The LB Research and Education
The LB Research and Education is a private foundation based in Asheville, North Carolina. It supports work in education, health, mental health, and actionable research and evaluation in those areas, as well as legacy grants to organizations it has historically supported.
The LB Research and Education at a glance
In short: The LB Research and Education gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2024 (avg $59K), top state Ohio. 54% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,525,000
- -1.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 26
- -3.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $58,654
- +2.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $32,036,011
- -1.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 54% first-time grantees (14 of 26, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Ohio (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The LB Research and Education
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. The currently listed program directs organizations to submit a concept paper of 400 words or fewer describing their funding idea; its overview says not to submit another idea for at least six months after an inquiry. The filing describes a 300–500-word concept paper, so the stated length requirements differ.
- Review Cycle
- The currently listed program has no deadlines and uses a rolling year-round process. The 2024 filing describes a rolling quarterly grantmaking process.
- Deadline
- The currently listed program has no deadlines and uses a rolling year-round process.
- Contact
Application contact: Peter Marks
Mailing address: 65 Merrimon Ave 1042, Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: (828) 707-1640
Email: inquiries@thelbfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The LB Research and Education
Who The LB Research and Education funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Cincinnati Foundation ($420K). Together the top 10 received $905K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($300,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
102 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 62 grants of 102 (61%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. Ohio accounted for 47% of grant dollars and California 29%; Montana and New York each accounted for 4%, and New Jersey accounted for 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The LB Research and Education open to new grantees?
54%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 26 grantees (54%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $24K; repeat grants $99K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $50K repeat.
- 42% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $1.6M (2022). In 2024 it made 26 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Cincinnati Foundation Cincinnati, OH | Medical Student Scholarships | $420,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $300,000 |
| Harmony Project of Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $100,000 |
| Blalock Foundation Santa Monica, CA | General Support | $60,000 |
| Catalyst for Change Big Timber, MT | General Support | $60,000 |
| Oasis - a Haven for Women and Children Paterson, NJ | General Support | $50,000 |
| The Lime Foundation Santa Rosa, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Youth Mentoring Connection Los Angeles, CA | General Support | $50,000 |
| California Academy of Sciences San Francisco, CA | General Support | $40,000 |
| Her Resiliency Network Washington, DC | General Support | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The LB Research and Education?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $32,036,011 | $1,347,335 | $1,918,795 | $1,525,000 | 26 | $1,583,965 | $1,090,772 | $1,814,254 |
| 2023 | $32,607,471 | $-35,055 | $1,932,003 | $1,545,000 | 27 | $1,658,783 | $619,443 | $1,696,230 |
| 2022 | $34,574,529 | $1,159,531 | $2,047,679 | $1,582,500 | 26 | $1,709,292 | $821,144 | $1,748,944 |
| 2021 | $35,462,677 | $7,327,228 | $1,808,999 | $1,330,000 | 14 | $1,527,565 | $2,337,325 | $1,728,797 |
| 2020 | $33,529,600 | $1,734,817 | $1,508,889 | $1,195,000 | 9 | — | $1,508,983 | $1,477,082 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The LB Research and Education reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s own filing lists education, health, mental health, and actionable research and evaluation in those areas, along with legacy grants to previously supported organizations. The current program description emphasizes education and health solutions for underserved populations.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate varied work. The Ohio State University Foundation says it raises funds and manages endowments and planned gifts for the benefit of The Ohio State University. Catalyst for Change describes work to improve mental health and well-being in Montana and reduce deaths by suicide. Youth Mentoring Connection says it supports at-risk youth through mentoring, creative expression, and other experiences. Hack the Hood describes tech skill-building and career-navigation programs for youth and communities of color.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 26 grants totaling $1,525,000. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $420,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest awards included $420,000 to the University of Cincinnati Foundation and $300,000 to the Ohio State University Foundation, both for medical student scholarships. Other notable grants included $100,000 to Harmony Project of Los Angeles, $60,000 each to Blalock Foundation and Catalyst for Change, and $50,000 each to Oasis – A Haven for Women and Children, The Lime Foundation, and Youth Mentoring Connection.
The currently listed program gives an award range of $10,000–$75,000. Its application guidance calls for a concept paper of 400 words or fewer, with selected applicants invited to submit a full proposal. The foundation’s 2024 filing gives different concept-paper guidance—300–500 words—and says priorities may be in development. The filing also excludes grants to individuals, churches, businesses, and government entities; capital campaigns for buildings, major equipment, or vehicles; films, videos, books, or websites; organizations that require exposure to a religious faith to receive social services or educational programs; and unsolicited disaster or crisis response and recovery.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Nicole Buckberg as president; Mark Doherty as treasurer; Gia Buckberg as secretary; Peter Marks as executive director; and Constantine Athanasuleas, Larry Meyer, Elyse Wyman, Patricia Fulkerson, and Art Podell as directors.
The LB Research and Education is led by Peter Marks, Executive Director on the 2024 filing; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter Marks
Executive Director
New on the 2024 filing
20 hrs/week
$78K (2024)
Nicole Buckberg
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Art Podell
Director
Treasurer → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Constantine Athanasuleas
Director
Vice President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Elyse Wyman
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Larry Meyer
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Patricia Fulkerson
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Gia Buckberg
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Mark Doherty
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $78K, to Peter Marks (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The LB Research and Education
How much does The LB Research and Education give each year?
The LB Research and Education gave $1.5M across 26 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.5M across 27 grants.
What is The LB Research and Education's typical grant size?
The LB Research and Education's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $58,654, across 26 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The LB Research and Education that year got $24K on average.
Where does The LB Research and Education give grants?
The LB Research and Education's top state is Ohio, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest state was California (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (2 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does The LB Research and Education give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The LB Research and Education's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (24 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The LB Research and Education's largest grantees?
The LB Research and Education's largest 2024 grantees include University of Cincinnati Foundation ($420,000), Harmony Project of Los Angeles ($100,000) and Blalock Foundation ($60,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($300,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The LB Research and Education?
The LB Research and Education reported $32.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The LB Research and Education fund?
The foundation’s own filing lists education, health, mental health, and actionable research and evaluation in those areas, along with legacy grants to previously supported organizations. The current program description emphasizes education and health solutions for underserved populations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The LB Research and Education?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The LB Research and Education's EIN?
The LB Research and Education's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 95-4664361. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The LB Research and Education accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The LB Research and Education funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-lb-research-and-education-morg_60ecac9bb1584f10af98c38808d8585e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_954664361_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The LB Research and Education funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-lb-research-and-education-morg_60ecac9bb1584f10af98c38808d8585e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The LB Research and Education's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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