The LB Research and Education Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1997 and designated as a 501(c)(3) organization. The foundation maintains offices in Asheville, North Carolina, and manages substantial assets to support its philanthropic mission across the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.0M
-1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-1.3% YoY
Grant Count
26
-3.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
+2.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Lb Research and Education reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation fosters creativity, research, and education for people of every discipline and culture, empowering them with opportunities to further themselves and enable them to make an impact in their community.
Primary funding areas include:
- Education: The foundation supports inventive approaches that boost engagement and achievement for underserved populations. It values approaches that foster independent and critical thinking, activate creativity, or offer alternatives to traditional approaches, rubrics, or programs.
- Research
- Human Services
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications. Grant professionals are encouraged to reach out to the foundation to schedule a meeting to introduce their organization and program, learn about the funder's priorities, and discuss proposal structure and appropriate funding amounts.
Grant Range
of $25,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations throughout the United States, with particular activity in:
- California
- New York
- Ohio
- Additional states including: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $32,607,471
- Total Expenses: $1,932,003
- Total Revenue: -$35,055
- Annual Giving Rate: Approximately 2.5% of assets
Staff: The foundation operates with zero employees.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,036,011 | $32,607,471 | $34,574,529 |
| Revenue | $1,347,335 | $-35,055 | $1,159,531 |
| Expenses | $1,918,795 | $1,932,003 | $2,047,679 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,583,965 | $1,658,783 | $1,709,292 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,090,772 | $619,443 | $821,144 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,814,254 | $1,696,230 | $1,748,944 |
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
102 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Lb Research and Education
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Cincinnati Foundation ($420,000), Ohio State University Foundation ($300,000), Harmony Project of Los Angeles ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAPTIST HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION MONTGOMERY, AL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| BAY AREA VIDEO COALITION SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BLALOCK FOUNDATION SANTA MONICA, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $40,000 |
| CATALYST FOR CHANGE BIG TIMBER, MT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $60,000 |
| CLEVER COMMUNITIES NORFOLK, VA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| CLOSE TIES LEADERSHIP ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF WESTERN NC ASHEVILLE, NC | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| DOCTORS OF THE WORLD NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| EMPOWERED NETWORK NEW LONDON, CT | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Constantine Athanasuleas (Director)
- Nicole Buckberg (President)
- Gia Buckberg (Secretary)
- Mark Doherty (Treasurer)
- Peter Marks (listed as contact person)
All leadership team members serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONSTANTINE ATHANASULEAS | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MARK DOHERTY | TREASURER | — | — |
| GIA BUCKBERG | SECRETARY | — | — |
| NICOLE BUCKBERG | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| LARRY MEYER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ELYSE WYMAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PATRICIA FULKERSON | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ART PODELL | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| PETER MARKS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 20 | $78,268 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to accept grant applications and maintains an active grantmaking program. Recent grant awards demonstrate ongoing support for medical education scholarships and youth mentoring initiatives.
Grant opportunity for non-profits to support operating expenses and ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Lb Research and Education fund?
The foundation fosters creativity, research, and education for people of every discipline and culture, empowering them with opportunities to further themselves and enable them to make an impact in their community. **Primary funding areas include:** • **Education**: The foundation supports inventive approaches that boost engagement and achievement for underserved populations. It values approaches that foster independent and critical thinking, activate creativity, or offer alternatives to traditi…
How do I apply for a grant from The Lb Research and Education?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 25 grants in 2023, with a median grant size of $25,000 • Grant range: $10,000–$420,000 • Total giving in 2023: $825,000 • Historical giving in 2022: $863,000 across 24 grants **Recent Grant Examples (2023):** • University of Cincinnati Foundation: $420,000 (Medical Student Scholarships) • Ohio State University Foundation: $300,000 (Medical Student Scholarships) • Youth Mentoring Connection: $75,000 (General Support) **Application Process:** The foundati…
Where does The Lb Research and Education make grants?
The foundation supports organizations throughout the United States, with particular activity in: • California • New York • Ohio • Additional states including: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Washington
What size grants does The Lb Research and Education award?
In 2024, The Lb Research and Education awarded 26 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Lb Research and Education required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Lb Research and Education reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Lb Research and Education's EIN?
The Lb Research and Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4664361. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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