In 1996, the Mary Black Foundation was established as an independent grantmaking organization in Spartanburg County, SC.

In 2002, the Mary Black Foundation selected active living and early childhood development as its two funding 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 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 will continue to learn about these priority areas from grantees, research, and other organizations and individuals.