Mary Black Foundation

08/26/2026

The Mary Black Foundation was recently featured on WYFF as we celebrate three decades of impact in Spartanburg County. Four of our partners joined Molly and Rochelle to share how the Foundation has grown from its first significant grant as a private foundation to Middle Tyger Community Center to over $74.5 million dollars invested in hundreds of nonprofit organizations in Spartanburg County working to improve the lives of children and their families.

View the segment here: https://www.wyff4.com/article/4-the-record-mary-black-foundation-celebrates-30-years/73513139

Thank you to our partners for joining us!
Emily Bartels - Reach Out and Read South Carolina
Dawn Dowden - Homes of Hope
Wanda Fowler - Middle Tyger Community Center
Keisha Gray - Spartanburg Academic Movement

The Foundation has been working in the Spartanburg community for 3 decades

08/15/2026

One of the hardest questions in philanthropy is when to invest in specific places and when to invest community-wide.

In our latest Open Philanthropy article, Senior Director of Community Impact, Natalia Valenzuela Swanson, shares about our recent research on place-based funding in Spartanburg — what we learned, how it's informing changes to our grantmaking, and what we're still figuring out.

Read the full article: https://maryblackfoundation.org/2026/08/11/open-philanthropy-place-based-funding/

08/12/2026

Mark your calendar with these important upcoming grant cycle dates!

A link to our inquiry form will be live on our grantmaking webpage on September 22. This short online form should take about 10 minutes to complete and will let us know how your work is aligned with ours. After inquiry forms are reviewed, organizations asked to move on to phase two will be given instructions on how to complete the full application (October 14-November 6).

08/06/2026

For the past 18 months, we've been pulling back the curtain on how we do our work, make funding decisions, why we structure things the way we do, and what we're still figuring out.

In the latest issue of Philanthropy Southeast's Inspiration magazine, we reflect on why we started this journey toward greater transparency and what we've learned along the way.

Read the full article:https://maryblackfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Spring-2026-PSE-Inspiration-Speaking-Up-Open-Philanthropy-article.pdf

07/29/2026

President & CEO Molly Talbot-Metz recently joined the Who's on the Move Entrepreneur Minute podcast to talk about the work of the Mary Black Foundation.

The conversation explores how community partnerships, long-term investments, and a commitment to listening have all been part of how the Foundation has helped to create lasting change over the past 30 years.

🎧Listen here: https://whosonthemove.com/entrepreneur-minute-molly-talbot-metz-the-mary-black-foundation/

07/16/2026

Strong nonprofits start with strong leaders. Last month, we celebrated the graduates of the 2025-2026 Launch Carolinas Leadership Accelerator Program. We are especially proud to have supported Patrena Mims, executive director of the The Bethlehem Center- Spartanburg, through this experience.

Rochelle Williams, the Foundation's chief strategy officer and VP of community impact, also participated as a philanthropic and strategic thought partner.

This program is a good reminder that investing in nonprofit leadership is one of the most meaningful ways to strengthen our communities.

Read more: https://maryblackfoundation.org/2026/07/15/investing-in-leaders-across-the-carolinas/

07/14/2026

Last month, our community came together to learn about Vital Spartanburg, the new county-wide behavioral health plan. This action plan will address the mental health crisis in Spartanburg through action, support, and coordination of services (new and existing).

For nearly two years, the Foundation has helped shape this work; not only through a $6 million commitment, but by working alongside partners to help develop the plan.

It was great to see so many trustees, staff, and community partners gathered in support of this shared vision and commitment. We're excited to see early progress already underway and look forward to what's ahead as we work together to improve mental and behavioral health outcomes across Spartanburg County.

Learn more: vitalspartanburg.org

07/10/2026

Child care isn't just a family issue. It's an economic issue, a workforce issue, and community issue. In a recent op-ed, Mary Black Foundation's Director of Community Impact, Haley Wicker, explores what's at stake as South Carolina's child care infrastructure continues to crack and why it matters to all of us. Full story below.

Spartanburg’s Mary Black Foundation is studying what other states and cities have done to promote more affordable child care, which helps not only young families but also local economies.

07/07/2026

For 30 years, the Mary Black Foundation has invested in the people and communities of Spartanburg County. This milestone isn't just about looking back, it's about recognizing the people, partnerships, and shared vision that continues to shape our community.

📰 Thank you to Post and Courier Spartanburg for highlighting the Foundation's 30 years of impact. Read the full story:

Since it began its work 30 years ago, the Mary Black Foundation has shaped the health and wellness of the Spartanburg community by investing millions of dollars and bringing together local partners.

06/12/2026

Join us in welcoming our summer intern, Laila Suarez! A recent Dorman High School graduate and future psychology student at the University of South Carolina, Laila is passionate about helping others and is excited to learn more about community impact in Spartanburg this summer. We're glad to have her on the team!