June 12, 2020 — GlobalGiving announced that SightLine has been selected to receive a $5,000 COVID-19 relief and recovery grant from The Red Backpack Fund, an opportunity for small businesses and nonprofits made possible by The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation.

“My hope is that this gift will help alleviate some of the pressures caused by this horrible pandemic. Twenty years ago, I started Spanx with $5,000 in savings, and I see this as a time to pay it forward. Small business is the backbone of our culture. I know what it’s like to be a small business owner, and I want to provide some relief to these entrepreneurs during this time,” said Spanx Founder Sara Blakely.

The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation donated $5 million to support female entrepreneurs in the wake of COVID-19 and teamed up with GlobalGiving to establish The Red Backpack Fund.

Thousands of business owners and nonprofit founders from across the United States and its territories applied to receive a grant from The Red Backpack Fund to combat economic hardship caused by COVID-19. SightLine was selected for the grant based on its outstanding application and its demonstrated capacity to overcome COVID-19 setbacks.

"We're proud to announce the grantees of The Red Backpack Fund. They have successfully undergone GlobalGiving’s rigorous vetting process, and we believe this grant will help them continue to thrive, despite the shifting economic circumstances brought on by this crisis," said GlobalGiving CEO Alix Guerrier. "The world needs more women-led organizations who are a key force in overcoming COVID-19 and establishing a better normal."

With this grant, SightLine will be better positioned to support college and university customers who are struggling through the pandemic and looking for guidance and support. Over the past few months, SightLine has collaborated with the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO), Pharos Resources and the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) to provide COVID-19 related articles and webinars. SightLine aims to be a resource for higher education institutions to overcome student retention, financial aid, and enrollment challenges which have been exacerbated by COVID-19. 

Learn more about The Red Backpack Fund at www.globalgiving.org/redbackpackfund.

About SightLine

SightLine empowers colleges and universities to help students succeed through predictive analytics. SightLine’s team is comprised of data scientists and higher education professionals who partner with colleges and universities. 

SightLine’s founder and CEO, Ashley Kern, is a data scientist turned student advocate. She has been able to apply her data science expertise to a field that can impact students' everyday lives and long term success.

About The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation

Since its inception in 2006, the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation has donated millions to charities around the world, focusing on charities that empower underserved women and girls. In 2013, Sara Blakely became the first self-made, female billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge, created by Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett, promising to give at least half her wealth to charity. In 2020, Sara and the Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation launched the Red Backpack Fund in partnership with GlobalGiving. Back by Sara Blakely, the $5 million fund supports the recovery and revitalization of female-owned businesses in the U.S. impacted by the coronavirus crisis. While many of the world’s resources are being depleted, one is waiting to be unleashed: Women. The Spanx by Sara Blakely Foundation is on a mission to support women and help them SOAR through education, entrepreneurship and the arts. Learn more at www.spanxfoundation.com.

About GlobalGiving

GlobalGiving is a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit that makes it safe and easy to support important causes around the world. When a crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic strikes, GlobalGiving quickly delivers funds to vetted organizations that are best-suited to lead immediate and long-term relief and recovery. As part of its mission to accelerate community-led change, GlobalGiving provides tools, training, and support to help nonprofits, donors, and companies increase their impact and make the world a better place. Learn more at www.globalgiving.org. 

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Media Contact:

Erin Thompson, COO, SightLine

erinthompson@sightlinedata.com