GardHouse Secures up to $60,000 Social Venture Partners Investee Grant to Further Economic Mobility Among College Students of Color
GardHouse is a Charlotte-based nonprofit that creates a seamless pipeline to employment for underserved college students. They provide paid semester-long internships, career coaching, and other professional development opportunities. GardHouse was awarded SVP Charlotte’s Investee grant in 2024. Over the next three years, GardHouse will receive three payments of $20,000 in annual, unrestricted funds and access to a dedicated team of SVP donor volunteers who will provide their time, skills, expertise, and social capital to help further the organization’s mission to increase post-graduate employment opportunities for students of color.
Jonathan Gardner, the Founder and Executive Director of GardHouse, expressed pride in the continued partnership with SVP Charlotte and gratitude for their recognition of the organization’s valuable work.
“These funds will help expand our internal capacity to serve more students. This grant from SVP Charlotte is another example of the tremendous community support GardHouse has received toward our mission of increasing post-graduate employment opportunities for college students of color by maximizing work-based programming.”
GardHouse, established in 2019, has already made significant strides in collaboration with local businesses and nonprofits, including the Latin American Chamber of Commerce and 100 Black Men of Charlotte. Through partnerships, GardHouse provides 10-week paid internships and financial literacy workshops, benefiting over 200 students since its inception.
GardHouse initially connected with SVP Charlotte through the 2023 SEED20 program, SVP Charlotte’s annual pitch program. Gardner, selected as one of the ten nonprofit entrepreneurs, participated in the signature program spanning several months that included training, coaching, feedback, and mentoring to enhance the impactful storytelling of GardHouse’s mission.
Kristin Winkle Beck, Executive Director at SVP Charlotte, expressed excitement about working alongside GardHouse once again, stating,
“GardHouse is on a notable trajectory, and we’re excited to work alongside them over the next couple of years to help amplify their work. Not only is a college degree important but also access to meaningful internships. That really resonated with our partners because many can point to an internship experience that was game-changing for their careers.”
The SVP Investee Grant signifies more than financial support; it represents a collective commitment to strengthen local nonprofits like GardHouse, contributing to a better Charlotte for all.
To read GardHouse’s Midyear report for 2024, click here.
