Urban League Of The Upstate

What Urban League Of The Upstate does

Urban League of the Upstate is a 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit and affiliate of the National Urban League, founded in 1972 (originally as the Greenville Urban League) and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina. The organization delivers civil rights, economic empowerment, education, and health-equity programs primarily to Black residents and underserved individuals across the Upstate region — Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties. Programmatic lines include the McClaren Institute for Health Equity (opening Spring 2025), McClaren Scholars and the Jane Edna Hunter Scholars pipelines, the McClaren Mental Health Initiative, Early Childhood Development Centers (ECDC), and Studio 9.22, a film-industry workforce development program operating in conjunction with the 48HR Film Project. Recent partnerships include College Unbound for adult-learner credentialing (launching fall 2025).

The organization is funded through a diversified but anchor-dependent revenue stack: individual donations processed via the eTapestry donor CRM, membership dues, and corporate/foundation grants from regional institutional funders including Prisma Health, BMW, Bon Secours, Duke Energy, Bank of America, and the Jolley Foundation. A $3.5M capital campaign for the McClaren Institute had raised $2.4M as of late 2024/early 2025, anchored by a $500,000 Greenville Health Authority gift (December 2024) and $600,000 seed commitments each from the City of Greenville and the State of South Carolina. Operating with approximately 25 staff and under the leadership of President/CEO Dr. Gail Wilson Awan (since 2019), the organization is in a programmatic scaling phase that broadens both its vertical scope (health equity, creative-economy training, behavioral health) and its geographic footprint across the Upstate.

Operationally, Urban League of the Upstate functions as a community-services intermediary rather than a product or technology business: it does not sell goods or licensed software, and its "delivery model" is human-staff-led programs executed at physical sites (including the heritage McClaren medical-shelter location dating to 1949). Revenue mechanics are grant-cycle-driven, with renewal risk concentrated in a small number of large institutional funders, and program expansion is gated by the cadence of philanthropic and government commitments rather than by market demand for a commercial offering.

Name

Urban League Of The Upstate

Legal name

Urban League of the Upstate

Website

https://urbanleagueupstate.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Urban League of the Upstate is a 501(c)(3) National Urban League affiliate, founded in 1972 and headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, delivering civil rights, education, workforce, and health-equity programs to underserved residents across Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson counties, funded primarily through grants, institutional gifts, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Services and Civil Rights Advocacy

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC), NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC), Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Civil rights advocacy
• Community health equity
• Workforce development training
• Youth mentorship programs
• Economic empowerment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The organization solicits individual charitable contributions via its eTapestry online donation portal. Donors can contribute to general operations or designated initiatives such as the McClaren Institute campaign.
2. Membership Fees: The organization offers a membership program allowing community members to join and support the Urban League's mission through annual contributions.
3. Corporate & Foundation Grants: The organization receives programmatic funding and capital campaign gifts from corporate sponsors, foundations, and government entities including the City of Greenville, State of South Carolina, Greenville Health Authority, and others.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Urban League of the Upstate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community-based programs advancing economic empowerment, educational opportunity, civil rights advocacy, health equity, and workforce development for Black community members and underserved individuals in the Upstate of South Carolina. Its core offerings include the McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life, the Entrepreneurship and Career Development Center (ECDC), Studio 9.22 (film industry workforce training), and youth scholarship programs including McClaren Scholars and Jane Edna Hunter Scholars. Programs are delivered free to participants and funded through individual donations, membership fees, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government funding.

Product overview

Urban League of the Upstate is a community-based non-profit organization providing economic empowerment, educational opportunities, and civil rights services. The organization operates a portfolio of programs including the McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life (a health equity initiative addressing disparities through the five social determinants of health), the Entrepreneurship and Career Development Center (ECDC) for creative and technical workforce development, Studio 9.22 for film industry training, scholarship programs (Jane Edna Hunter Scholars and McClaren Scholars) for youth in healthcare careers, and the McClaren/AHEC Health Equity Scholars program. The McClaren Institute encompasses multiple sub-programs including mental health advocacy, cultural literacy, community wellness services, and College Unbound adult education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life: A health equity initiative addressing healthcare disparities for Black and underserved communities, housed in the historic McClaren Medical Shelter building.
• Studio 9.22
• Entrepreneurship and Career Development Center (ECDC)
• McClaren Scholars Program
• Jane Edna Hunter Scholars Program

Products and services

• Urban League of the Upstate Community Programs The umbrella community service portfolio of the Urban League of the Upstate, delivering economic empowerment, educational opportunity, civil rights advocacy, workforce development, housing support, and health and wellness programming for Black community members and underserved individuals in the Upstate region of South Carolina. Programs are free to participants and delivered through offices in Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson.
• McClaren Institute for Health & Quality of Life A health equity initiative housed in the historic McClaren Medical Shelter, dedicated to addressing health disparities in Black and underserved communities through programs focused on the five social determinants of health: education access, healthcare access, neighborhood environment, social connections, and economic stability. Includes mobile health clinics, health screenings, vaccinations, primary care navigation, community education, and gentrification support services.
• Entrepreneurship and Career Development Center (ECDC) An innovation hub designed to empower individuals with skills, training, and opportunities in high-growth creative and technical industries. Includes the 48HR Film Project and houses Studio 9.22, providing hands-on workforce development and entrepreneurship support for creative professionals and aspiring business owners.
• Studio 9.22 A 501(c)(3) program dedicated to training, educating, and creating the next film workforce within South Carolina, providing location scouting, crew access, production support, and workforce development for careers in film, television, and digital media.
• McClaren Scholars Program A career exploration and development program for underserved youth ages 14-19 interested in pursuing careers in health and medical fields, providing hands-on learning, professional mentorship, and real-world exposure to health-related occupations including medicine, nursing, public health, and biomedical research.
• Jane Edna Hunter Scholars Program An academic and mentoring support program honoring Jane Edna Hunter's legacy, designed to assist high school students committed to academic excellence, community service, leadership, and interest in healthcare careers with year-long programming, job shadowing, and college application assistance.
• McClaren/AHEC Health Equity Scholars Program A partnership program with the Upstate Area Health Education Center that selects 10 high school students annually for intensive health career training, including online learning modules, Health Careers Academy sessions, and a comprehensive summer program with mentorship and scholarship opportunities.
• McClaren Mental Health Advocacy and Education Mental health support and education initiative led by Dr. Asa Briggs focusing on building mental health awareness, connecting individuals with resources, and destigmatizing mental health conversations in Black and underserved communities across the Upstate.
• McClaren Cultural and Historical Literacy Center A multimedia center on the lower floor of the McClaren Medical Shelter featuring displays highlighting contributions of Black individuals to the Upstate's development, offering educational programming, historical tours, workshops, and community discussions in partnership with Visit Greenville SC.
• Community Based Health and Wellness Services Health and wellness programming in partnership with LiveWell Greenville, managed by a Community Navigator to increase access and awareness for services connected to the five social determinants of health, including pop-up clinics, nutrition education, smoking cessation, and physical activity programming.
• College Unbound An adult education program in partnership with the Jolley Foundation and College Unbound offering opportunities for adults who were unable to complete their degree to do so online, preparing participants for leadership positions in the healthcare industry.
• 48HR Film Project A film production initiative providing real-world experience in fast-paced film production while showcasing participants' talents to broader audiences, operated as part of the ECDC portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 2,050+ individuals through 14 pop-up health clinic events in 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Way Greater ChesapeakecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way Greater Chesapeake is listed among the organization's sponsors on the homepage. The partnership supports the Urban League's community programming and mission to advance equity for underserved populations in the Upstate.
• Prisma HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrisma Health is a major sponsor and healthcare partner. The organization collaborates with Prisma on health programming, workforce development, and community health initiatives in the Upstate.
• BMWcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBMW is listed as a sponsor of the Urban League of the Upstate, supporting the organization's mission through corporate sponsorship.
• Bon Secours Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBon Secours is a health system sponsor and foundational donor supporting the McClaren Institute. The partnership contributes to health equity programming for underserved communities.
• Duke EnergycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDuke Energy is a corporate sponsor of the Urban League and a foundational donor to the McClaren Institute campaign, supporting energy equity and community investment initiatives.
• National Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Urban League is the parent organization of the Urban League of the Upstate. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, it spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through program development, public policy research, and advocacy. The ULUS is part of a network of nearly 100 local affiliates serving more than 2 million people nationwide.
• LiveWell GreenvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLiveWell Greenville partners with the McClaren Institute on community-based health and wellness services. The Community Navigator program specifically focuses on the Black community to increase access and awareness for services connected to the five social determinants of health.
• Upstate Area Health Education Center (Upstate AHEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUpstate AHEC partners with the McClaren Institute on the McClaren/AHEC Health Equity Scholars Program, which selects 10 high school students annually from the AHEC Health Careers Program for intensive healthcare career training and mentorship.
• United Way of GreenvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of Greenville is listed as a partner agency, supporting community resources and workforce development initiatives through collaborative funding and referral networks.
• United Way PiedmontcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way Piedmont is a partner agency supporting community resources and collaborative initiatives in the Upstate region.
• AnMed HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnMed Health is listed as a partner agency, providing healthcare partnerships and community health programming support.
• Spartanburg JuneteenthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpartanburg Juneteenth is listed as a partner agency, collaborating on cultural and historical programming in the Spartanburg community.
• Visit Greenville SCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit Greenville SC collaborates with the McClaren Cultural and Historical Literacy Center to lead city tours of historically significant Black sites in Greenville, providing cultural education and heritage tourism programming.
• Johnston Design GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJohnston Design Group provided architectural design services for the McClaren Institute building renovation and preservation project.
• TealHausminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTealHaus is listed as a foundational donor supporting the McClaren Institute campaign and associated marketing efforts.
• United Way of AndersonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way of Anderson supports the McClaren Institute's community-based health and quality of life programs through collaborative partnership.
• College UnboundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollege Unbound partners with the McClaren Institute to bring adult degree completion programming to the Upstate. A cohort of 10 adult scholars is planned for fall 2025, with all coursework offered online and tailored to healthcare industry leadership.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Asa Briggs, leader of the McClaren Mental Health Initiative, was elected to the NAMI board, expanding advocacy reach for mental health efforts across the Upstate region.
• Long Branch Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong Branch Baptist Church hosts mental health education sessions, health fairs, and community engagement programming led by the McClaren Mental Health Initiative. The church is led by Rev. Sean Dogan, former interim President and CEO of the Urban League.
• 100 Black Men of the UpstateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Asa Briggs participated in panel discussions with 100 Black Men of the Upstate on mental health and community well-being.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of the Upstate: Operates youth development, education, and health programs across the same Upstate South Carolina counties as the Urban League, including the McClaren Scholars' age range. Directly comparable as a youth-focused community services organization with overlapping target population.
• YMCA of Greenville: A Greenville-based nonprofit delivering health, wellness, youth development, and community programming in the same geographic market. Comparable as a multi-program community services organization with overlapping health equity and youth development offerings.
• Upstate Area Health Education Center (Upstate AHEC): A healthcare workforce development organization that co-runs the McClaren/AHEC Health Equity Scholars program. Directly comparable in healthcare career pipeline and youth health education programming serving the same Upstate region.
• NAACP Greenville Branch: A Greenville-based civil rights and advocacy organization serving overlapping Black community constituents. Comparable as a peer organization advancing racial equity and civil rights in the same Upstate South Carolina market.
• Urban League of the Central Carolinas: Another National Urban League affiliate serving the Charlotte, NC region, operating similar programs in workforce development, education, health equity, and youth services. Directly comparable as a peer affiliate in the Carolinas with overlapping geography and programmatic scope.
• Urban League of the Midlands (Columbia, SC): A fellow National Urban League affiliate serving the Columbia, SC area, with a comparable mix of workforce, education, and civil rights programming. Directly comparable as a South Carolina-based peer affiliate with similar program mix.
• LiveWell Greenville: A Greenville-based nonprofit that is both a McClaren Institute partner and a direct peer, focused on community health, nutrition, and addressing social determinants of health. Highly comparable in health-equity programming and Upstate footprint.
• United Way of Greenville County: A Greenville-based community services and grantmaking organization that is both a partner of the Urban League of the Upstate and a direct peer in delivering community health, education, and workforce programs. Operates as a comparable multi-program community intermediary.

Regional players

• Hispanic Alliance of Greenville: A Greenville-based nonprofit serving the Hispanic community with similar economic empowerment, education, and community services functions. Comparable in role and structure, but focused on a different underserved demographic in the same market.

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: The National Urban League is the parent organization of the Urban League of the Upstate, founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York. It operates as the umbrella for nearly 100 local affiliates and provides the programmatic, advocacy, and brand framework that the Upstate chapter executes locally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UrbanLeague864
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UrbanLeagueUS
• Facebookfacebook.com/UrbanLeague864
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/urban-league-of-the-upstate
• Instagraminstagram.com/urbanleague864

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Urban League Of The Upstate