LB Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $1,116,067 (2023)
Total Assets: $67.1 million (2024)
Grant Range: Estimated $50,000 - $665,000+ (based on recent awards)
Number of Grants: 10 grants (2023)
Geographic Focus: Primarily Greenville, SC area
Foundation Type: Private corporate foundation (Lockheed Martin)

Contact Details

Address: Post Office Box 9179, Greenville, SC 29604
Phone: (864) 233-8449
EIN: 84-3411455
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) Private Grantmaking Foundation

Note: No public website identified for this foundation.

Overview

The LB Foundation is a private corporate foundation affiliated with Lockheed Martin, established in 2019 and based in Greenville, South Carolina. The foundation has grown significantly since its inception, with total assets reaching $67.1 million in 2024, up from just $1 million in 2019. This growth was driven by a substantial $63.3 million contribution in 2022. The foundation operates as a private grantmaking entity focusing on capital and program initiatives that benefit the Greenville community. With no full-time employees, the foundation appears to be managed by a small board of directors who exercise discretion in selecting grant recipients. The foundation's revenue primarily comes from investment income, including interest (61.1%) and dividends (32.7%), allowing it to make substantial grants to local nonprofit organizations working on community development, social services, and related areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The LB Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with named categories. Instead, it makes discretionary grants focused on:

Capital and Program Initiatives - The foundation provides both capital grants (for buildings, equipment, infrastructure) and program grants (for ongoing operations and services)

Priority Areas

Based on recent grantmaking activity, the foundation supports:

Community Development: Organizations working on neighborhood revitalization and community improvement
Social Services: Programs serving vulnerable populations, including formerly incarcerated individuals
Youth Programs: Organizations providing youth employment and educational opportunities
Food Security: Urban farming and affordable produce distribution initiatives
Social Justice: Programs addressing systemic injustice and creating pathways to economic flourishing

Known Grant Recipients (Recent)

Soteria Community Development Corporation: $665,400 total ($392,000 capital grant + $273,400 program grant) - Organization serving previously incarcerated individuals through transitional housing, life skills, and job training
Mill Village Ministries (Mill Community Ministries): $365,656 program grant - Faith-based organization operating social enterprises including urban farming, bicycle services, community organizing, and entrepreneur support

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions have not been publicly documented by the foundation.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by a small board of directors:

Laura Bell, President - Receives $150,000 compensation
Beverly Nash Heidlberg, Vice President - Receives $50,000 compensation
Eric Englebardt, Director - Volunteer position (no compensation)

The foundation operates with no full-time employees, suggesting that grantmaking decisions are made directly by the board of directors.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The LB Foundation operates as a private corporate foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion. There is no public application portal, published guidelines, or open submission process for organizations seeking funding.

Grants appear to be awarded based on:

Board member identification of worthy organizations
Strategic alignment with the foundation's community development focus
Lockheed Martin's corporate philanthropic priorities in the Greenville area

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's affiliation with Lockheed Martin suggests potential strategies:

Lockheed Martin Greenville Connection: The foundation appears connected to Lockheed Martin's Greenville operations, which has been present in the area for over 35 years. Organizations serving communities where Lockheed Martin employees live and work may be of interest.
Community Impact Visibility: Organizations making measurable impact in the Greenville area on issues like workforce development, youth services, and community revitalization may attract the foundation's attention through their demonstrated results.
Professional Networks: Given that Eric Englebardt (a board director) works as a mediator in the Greenville area and can be reached at (864) 232-2329 or through www.nadn.org/eric-englebardt, there may be professional or community networks where foundation leaders are active.

Note: Any outreach should be respectful of the foundation's private nature and made without expectation of a response or grant consideration.

Decision Timeline

No public information available regarding decision timelines or board meeting schedules.

Success Rates

With only 10 grants made in 2023 from a private foundation with no public application process, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following factors appear relevant for organizations that may be considered:

Geographic Alignment: All identified grant recipients are based in Greenville, SC, suggesting a strong local focus.

Substantial Grant Sizes: Recent grants ranged from approximately $365,000 to $665,000, indicating the foundation prefers to make significant investments rather than numerous small grants. Organizations should be prepared to use substantial funding effectively.

Community Development Focus: Both identified recipients (Soteria CDC and Mill Village Ministries) work on comprehensive community development rather than single-issue programs, suggesting the foundation values holistic approaches to community challenges.

Social Enterprise and Innovation: Mill Village Ministries operates multiple social enterprises, suggesting the foundation may appreciate innovative, sustainable approaches to social problems rather than traditional charity models.

Measurable Community Impact: Organizations that can demonstrate clear, measurable improvements in community conditions and individual lives appear to align with the foundation's priorities.

Alignment with Corporate Values: As a Lockheed Martin corporate foundation, alignment with STEM education, workforce development, and veteran services may be advantageous, though this is not explicitly documented.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Direct Application Path: This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant application processes. Organizations should focus their efforts on funders with public application processes.
Significant Financial Capacity: With $67.1 million in assets and over $1 million in annual giving, the foundation has substantial resources but chooses to make a small number of large grants rather than many small ones.
Local Focus: The foundation appears exclusively focused on Greenville, SC area organizations. Out-of-area nonprofits should not expect consideration.
Corporate Foundation Identity: Understanding Lockheed Martin's presence in Greenville and corporate philanthropic priorities may provide insight into the foundation's values, though direct connection is not publicly documented.
Rapid Growth: The foundation experienced dramatic asset growth in 2022, suggesting it may be positioned to increase its grantmaking in future years.
Community Development Priority: Recent grants strongly suggest a focus on organizations addressing poverty, workforce development, community revitalization, and social justice issues.
Limited Transparency: With no public website, application guidelines, or detailed information about decision-making processes, this foundation maintains a very private profile typical of small family or corporate foundations.

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - LB Foundation (EIN: 84-3411455)
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/843411455
Accessed: January 2026
Cause IQ - LB Foundation Profile
https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/lb-foundation,843411455/
Accessed: January 2026
Instrumentl - LB Foundation 990 Report
https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/lb-foundation
Accessed: January 2026
Charity Navigator - LB Foundation Profile
https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/843411455
Accessed: January 2026
Soteria Community Development Corporation website
https://www.soteriacdc.org/
Accessed: January 2026
Mill Community Ministries website
http://www.millcommunity.org/
Accessed: January 2026
Lockheed Martin - Greenville Partnership for Philanthropy
https://greenvillephilanthropy.org/funder-directory/lockheed-martin/
Accessed: January 2026