Bridges to a Brighter Future is funded through the endowment first established in 1997 by a woman in Greenville, who wanted to make a difference in her community. Bridges does not recieve reoccuring annual funding from the University or other outside sources.  

The endowment grows at a yearly rate of 4%.  At the same time, salary and benefits of full-time, part-time and summer staff grows at a rate of 7%, and the cost of feeding and housing students grows at a rate of 13.5%.  As a result, program costs continue to outgrow our endowment at an ever increasing rate, thus making fundraising and alternative funding sources a necessity.

The Bridges program is extremely thankful for individual and foundation support to fund current needs, expansion, and the endowment.

In 2005-2006, support was received from:

The Graham Foundation
$100,000 new endowment for art and science instruction

The Jolley Foundation
$48,000 for two-year implementation of Saturday College

Private Donor
$15,000 for five additional Bridges students

The Spinx Company

Metropolitan Arts Council

Publix Charities

Greenville County Bar Association

Southern Association of College Admission Counseling (SACAC)

As a program at Furman University, Bridges to a Brighter Future has non-profit 501(c)(3) status, therefore all gifts are tax-deductible. You can make your gift online through the Furman Develpment Office. Please be sure to list Bridges to a Brighter Future as the recipient.

You may also send checks written to Furman University for Bridges to a Brighter Future to:

Bridges to a Brighter Future
3300 Poinsett Highway
Greenville, SC 29613

Please contact Tobi Swartz at 864.294.3135 to support this valuable program.