About Us

In 1996, the Mary Black Foundation was established as an independent grantmaking organization focused on improving the health and wellness of the people and communities of Spartanburg County, SC.

In 2002, the Mary Black Foundation selected active living and early childhood development as its two priority areas. The Foundation selected these priorities after careful research, planning, and deliberation. The process included reviewing lessons learned from past grantmaking, examining public health research, analyzing national and local data, and seeking input from a cross-section of community stakeholders and public health experts on the issues affecting the health and wellness of Spartanburg County.

Although the Mary Black Foundation has gathered a significant amount of information about active living and early childhood development, we continue to learn about these priority areas from grantees, research, and other organizations and individuals.

In addition to its priority areas, the Foundation allocates a smaller portion of its grantmaking to the Community Health Fund to support general health and wellness.

To learn more about the history of the Foundation and its former affiliation with the Mary Black Hospital, click here.

To view a slideshow celebrating 15 years of grantmaking, click here: 2011 Trustee Dinner Slideshow.