Graycliff Capital Supports Charitable Initiatives Close to the Hearts of its Employees
More than ever, today’s new graduates as well as seasoned professionals seek workplaces that foster a sense of purpose and community. At Graycliff Capital, a leading multi-family development and investment company based in downtown Greenville, the senior leadership team makes it easy for employees to get involved in charitable causes both as a group and individually.
Graycliff’s formal “Giving Back” program was co-developed by Graycliff’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Jennifer Moore and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Caitlin Steelman, two millennial executives who are passionate about making a positive impact on the communities where they work, live and do business. Through Graycliff’s charitable donation program, each Graycliff employee is given the latitude to monetarily support a charitable organization of their choice at the end of each calendar year. Every December, the company gives individual employees $1,500 to use as they choose in supporting a local non-profit.
In addition to the employee-driven component, the company steps up corporately to give back when special situations arise. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, for example, Graycliff delivered grocery items to Harvest Hope Food Bank this past spring and made a cash donation – a combined total of $500. More recently, Graycliff Capital joined property management affiliate NHE, Inc. in supporting the Urban League of the Upstate and its vision for “a thriving community where everyone has the opportunity to live, learn and work.”
Graycliff’s charitable donation program also has a service-based volunteer component. The firm’s 10 full-time staff members are encouraged to identify and coordinate at least one community service effort per year designed to engage the entire office. This results in at least one “all-in” service effort per quarter. Examples of these charitable endeavors include delivering dinners to families of hospitalized children staying at the Ronald McDonald House; reading to children through participation with Public Education Partners’ “Make Summer Count Book Celebration” and “Family Reading Night; purchasing Christmas gifts for underprivileged children through The Salvation Army Angel Tree program; and participating in the annual Dash and Bash event (every March) that benefits Greenville County’s Camp Spearhead for children with special needs.
Graycliff designated three new organizations for monetary donations in 2020. We supported the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s 9/11 Memorial Stair Climbs through the local “Climb to Remember the Fallen,” which took place at Greenville’s Fluor Field on Friday, September 11. To help with local organizations, we worked with the non-profit GirlupGVL to provide a Macbook Air for their programming needs. Later this month, our team will be participating in the “virtual” Turkey Trot to benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children®–Greenville. Unlike a traditional 5K, participants in the 2020 “Turkey Trot and Roll” do not have to run a certain distance – they simply need to get active.
Graycliff’s “making a difference” mindset is not confined to the Upstate. Beneficiaries of the charitable giving program includes those communities in South Carolina and beyond where Graycliff has built a property or owns a property – from North Augusta to Myrtle Beach to Asheville.
“This past summer, Graycliff lent a helping hand to Epworth Children’s Home in Columbia, S.C. after we saw a newspaper article about the home’s urgent need for a variety of items after their supply shed caught fire,” said Caitlin Steelman. Graycliff purchased $500 worth of “Wish List” items and sent a $500 Amazon gift card. Steelman went on to say, “I am so proud to be part of a company that truly lives out its values.”
Over the past decade, Graycliff’s geographic reach has extended beyond the Carolinas to other parts of the Southeast, including Tennessee. Graycliff’s portfolio includes multi-family communities in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as Ohio and Pennsylvania.
“It’s rewarding to know that our small group in Greenville, S.C., has the ability to help improve lives in all of the communities where we have ties, even if it’s in a small way,” noted Jennifer Moore.
Outside the office, Graycliff employees are engaged in their respective communities on a personal level. They serve as mentors to young professionals and students; sit on boards and committees for various community, civic and church organizations; and support a wide range of local non-profits through financial and service contributions. As avid supporters of education, many of Graycliff’s team members get involved in a wide array of philanthropic activities through their alma maters, including Clemson University, Furman University, and the University of South Carolina. The entire staff is looking forward to when they can resume live participation in support of the programs near to their hearts.
About Graycliff Capital Partners, LLC
Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Graycliff Capital Partners is a multi-family development and investment company with focus on the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. Since its founding in 2010, Graycliff has acquired and developed more than 10,000 apartment units, executing approximately $1.62 billion in transactions. Graycliff’s core strategy is based on investing in areas with established economic growth and high barriers to entry. Graycliff is passionate about supporting local non-profits making positive impacts in their respective communities. For more information, visit www.graycliffcapital.com.
