# Mary Black Foundation

Mary Black Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Spartanburg, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Spartanburg, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 349 East Main Street, Suite 100, Spartanburg, SC 29302, United States
- **Founded:** 1996
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** maryblackfoundation.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/mary-black-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Founded in 1996, the Mary Black Foundation operates as an independent grantmaking organization tied to Spartanburg, South Carolina. President and CEO Molly Talbot-Metz leads the entity, which concentrates its entire mission on improving health and well-being within Spartanburg County. Its funding originates from the legacy of Mary Black, a local textile heiress. The foundation's investment strategy blends traditional grantmaking with direct real estate ownership to pursue its mission. Asset classes include commercial and mixed-use real estate, infrastructure, and private fund commitments. The organization owns its headquarters at 349 East Main Street and holds positions in projects tied to community development, such as The Franklin School and Northside Station. Its fund portfolio includes a stake in Macquarie Infrastructure Partners II International, LP and the Trumbull Property Fund LP. The geographic footprint remains exclusively Spartanburg County. Team size and total deployment figures are not publicly disclosed. The foundation's professional network includes membership in Mission Investors Exchange and the Southeastern Council of Foundations. In 2023, MacKenzie Scott donated $8 million to the foundation, a significant liquidity event that bolstered its grantmaking capacity.

## Sectors

- Healthcare Services
- Education
- Real Estate

## People

- Molly Talbot-Metz — President and CEO

## Questions

### How does the Mary Black Foundation source its deals?

The foundation's pipeline is determined by its singular geographic focus: Spartanburg County, SC. Real estate acquisitions, such as The Franklin School and Northside Station, are sourced to support physical community development. Grantmaking targets local health and education nonprofits. Its network ties, including the SC Grantmakers Network, reinforce local deal flow.

### Does the foundation invest only in Spartanburg County?

Its mission and direct real estate holdings focus exclusively on Spartanburg County. However, the foundation also holds stakes in commingled funds with global mandates, such as Macquarie Infrastructure Partners II International, LP. This creates a hybrid model of hyper-local direct deployment and diversified fund commitments.

### How is the foundation's real estate portfolio distinct from a typical endowment's?

The foundation owns and operates real estate as a programmatic tool rather than strictly as a financial asset. Holdings include The Franklin School and Northside Station, which serve community functions. Its headquarters at 349 East Main Street is also an owned asset, reflecting a balance-sheet approach that embeds mission directly into property holdings.

## Related profiles

- [Reiman Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/reiman-foundation)
- [2040 Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/2040-foundation-inc)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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