Mary Black Foundation Inc
The Mary Black Foundation is an independent grantmaking organization based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, focused on improving the health and well-being of the people and communities of Spartanburg County. The Foundation was established in 1986 as a fundraising arm of Mary Black Memorial Hospital and became an independent grantmaking foundation in 1996 following the hospital's sale to Quorum Health Group, Inc. for $62 million. The Foundation operates with a staff of 8 employees and maintains a permanent home in a renovated former Duke Power building on East Main Street in Spartanburg.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$87.1M
+1.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
-14.1% YoY
Grant Count
43
-29.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+21.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Vision: Spartanburg County is a welcoming and connected community where all residents can achieve health and well-being.
Mission: To increase opportunities for health and well-being through strategic investments in the people and communities of Spartanburg County.
Core Values:
- Impact: Results improve and transform people's lives
- Collaboration: Connecting with others to strengthen the community
- Accountability: Responsible stewardship of Foundation assets
- Respect: Open, inclusive, and caring approach
- Equity: All people should have the opportunity to succeed
Funding Priorities:
The Foundation prioritizes investments supporting high-quality early life experiences and uses a holistic, multi-generation approach that invests in both children and the adults who care for them. Current funding strategies focus on:
- Early Childhood Development
- Active Living
- Community Health initiatives
Within these strategies, the Foundation prioritizes initiatives that:
- Focus on the earliest years of life, beginning with prenatal care
- Tackle root causes of issues and create long-lasting change
- Take a holistic and multi-generation approach
Grantmaking
In 2026, the Mary Black Foundation awarded $1,315,000 to 22 nonprofit organizations focused on maternal and infant health, family support, and early childhood education. Notable 2026 grants included:
Review Cycle
** The Foundation offers grant funding opportunities annually to 501(c)(3) organizations serving Spartanburg County, SC. The application process begins with an inquiry form submission, followed by invitation to full application for selected organizations.
Invitation Only
begins with an inquiry form submission, followed by invitation to full application for selected organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Mary Black Foundation restricts all funding to Spartanburg County, South Carolina. This locally-focused approach concentrates resources within a county with a population of less than 300,000.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total Assets (2023): $85.7 million
- Total Liabilities (2023): $3.33 million
- Revenue (2023): $2.48 million
- Expenses (2023): $6.25 million
- Annual Revenue: $18.1 million
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; tax-exempt since October 1987 (EIN: 57-0843135)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $87,083,540 | $85,731,539 | $83,278,061 |
| Revenue | $2,371,250 | $2,479,810 | $9,053,324 |
| Expenses | $3,669,061 | $6,251,218 | $5,032,340 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,220,973 | $4,603,579 | $4,325,248 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,728,394 | $1,685,957 | $1,566,164 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,118,478 | $3,962,523 | $3,705,851 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
242 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Mary Black Foundation Inc
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Molly Talbot-Metz: President and CEO
- Kathy Dunleavy: CEO
- Mary Kathryn Snead: Chief Financial Officer
- Natalia Valenzuela Swanson: Senior Program Director
- Polly Padgett: Adolescent Health Program Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCOTT NEELY | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| DR KOFI APPIAH | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| SLOAN EVANS | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 1 | — |
| DR LAURA BARBAS RHODEN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DR RUSSELL BOOKER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KAREN CALHOUN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ANNA CONVERSE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DR JULIE FOWLER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DR EBONY GAFFNEY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LAURA HENTHORN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ED MEMMOTT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DR NAYEF SAMHAT | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BERNARD WHEELER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MOLLY TALBOT-METZ | PRESIDENT/CEO | 37.5 | $200,750 |
| MARY KATHRYN SNEAD | CFO | 37.5 | $129,750 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Foundation has demonstrated consistent annual grantmaking activity, awarding over $1 million in grants in recent funding cycles. In 2026, the Foundation awarded $1,315,000 across 22 organizations, reflecting ongoing commitment to maternal and infant health, family support services, and early childhood education initiatives in Spartanburg County.
The Mary Black Foundation Awards Over $1.3 Million in Grants | OneSpartanburg,The Foundation's work includes long-term impact investments, such as its 15+ year investment in BirthMatters, a community doula services program that has served over 750 families and played a major role in improving birth outcomes in Spartanburg.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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