Partners – Edward Lowe Foundation

Working together

to accelerate growth for second-stagers

Relationships are a priority at the Edward Lowe Foundation. We partner with organizations that share a common goal to champion second-stage businesses and their leaders.

As a strategy, partnerships extend our endowment and enable us to achieve higher rates of success. In terms of program deployment, partnerships are an effective way to serve second-stage businesses in a given location. If not for partners, we’d start with a blank slate whenever engaging with a new community.

Partners are also a conduit to current trends facing business owners — a form of continuous market research through organizations that are plugged into their communities. Overall, great partnerships cultivate great outcomes. Partners spur us to create and evolve programs, which keeps us all relevant to help today’s second-stage entrepreneurs and to build stronger leaders who face tomorrow’s challenges.

Partners from across the country join us at Big Rock Valley each year to share best practices at our annual "Roadmap for Economic Development Success" retreat.

Burton D. Morgan Foundation

A private foundation, Burton D. Morgan Foundation supports free enterprise and serves all levels of entrepreneurs through a network of collaborative partnerships. We began working with the Northeast Ohio-based organization in 2023 when it expanded its offerings to second-stage businesses with a suite-of-services approach.

GrowFL

As the only statewide organization in Florida to exclusively serve second-stage companies, GrowFL has partnered with us since 2009 and offers all of our programs. GrowFL also convenes advisers, service providers and economic development organizations to advocate for and support second-stage entrepreneurs in Florda.

LED

We began working with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) in 2011, and our relationship has resulted in innovative programs for a diverse range of second-stage business owners. A recipient of two IEDC Gold Awards in entrepreneurship, LED is also the inaugural recipient of our Founders Award.

MEDC

The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) markets Michigan as the place to do business, assists companies in their growth strategies and fosters the development of vibrant communities across the state. The foundation has partnered with the MEDC since 2012 on programs that focus on accelerating growth for second-stage companies.

MGA

The Manufacturing Growth Alliance (MGA) is a trade association representing small- and medium-sized manufacturers in Michigan. Its goal is to make the state's manufacturers the most competitive and prosperous in the nation. The foundation works with MGA to bring valuable resources to its members.

Washington State Department of Commerce

The Washington State Department of Commerce serves its small business community through a variety of diverse programs, including Thrive! for second stagers. The foundation has partnered with the state since 2016 with a suite-of-services approach, including strategic research, roundtables and retreats.