The Foundation awards grants to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies working to improve the health and wellness of the people of Spartanburg County. Agencies that are located outside of Spartanburg County may apply if the proposed project will benefit primarily the residents of Spartanburg County.

The Foundation awards grants to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies working to improve the health and well-being of the people of Spartanburg County. Agencies that are located outside of Spartanburg County may apply if the proposed project will benefit primarily the residents of Spartanburg County.

Like other private foundations, the Mary Black Foundation is ethically and legally bound to spend a minimum of 5% of our total assets on charitable activities, including grants. The Foundation’s goal is to fund as many high-impact projects as possible while continuing the legacy of the Foundation to benefit our community for the long-term. The annual grants budget depends significantly on the Foundation’s investment returns; however, the average annual grantmaking is over $2 million.

The Foundation does provide multi-year funding depending on the specific grant request. We encourage you to reach out to the Foundation for guidance on available grant funding.

The grant review process takes approximately 105 days. Once a grant is approved, generally, grant funds are available within 15 – 30 days.

The Foundation has one grant cycle in a single year, and organizations should submit no more than one application for a given grant cycle. At times, the Foundation may provide additional grant funding to organizations outside of the responsive grant cycle. These funds are Foundation directed.

Yes, if the preschool program is operated by an eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or governmental agency.  To apply for funding, child development, child care, or preschool programs must (1) be licensed or registered by the SC Department of Social Services, (2) participate in SC’s ABC Quality program, and (3) participate in Spartanburg’s Quality Counts initiative.

The Foundation prefers that individual schools not apply directly. However, schools are encouraged to talk with their district superintendent about the needs of the school. Superintendents should determine if the needs are a priority for the district and whether the request for funding is appropriate.

We prioritize relationships with our funded partners and learning through our grantmaking. To that end, we will schedule regular check-ins and a site visit, as well as ask questions about the number of people served and how the funded work has impacted our community.

The Mary Black Foundation makes an effort to minimize sponsorships so that it can use its resources to provide direct assistance to nonprofit organizations through grants and organizational capacity building efforts. However, on a very limited basis, the Foundation will sponsor events or conferences.

Click HERE to learn more about sponsorship guidelines.