About the Foundation

Vision and Mission

Vision

The foundation actively embraces and encourages entrepreneurship as the source and strategy for economic growth, community development and economically independent individuals.

Mission

To champion the entrepreneurial spirit by providing information, research and educational experiences that support entrepreneurship and the free enterprise system, consistent with the intentions of our founders, Edward and Darlene Lowe.

Audience and Approach

The foundation embraces the concept of "economic gardening," a unique and proven economic development strategy based on the fundamental concept that entrepreneurs drive economies. Economic gardening helps drive the creation and growth of local business by providing a supportive and enriched environment where these businesses not only grow, but thrive.

The foundation supports entrepreneurship by focusing on second-stage entrepreneurs and the belief that they are vital to the United States economy. The foundation also believes that these entrepreneurs have the best opportunity to succeed if they learn from their peers. To that end, it develops and delivers programs and information that help communities appreciate and support the growth of these entrepreneurs.

With a national reach, the foundation prefers to build and develop statewide sustainable programs to reach its primary audience, the second-stage business owner. With a strong focus on public/private partnerships, the foundation affects second-stage business owners by working with entrepreneur support organizations and state and local government.

A second-stage business is defined by the foundation as:

1. Privately held.
2. Past the startup stage and focused on growth.
3. Facing issues of growth rather than survival.
4. Generating between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue or has that range of working capital in place from investors or grants.
5. Employing between 10 to 99 full-time equivalent employees, including the owner.

To find out if your organization and the Edward Lowe Foundation are a good match, ask yourself the following questions. The more "yes" answers, the more likely we will be able to enhance or support your work.

1. Does your organization support or assist entrepreneurs at the local, regional or national level in the United States?
2. Does your organization facilitate interaction among entrepreneurs through peer-to-peer events or activities?
3. Does your organization include second-stage business owners, CEOs or presidents as your audience?
4. Is your organization university- or college-based with a strong commitment to outreach programs?
5. Is your group an independent organization concerned with regional economic development?

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