About Us
Breaking cycles of poverty through education
The Marshall Heritage is a new nonprofit in Spartanburg, South Carolina, dedicated to helping homeless and underprivileged students succeed from kindergarten through college.
Our Mission
To provide scholarship funding, academic support, and essential resources to homeless and underprivileged school-age children and youth, enabling them to pursue and achieve educational success.
Our Vision
A community where every child, regardless of housing status or income, has the financial and emotional support needed to graduate, continue their education, and build a stable and successful future.
Who we serve
- Homeless school-age children as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act, including youth living in shelters, doubled-up housing, motels, cars, or without a fixed home.
- Underprivileged K-12 students identified by school counselors, social workers, shelters, or youth agencies.
- Graduating high school seniors experiencing homelessness who are seeking college or vocational training.
We aim to serve students connected with Spartanburg School Districts 1-7 and local youth-serving organizations such as shelters, children's homes, and clubs across the Upstate.
Our goals for the next 3-5 years
Expand Access to Education
Provide annual scholarships and financial support so students can enroll, stay in school, and finish.
Strengthen Community Partnerships
Build formal partnerships with schools, shelters, youth programs, and colleges for referrals and wrap-around support.
Increase Organizational Capacity
Grow a professional team, board, and volunteer network to support program growth and community impact.
Grow Sustainable Funding
Develop diverse funding through grants, individual and recurring donors, corporate partners, and endowments.
Evaluate and Demonstrate Impact
Track academic progress, well-being, and long-term success, and share results in an annual impact report.
Our three-year plan
Year 1
- Launch the Scholarship Fund
- Build partnerships with schools and shelters
- Establish board committees
- Begin a pilot tutoring and mentoring program
Year 2
- Expand scholarships and emergency assistance
- Develop a strong evaluation system
- Launch community awareness campaigns
- Hire additional staff
Year 3
- Grow the endowment
- Expand to additional counties
- Publish an annual community impact study
Leadership and accountability
The Marshall Heritage is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that provides oversight, policy development, and strategic direction, leads fundraising, and ensures mission alignment and ethical compliance. As we grow, our staff will include an Executive Director, Program Manager, Scholarship Coordinator, Finance and Compliance Manager, and Case Managers, supported by mentors, tutors, and community volunteers.
We are committed to transparency. We will measure students served, scholarships awarded, graduation and college enrollment rates, and stability outcomes, and publish an annual impact report for our community.
The Marshall Heritage is a nonprofit organization. EIN: 41-2834198.