Case Study: Strategic Partnership Between Rebuild Upstate and the Appalachian Council of Governments

This case study explores the strategic and evolving partnership between Rebuild Upstate, a nonprofit focused on aging-in-place home repairs, and the South Carolina Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG), specifically through its Area Agency on Aging (AAA). The collaboration highlights how coordinated funding, volunteer engagement, and shared goals can meaningfully improve the lives of older adults by enabling them to live safely and independently in their homes.

This partnership is of notable interest to nonprofit home repair providers, who seek to increase funding and efficacy in their aging in place programs. 

This case study is prepared by the Coalition for Home Repair with input from Tim Womack, Aging Services Director at SCACOG, and Dayle Stewart, Grant Writer and former Community Engagement Director, at Rebuild Upstate.

This is a multi-media case study, incorporating a long-form report alongside a webinar-style Q&A. 

The study includes:

• What is an Area Agency on Aging?
• Background on the organizations
• How the Partnership Began
• Formalization and Growth
• Program Operations
• Home Repair Management
• Volunteer Engagement
• Advocacy & Emerging Threats
• Outcomes & Impact

Full Case Study

• The full case study is available as a PDF.
• Download, share, or read it here.

Webinar Recording

Background on the Organizations

Rebuild Upstate
Founded in 2007, Rebuild Upstate serves Greenville, Anderson, Oconee, and Pickens Counties in South Carolina. The organization specializes in critical home repairs and accessibility modifications that allow low-income homeowners, particularly older adults, to remain safely in their homes. To date, Rebuild Upstate has:

• Completed repairs for over 2,000 older adults

• Installed more than 1,000 accessibility ramps

• Reported $1.8M in annual revenue (latest Form 990)
  
  

Appalachian Council of Governments (ACOG)
Established in 1971, ACOG supports economic development and community well-being across South Carolina’s Appalachian region. Through its AAA office, the ACOG administers aging-related programs funded under the Older Americans Act and state resources. These include:

• Home-delivered meals and nutrition programs

• Long-Term Care Ombudsman advocacy

• Family caregiver support

• Insurance counseling (SHIP)

• Minor home repair and accessibility services

Tim Womack, Aging Services Director, welcomes inquiries about AAAs and their partnership. Contact Melanie Campbell (melanie@coalitionforhomerepair.org) if your leadership has questions for Tim.