The Columbia Chamber of Commerce formed the Riverbanks Foundation (Navigating Good to Great) in order to generate funding otherwise unavailable for programs benefiting the Chamber, its members and the community. Because of the Foundation's tax exempt status under IRS Code Section 501(c)3, donations from individuals and corporations to the Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Mission:  The Riverbanks Foundation (Navigating Good to Great) is a non-profit 501(c) 3 affiliate of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce championing the educational, culture, and economic interests of the Midlands Region.

Vision:  To enhance the quality of life for residents and workers in the Riverbanks Region by fostering sustainable community development, supporting business growth, preserving the region's reputation, and promoting intergovernmental collaboration.

Current Riverbanks Foundation Programming:

Midlands Business Accelerator: The Midlands Business Accelerator (MBA) is a program of the Columbia Chamber in partnership with the South Carolina Business Accelerator. The South Carolina Business Accelerator is a statewide initiative formed by the Greenville Chamber, the Charleston Metro Chamber, and the Columbia Chamber.

The initiative provides opportunities for economic growth and prosperity for high-potential firms. MBA is the Columbia Chamber's major economic development tool designed to make businesses more competitive.

Leadership Columbia: Leadership Columbia is the region's signature leadership program offered through the Columbia Chamber. Since its inception in 1972, Leadership Columbia has nurtured and engaged the leadership skills of current and potential leaders by providing diverse opportunities for professional development, community involvement, and networking.

The 10-month program includes a required two-day retreat, nine monthly day-long sessions, a collaborative class project, and a variety of enrichment activities all designed to educate participants on critical issues facing the community while providing opportunities for deeper involvement in and around the greater Columbia region. Through hands-on experiences, Leadership Columbia participants fully explore topics including: education; politics and government; arts and culture; economic development; health and human services; criminal justice and law enforcement; military affairs; recreation; and the environment and tourism.

Each year approximately 60 professionals are selected to participate in the class based on community involvement, capacity for leadership, commitment to improving the Midlands, and an interest in enhancing their leadership skills. The selection process is competitive, with candidates completing an online application and an in-person interview that are evaluated by a panel of Leadership Columbia alumni. Upon graduation, class participants are invited and encouraged to join the more than 2,000 alumni serving the Midlands and communities all over the United States.

Campus Leaders: Campus Leaders is a three-month program by the Columbia Chamber that builds leadership and networking skills through mentorship and industry exposure. Students gain valuable connections and explore career opportunities in the Columbia area.

Throughout the program, Campus Leaders participants must attend and complete a required orientation and monthly day-long sessions. Participants will study the qualities that make an effective leader, analyze individual leadership roles, and assess their personal leadership style and skills. They are then challenged to apply their skills by taking leadership roles in Columbia after graduation. 

Launch Cola: Attracting and retaining a skilled workforce is a critical challenge facing employers in the Columbia area. In response to this challenge, the Columbia Chamber is facilitating a business- led approach to shrink the skills gap and strengthen our workforce through strategic, data-driven talent recruitment and workforce development initiatives.

Recognizing that work-based learning benefits students, employers, schools, and the community, the Columbia Chamber is partnering with Richland District Two to pilot LaunchCOLA for Summer 2025 employment. LaunchCOLA is the expansion of an initiative from the Greenville Chamber called LaunchGVL. This initiative connects high school students with paid work opportunities with Columbia businesses. Students will launch their careers and enter the workforce and college more equipped to succeed. As participating businesses supplement their workforce with energetic students, they also create a talent pipeline to fill the jobs of the future and close the growing skills gap.

Advocacy: The Columbia Chamber supports working together with all constituents of the local community to foster a superior quality of life and safe environment. We collaborate with elected officials and community partners to encourage transparency, inclusivity, economic development, the creation of new jobs and expansion of existing businesses.