food distribution co-hosted with Project Host, the paid Steward Fellows six-week summer fellowship (14 youth in 2024), the year-round Sustainability Cohort for middle- and high-school students, and the Energy Security Workforce Development Program co-created with Greenville Technical College. The new Resiliency Centers Program is building off-grid community facilities (solar + battery storage, bidirectional EV charging, cold storage, commercial kitchens) at the Happy Hearts Center, Dean Street School, Community Works Building, and Lockhart School.

Sustaining Way is funded through monthly sustainer donations ($5–$500 per month), tax-deductible one-time donations, federal and foundation grants (including selection as one of two South Carolina host sites for the Biden Administration's American Climate Corps in April 2024), and in-kind contributions from partners such as Furman University Farm. The organization assumed sister organization South Carolina Interfaith Power & Light (SCIPL) on January 1, 2017, extending its statewide faith-based climate engagement reach. Michael Brown serves as Executive Director (succeeding founder Rick Joye), and the organization reports that 98.5% of expenditures go to program services (verified by the 2019 SC Secretary of State Angel Award).

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Name

Sustaining Way

Legal name

Sustaining Way

Website

https://sustainingway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sustaining Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Greenville, SC that delivers food access, energy burden reduction, workforce development, and resiliency-infrastructure programs to historically marginalized neighborhoods in Greenville and Spartanburg Counties through its flagship net-zero demonstration site, Annie's House, in Nicholtown.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community sustainability and environmental justice services

NAICS

Other Community Housing Services (624229), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Development, Construction & Rehabilitation Programs (BPAIANAB), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Community sustainability programs
• Food access distributions
• Energy efficiency services
• Community garden education
• Youth workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Monthly Sustainer Donations: Recurring monthly donations ranging from $5 to $500, providing stable and reliable funding. Sustainers receive benefits such as produce cards to use on-site, reusable sustainable goodies, or a FREE energy home visit at higher tiers.
2. One-Time Donations: Tax-deductible one-time donations to the 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 45-4887679). Donation matching offered periodically (e.g., December 31 match for resiliency center support). Accepts donations via website and Venmo @Sustaining_Way.
3. Grants and Federal Program Funding: Federal and foundation grants including selection as one of two South Carolina host organizations for the American Climate Corps (Biden Administration initiative with 2,000+ positions nationwide), SCEN Advancing Equity and Opportunity grant cohort, Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund, and matched year-end donations.
4. In-Kind Contributions and Volunteer Hours: In-kind contributions (e.g., compost donations from Furman University Farm), discounted goods for Volunteer of the Month raffles from local businesses (Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery, Swamp Rabbit Tree Co., Swamp Rabbit Tees Co., REI, Amazon). 98.5% of expenditures go toward program services (2019 SC Secretary of State Angel Award verification).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sustaining Way is a 501(c)(3) interfaith nonprofit that delivers free and low-cost community programs centered on its flagship net-zero demonstration site Annie's House in Nicholtown, Greenville, SC. Its core offerings span community gardening and food access (Backyard Garden Program, Meals & Masks food distribution, community gardens), household energy burden reduction (Energy Home Visit diagnostics and weatherization), youth and workforce development (Steward Fellows, Sustainability Cohort, Energy Security Workforce Development Program), and a Resiliency Centers initiative building off-grid community facilities with solar, battery storage and bidirectional EV charging.

Product overview

Sustaining Way is a 501(c)(3) interfaith nonprofit organization (EIN 45-4887679) based in Greenville, South Carolina, that delivers a portfolio of community programs organized around its Six Areas of Sustainability Framework. The portfolio is anchored by Annie's House — the flagship net-zero demonstration site, education center, and base of operations in the historic Nicholtown neighborhood — which serves as the physical hub connecting community-facing programs such as the Backyard Garden Program, the Energy Home Visit (EHV) Program, and the Meals & Masks weekly food distribution. Layered on top of these community programs are youth and workforce development offerings (the Sustainability Cohort for middle/high school students, the Steward Fellows summer fellowship, and the Energy Security Workforce Development Program created with Greenville Technical College), the new Resiliency Centers Program building off-grid community facilities in New Washington Heights, Spartanburg, Greenville, and Lockhart, and South Carolina Interfaith Power & Light (SCIPL), a sister organization Sustaining Way assumed in 2017 that engages the faith community statewide. Sustaining Way was also named an inaugural American Climate Corps host site in South Carolina in April 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Annie's House: Flagship net-zero demonstration site in Nicholtown, Greenville, SC, serving as Sustaining Way's education center, demonstration site, and base of operations. The site's landscape was sustainably remodeled for community programming.

Products and services

• Annie's House Net-zero demonstration site, education center, and base of operations in the historic Nicholtown community of Greenville, SC (60 Baxter Street). Houses the demonstration garden, native pollinator garden, and compost operations and serves as a venue for community programs, volunteer workdays, and Steward Fellows activities.
• Backyard Garden Program Helps Nicholtown, New Washington Heights, Belle Meade, and Brutontown residents set up and maintain their own gardens, teaching agroecological practices including native or climate-adapted perennial planting, natural pest control, composting, rain barrel catchment, crop rotation, cover cropping, sheet mulching, and Three Sisters planting.
• Energy Home Visit (EHV) Program Diagnostic home energy assessments of Nicholtown homes covering insulation, windows, doors, crawl space, and attic, followed by weatherization fixes to lower resident electric bills and address energy burden.
• Meals & Masks Food Distribution Weekly Thursday food distribution (12:30–1:30 p.m.) in the parking lot of Hope Church in Nicholtown, in partnership with Project Host. Provides fresh vegetables, fruit, and protein to Nicholtown residents.
• Sustainability Cohort Year-round club for middle and high school students covering all six sustainability areas (food/landscape, energy/efficiency, consumption/waste, healthy lifestyles, environmental sustainability, social sustainability) with adult and older-student mentorship, hands-on service projects, and life-skills training in resume building, personal budgeting, communication, and teamwork.
• Steward Fellows Program Paid six-week summer fellowship for high school youth providing civic and workforce development in sustainability, energy conservation, gardening, weatherization, and personal/professional skills. Includes workshops taught by community partners and field trips to local sustainability organizations. The 2024 cohort had 14 participants.
• Energy Security Workforce Development Program Workforce development program focused on energy security, training future certified solar photovoltaic specialists, home energy audit specialists, roofers, construction team members, electrical technicians, renewable energy battery specialists, and EV infrastructure installation professionals. Developed with Greenville Technical College.
• Resiliency Centers Program Community-centered facilities providing cooling stations, solar-powered charging ports, EV hubs, and information services during crises. Planned sites include Happy Hearts Center (New Washington Heights), Dean Street School (Spartanburg), Community Works Building (Greenville), and Lockhart School (Lockhart), equipped with solar PV arrays, battery storage, bidirectional EV charging, energy-efficient retrofitting, cold storage, and commercial kitchens.
• Native Pollinator Garden at Annie's House New native plant garden at the back of the Annie's House garden along the Reedy River that creates habitat for pollinators (bees, butterflies, birds) and beneficial insects. Installed using sheet mulching technique by volunteers and the Sustainable Demonstration Site and Agriculture VISTA.
• American Climate Corps Program Sustaining Way's American Climate Corps host site program (April 2024), one of two in South Carolina, offering positions focused on urban agriculture, renewable energy (agrivoltaics, solar-powered community resiliency centers), and community-controlled food systems. Positions include community agricultural coordinators, environmental justice community advocates, energy security coordinators, and urban agroforestry coordinators.
• New Washington Heights Community Garden Community garden in the New Washington Heights neighborhood of Spartanburg producing squash, cucumbers, and bell peppers and extending Sustaining Way's gardening programming to a new community.
• Spartanburg Food Distribution Monthly food distribution event in south Spartanburg in partnership with the Spartanburg NAACP, responding to a food desert created by the closure of the local Piggly Wiggly on Church Street. Distributes more than 300 pounds of fresh produce on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% of Nicholtown residents actively making changes to be healthier (up from 73% in 2021 baseline)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, strategic and minor.

• American Climate Corps (ACC) / AmeriCorpsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Selected in April 2024 as one of only two host organizations in South Carolina for the Biden Administration's American Climate Corps initiative. Welcomes applications nationwide through ClimateCorps.gov. Specific positions envisioned include community agricultural coordinators, environmental justice community advocates, energy security coordinators, and urban agroforestry coordinators. Also an AmeriCorps VISTA host site.
• Spartanburg NAACPcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2023Partner on bi-monthly Saturday food distributions in Spartanburg County responding to the Piggly Wiggly closure food desert. Distribution assisted more than 150 households within Nicholtown and Greenville County in the first month.
• Upstate ForevercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2023Co-hosted first-of-its-kind Electric Vehicle Equity Roundtable in May 2023 with The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University. Sustaining Way also received Upstate Forever's 2021 ForeverGreen Award in the Environmental Equity and Justice Category.
• Mapitso Rivera (niece of Desmond Tutu) / Princess Masechaba (South Africa)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2023March 2023 trip to South Africa; brought solar panels and rechargeable batteries to two villages and a school to improve energy security; hosted Princess Masechaba later in 2023. Sponsored by First Baptist Greenville and others.
• Project HostcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Co-hosts the weekly Meals & Masks food distribution at Hope Church parking lot in Nicholtown every Thursday 12:30-1:30 p.m., providing fresh vegetables, fruit, and protein to Nicholtown residents.
• Greenville Technical CollegecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2023Co-created Sustaining Way's workforce development program focused on energy security. Together with Joy Finch, Executive Director Michael Brown developed an educational opportunity producing certified solar photovoltaic specialists, home energy audit specialists, roofers, construction team members, electrical technicians, renewable energy battery specialists, and EV infrastructure installation professionals.
• Organic Growers SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Invited Executive Director Michael Brown on a team of food activists and agriculturalists to visit Cuba and learn about agroecological farming practices and national policies prioritizing sustainable farming.
• South Carolina Interfaith Power & Light (SCIPL)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Sister organization of Sustaining Way; assumed responsibility for SCIPL as of January 1, 2017. Rick Joye served as Interim Executive Director; Bill Bradlee served as interim chair. SCIPL educates and engages the faith community throughout South Carolina to address climate change. In February 2024, Robert Reese was named Executive Director of SCIPL. SCIPL shares joint MLK Day calls for unity and collaborates on faith-based environmental justice programming.
• Conservation Voters of South Carolina (CVSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Michael Brown represents Sustaining Way on the S.C. Energy Justice Coalition. CVSC 2024 legislative day focused on protecting Carolina bays/wetlands, holding polluters accountable, protecting ratepayers, preserving agricultural lands, and expanding the trail system. Sustaining Way was also named a member of the Conservation Coalition.
• Furman University (Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFurman's Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities, Furman University Farm (donates compost), and Furman's Community Conservation Corps (teaches weatherization to Steward Fellows) are recurring program partners. Also a top talent pipeline (multiple interns) and co-host of EV Equity Roundtable.
• DHEC (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free COVID tests, COVID booster shots, and medical expertise at Meals & Masks events. Brown graduated from SC DHEC Strong Academy in 2023 to apply learnings to impacted communities in Greenville and Spartanburg.
• New Horizon Family Health ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free medical expertise and information for community medical needs at Meals & Masks free health screenings.
• Nicholtown Neighborhood AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner on Truth & Poverty Tour, Nicholtown Community Health Initiative survey, and recurring Nicholtown Community Association meetings where Sustaining Way staff share updates and aid.
• Dash EV MotorsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Sustaining Way in August 2023 to offer Nicholtown residents rides in their two-seater low-speed EV (starts at $11,500). Founder/CEO Roman Kuropas pilots affordable first/last-mile mobility for Greenville neighborhoods.
• Gene-XcellenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSimpsonville-based nonprofit empowering teenagers and young adults with life skills and economic mobility. Executive Director introduced Gene-Xcellence team members to Annie's House and demonstration garden in August 2023.
• GE VernovaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGE Vernova Digital Leadership Team volunteer group helped with native pollinator garden and Earth Week activities; GE Vernon Alex Welsh organized volunteer days for rotational program participants.
• Rambling Rosa FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerField trip partner for Steward Fellows; hosts programs on sustainable agriculture; receives Sustaining Way's spoiled leftovers to feed pigs.
• Earthwave RenewablesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTeaches renewable energy workshops to Steward Fellows.
• Greenville's Soil and Water Conservation DistrictminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTeaches soil health workshops to Steward Fellows.
• MichelinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVolunteer partner sending teams to H.O.G. Day events.
• United Way of Greenville CountystrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of annual Hands-On Greenville day; in April 2024 more than 2,000 volunteers participated county-wide, with 100+ joining Sustaining Way at Annie’s House, Glenn Road Garden, and New Washington Heights Garden.
• Clemson University (SNAP-ED)strategicImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRecurring partner providing student interns, sustainability education volunteers, and survey collaboration on Nicholtown Community Health Initiative. Multiple Clemson student volunteers at Glenn Road garden.
• Reedy River Rain GardenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSite of recurring Saturday Day of Service volunteer workdays.
• Conservation Voters of South Carolina Education Fund (CVSCEF)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Michael Brown was added to the CVSCEF Board of Directors in 2023 to maximize the participation of leaders in conservation and environmental organizations in public policy decisions in South Carolina.
• National Farm to School NetworkstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Michael Brown serves on the Board of Advisors.
• ecoAmericastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerExecutive Director Michael Brown was nominated and approved to join ecoAmerica's Leadership Circle, an invite-only community of climate leaders.
• Southeast Climate and Energy Network (SCEN)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Sustaining Way the Advancing Equity and Opportunity grant cohort; provides funding and policy support.
• Southern Alliance for Clean EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-collaborator on H. 5118 natural gas plant opposition campaign in Columbia, SC in February 2024.
• BMW Charity Celebrity Pro-AmminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTabling partner; Sustaining Way engaged event attendees at the BMW Charity Celebrity Pro-Am.
• WYFF (NBC affiliate)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured on WYFF's '4 the Record' segment with Nigel Robertson at the start of 2024, discussing sustainability resolutions with Executive Director Michael Brown and Sustainability Education Coordinator Meghan Salm.
• Greenville National Pan Hellenic Council (Divine 9)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts bi-monthly Saturday food distributions at Nicholtown Community Center; Spartanburg City Council recognized Divine 9 members and Sustaining Way partners for philanthropic efforts in the upstate.
• LiveWell GreenvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts garden work days at Glenn Road community garden in Nicholtown.
• Roots of Life / Maranatha Farms / Believer's Fellowship Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpartanburg-area farm and food bank partners donating squash, eggplant, green beans, green peppers, and corn for food distributions via Community Giving grant.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• LiveWell Greenville: Coalition working to make the Greenville community a healthier place to live, learn, work, and play; Sustaining Way co-hosts Glenn Road Community Garden workdays with LiveWell. Direct peer in community health programming for low-income Greenville neighborhoods.
• Upstate Forever: Regional conservation and land-use advocacy nonprofit serving the Upstate SC region; awarded Sustaining Way the 2021 ForeverGreen Award in Environmental Equity and Justice and co-hosted the EV Equity Roundtable. Comparable mission in environmental sustainability with overlapping geographic footprint.
• Conservation Voters of South Carolina: Statewide environmental advocacy organization with an Education Fund; Sustaining Way ED Michael Brown serves on the S.C. Energy Justice Coalition and CVSCEF board. Comparable peer in environmental policy advocacy at the state level with environmental justice orientation.
• Project Host: Greenville-based nonprofit operating culinary training, a soup kitchen, and food security programs including Meals & Masks, which it co-hosts with Sustaining Way at Hope Church in Nicholtown. Direct operational peer in food security and workforce training for low-income Greenville residents.
• South Carolina Interfaith Power & Light: Sister organization of Sustaining Way (assumed Jan 2017) engaging faith communities across South Carolina on climate change. Direct operational peer under common leadership umbrella; comparable in interfaith environmental advocacy and statewide scope.

Broad incumbents

• GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit delivering solar power and energy efficiency to low-income communities while training job seekers. Closest national-scale peer to Sustaining Way's Energy Home Visit + Energy Security Workforce Development model, with broader geographic reach.
• FoodCorps: National nonprofit connecting kids to healthy food in school by training AmeriCorps service members; Sustaining Way ED Michael Brown sits on National Farm to School Network board alongside FoodCorps' sphere. Comparable in connecting youth/school programs with food systems and AmeriCorps pipelines.
• National Farm to School Network: National information, advocacy, and networking hub connecting schools, farms, and communities; Sustaining Way ED Michael Brown sits on its Board of Advisors. Comparable in connecting food systems, education, and community health at a national scale.

Regional players

• Organic Growers School: WNC-based nonprofit providing organic and sustainable agriculture education; Sustaining Way's ED traveled to Cuba with Organic Growers School. Comparable in agroecological education and farmer/resident training; primarily Western North Carolina rather than South Carolina.

Emerging players

• Furman University Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities: Academic institute advancing sustainability in the Upstate; Sustaining Way co-hosted the EV Equity Roundtable with Furman's Shi Institute and Furman Farm donates compost. Comparable in sustainability programming and education, with overlapping community partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sustainingway
• Facebookfacebook.com/sustainingway
• Instagraminstagram.com/sustainingway
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustaining-way

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Sustaining Way