About Upward Unlimited
Promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports.
Focus Areas
Sports ministryYouth developmentFaith-based community outreachChurch partnershipsVolunteer engagement
Who They Fund
children and youth (including grades 5–12)college students and campus communitieschildren of incarcerated parentsfoster children and residential orphansformerly incarcerated / incarcerated individualscoaches and student-athletespeople with disabilities (adults and children)underserved / low-income Greenville-area communities
About Upward Unlimited
Upward Unlimited’s recent grants show a ministry strategy built around sports, church partnerships, and gospel outreach, with the largest award of $1,391,632 going to Samaritan's Purse for general support. In 2025, the foundation also made a $450,000 grant to Church at the Mill for new churches and a $375,000 grant to Jumpstart USA for prison transition programs in other states, showing that its giving extends beyond athletics into church planting and reentry work. The foundation’s summary phrase, "Promoting the discovery of Jesus through sports," aligns with a portfolio that links athletic programs to discipleship, youth mentoring, and faith-based community service. Its 2025 grants also include support for campus ministry, Christian community centers, children’s homes, camps, and international mission work. The pattern is not limited to one grantee or one program type: the recent grants list includes churches, mission boards, campus ministries, and social-service ministries across South Carolina and beyond. The organization also makes program-related investments, indicating that it uses more than one capital tool in its work.
What Upward Unlimited Funds
Sports ministry is central to Upward Unlimited’s grantmaking. It gave $130,000 to the International Mission Board for "Sharing Christ Through Sports," $35,000 to WIN Awakening for "Christ-Centered Support for Coaches & Atheletes," and $31,000 to Impact Sports International for "Support Sports Missions." The foundation also backs church-linked sports programming, including $26,000 to Clark County Youth Sports Assoc Inc for "Share Christ Through Upward Programs." Youth and campus ministry are another clear theme. Recent grants include $150,000 to Young Life for "Sharing Gospel Amongst Spartanburg College Campuses" and $150,000 to Campus Outreach Columbia for "Campus Ministry at Spartanburg Methodist." It also supported youth camps with $25,000 to Grace Community Church of SC and gave $26,000 to South Carolina Baptist Convention-Camp McCall for "Evangelize, Disciple & Mentor Through Summer Camps." The portfolio also reaches into community and family support through faith-based organizations, such as grants to Miracle Hill for Christ-centered care for homeless people and Isaiah 117 House for foster children awaiting placement.
How Upward Unlimited Gives
Typical grants cluster in the low five figures, with a p25 of $10,000, a median of $15,000, and a p75 of $25,250. The recent list also includes larger, more concentrated awards at the top end, including a seven-figure grant. Upward Unlimited appears to fund through a mix of general support and program-specific support, with several awards tied to churches, ministries, and camps. The foundation makes program-related investments as well as grants. Its recent grants show repeated support in 2025 across related ministry channels, suggesting an ongoing portfolio rather than isolated one-off awards.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$3.3M
Total Assets
$50.6M
Total Revenue
$8.9M
Total Expenses
$10.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Regional15 states funded
About 59% of grants go to recipients in SC.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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