As the Greenville Area Community Foundation (GACF) was getting started, Char Lothian was invited to join the Board of Trustees to represent the arts. Stepping into this leadership role, she hoped her background as a music teacher and her involvement in local theater and the arts would be an asset to grantmaking decisions. Little did she know she would serve in the role for 30 years, helping guide the organization’s growing resources to sustain and expand its mission for years to come. 

One of the biggest surprises for Char was how quickly the idea of a community foundation resonated with local residents. “I hoped we would be able to be “difference makers” in our area,” she shared, “The incoming community donations enabled us to award grants sooner than I could imagine.” She recalls the very first grant—a modest copy machine—and compares it to the larger grantmaking now available, demonstrating the foundation’s significant progress. “Growing resources enable the GACF to make multiple grants, and larger grants that truly make a difference in our community, in education, health, human welfare, the arts, and so many other facets that affect all lives in our community.”   

Perhaps most meaningful to Char was the creation of the Greenville Youth Advisory Council (GYAC), established through local fundraising and a match from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Run by local students grades 7-12, GYAC members manage grants for youth-oriented organizations, giving them an early education in philanthropy. 

Reflecting on her leadership at GACF, Char takes pride in the way the foundation has become a safe, trusted place for residents to invest in their community’s future. The foundation motto “For Good, For Ever” resonates with her, as it represents the enduring difference a donation can make. Through careful stewardship, local funds are making a lasting impact—just as she had envisioned. 

As GACF celebrates its 35th anniversary, we bring together the collective stories of donors, nonprofits, students, and community members to demonstrate the power of philanthropy in creating lasting impact and a stronger future. 

To celebrate Char’s years of service to GACF, please consider a gift to the Lothian Fund for Youth.