Upstate Forever is a left-of-center environmental activist group and land trust that holds tens of thousands of acres in perpetuity for the purpose of limiting development. In addition to expanding its trust portfolios, the organization campaigns to reform zoning regulations to limit development, prevent the construction of infrastructure, and stop the expansion of electrical transmission lines and gas pipelines. ^{1 2 3}

Founding and History

Upstate Forever was founded by an environmental lawyer named Brad Wyche in 1998. The organization has been heavily involved in environmental issues in the 10 counties that make up upstate South Carolina: Abbeville, Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, and Union. In addition to its environmental activism and lobbying activities, it is a land trust with 28,000 acres spread across 140 properties that result from land easement agreements. ⁴

Activities

Upstate Forever’s activities are founded on generally left-of-center values focused on the environment. The organization claims that it is not opposed to development per se but argues that more planning and restrictions on development are needed to protect the environment. ⁵

Upstate Forever pursues its environmental goals through conservation easements, through which landowners hand over certain development rights to their land in perpetuity (sometimes in exchange for tax benefits) with Upstate Forever promising to protect the land from being developed, in theory forever, to the holder of the easement. As of 2023, Upstate Forever holds the easement on over 30,000 acres of land. ^{6 7}

Other campaigns include activism to influence land use planning in the region, attempts to prevent the construction of electricity transmission lines, advocacy for solar power, and campaigns against the construction of pipelines. ^{8 9 10}

Notably, Upstate Forever has embraced the idea of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and has implemented various programs and organizational changes to be more focused on race in both its activities and hiring. ¹¹

Finances

In the fiscal year 2022, Upstate Forever reported $2,494,400 in revenue, of which $2,328,556 was derived from contributions and grants, $22,250 from program service revenue, and $143,594 from investment income. The organization had $2,690,777 in expenses, of which $7,950 was allocated to grants and $1,826,841 was paid out for salaries and compensation. It ended the year with a deficit of $196,377 and net assets of $7,413,490. ¹²

Leadership

Andrea Cooper is the executive director of Upstate Forever. She has worked for a variety of nonprofit organizations around the country and with the U.S. Agency for International Development. ¹³

Before founding Upstate Forever, Brad Wyche was an environmental lawyer. He worked as the executive director of the organization from its founding in 1998 until 2015, after which he worked as an advisor. Wyche has written that he is happy that there has been economic and population growth in upstate South Carolina but has complained about the emergence of low-density housing, “grotesque commercial strip development,” and “massive seas of asphalt” and stated that the purpose of the organization is to ensure that the region does not become like Atlanta. ^{14 15}

1. “About Upstate Forever.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/about.
2. “25 Highlights from 25 Years.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/blog/25-years/25-highlights-from-25-years.
3. “Upstate Forever – Land Planning & Policy Program.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/land-planning-and-policy.
4. “About Upstate Forever.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/about.
5. “Upstate Forever – FAQ.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/faq.
6. “Upstate Forever – FAQ.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/faq.
7. “25 Highlights from 25 Years.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/blog/25-years/25-highlights-from-25-years.
8. “25 Highlights from 25 Years.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/blog/25-years/25-highlights-from-25-years.
9. “Upstate Forever – Energy.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/energy.
10. “Upstate Forever – Land Planning & Policy Program.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/land-planning-and-policy.
11. “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Progress Report.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/blog/connecting-people-to-nature/diversity-equity-inclusion-progress-report.
12. Upstate Forever, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990). 2021, Part I.
13. “Andrea Cooper.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/team/andrea-cooper.
14. ^[1] “Brad Wyche.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/team/brad-wyche.
15. “Upstate Forever – A Message from Our Founder, Brad Wyche.” Upstate Forever. Accessed October 9, 2023. https://www.upstateforever.org/message-from-founder.