Edward Lowe Foundation

What Edward Lowe Foundation does

The Edward Lowe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985 by Ed and Darlene Lowe and headquartered at the 2,000-acre Big Rock Valley property in Cassopolis, Michigan. Its mission is to champion entrepreneurship, with a programmatic focus on second-stage companies—defined as growth-oriented firms with 10-99 employees and $1 million to $50 million in revenue—that have moved past the startup phase but are not yet mature. The foundation does not function as a grant-making institution; instead, it uses its endowment to develop and operate a portfolio of entrepreneurship programs targeting leadership development, peer learning, scaling, and succession planning.

The foundation's product portfolio includes PeerSpectives Roundtables for CEO peer learning and decision-making, the System for Integrated Growth (SIG) which pairs peer learning with customized research, the American Academy of Entrepreneurs (AAE) mentoring program, Legacy Council for succession and exit-stage support, the Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) immersive retreat, the Entrepreneur Emeritus (E2) initiative embedding experienced entrepreneurs into program delivery, and Michigan 40ish Under 40 for emerging leaders. Delivery is split between in-person retreats at Big Rock Valley and virtual formats. Distribution is extended through partnerships with state economic development organizations—MEDC in Michigan, LED in Louisiana, and GrowFL in Florida—plus the Manufacturing Growth Alliance (MGA), a 501(c)(6) co-founded with Kinexus Group in 2019 for smaller manufacturers. The foundation also runs land stewardship operations including prairie restoration and a deer management program at Big Rock Valley (the latter in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources since 2023).

The business model is endowment-funded rather than market-priced; programs are offered at subsidized rates or complimentary access to eligible entrepreneurs, and the foundation explicitly states it can recover only a portion of costs. Marketing channels include owned social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram), branded blog series (Outlook on Leadership, Second-Stage Sensei, Art of Operations), partner referrals, and on-site events at Big Rock Valley. Leadership comprises Dan Wyant as Chairman and President, with Colleen Killen-Roberts as Vice President of Entrepreneurship, Dino Signore (doctorate in business psychology) as Manager of Entrepreneurial Education, and Jarod Reibel as Director of Physical Resources, alongside co-founders Ed and Darlene Lowe.

Name

Edward Lowe Foundation

Legal name

Edward Lowe Foundation

Website

https://edwardlowe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Edward Lowe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports second-stage growth companies (10-99 employees, $1M-$50M revenue) through peer learning programs, leadership development, and retreats at its 2,000-acre Big Rock Valley campus in Cassopolis, Michigan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Education and Peer Learning

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship education programs
• Peer learning facilitation
• Second-stage business support
• Leadership development retreats
• Nonprofit foundation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Cassopolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Nonprofit foundation operations: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the foundation uses its endowment to develop and run programs. Some services are delivered virtually, but the majority of work is carried out at Big Rock Valley. The foundation can only recover a portion of costs rather than charging market rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Edward Lowe Foundation provides peer-learning-based educational programs, roundtables, retreats, and resources for second-stage entrepreneurs and business owners. Its offerings are delivered primarily at its Big Rock Valley (BRV) campus in Cassopolis, Michigan, and through partner organizations across the United States, with a focus on helping companies scale beyond the startup phase.

Product overview

The Edward Lowe Foundation operates as a platform of interconnected entrepreneurship support programs focused on second-stage companies—growth-oriented firms with 10-99 employees and $1 million to $50 million in revenue. The core portfolio includes PeerSpectives Roundtables for peer learning and decision-making, the System for Integrated Growth (SIG) combining research with business expert consultation, the American Academy of Entrepreneurs (AAE) mentoring program pairing experienced entrepreneurs with newer second-stagers, Legacy Council for entrepreneurs near business exit, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) immersive retreats at Big Rock Valley, and the Entrepreneur Emeritus (E2) initiative involving experienced entrepreneurs in program delivery. The foundation also runs Michigan 40ish Under 40 for emerging leaders and provides access to its Digital Library and Environmental Management resources at its 2,000-acre Big Rock Valley campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PeerSpectives Roundtables

Quantifiable outcome

• 52% increase in entrepreneurs served (1,143 in 2020)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership to donate venison from deer management program at Big Rock Valley to local food banks. Through MDNR funding, deer are processed and distributed to food-insecure communities.
• Kinexus GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Launched Manufacturing Growth Alliance (MGA), a 501(c)6 membership organization focusing on smaller manufacturers. Foundation offers MGA members complimentary one-day leadership retreats at Big Rock Valley and discounted services.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development organization that partners with the foundation to host programs for second-stage entrepreneurs in Michigan. Programs include CEO roundtables and System for Integrated Growth.
• Louisiana Economic Development (LED)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development agency that hosts the foundation's programs in Louisiana. Has been willing to innovate and help beta test new programs.
• GrowFLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlorida's statewide business assistance program for second-stagers. Key Florida partner that adapts PeerSpectives methodology for Stage 1 and Stage 2 CEO roundtables.
• Great Lakes Leadership Academy (GLLA)minorOthersMichigan State University Extension program that brings together individuals from different industry sectors to promote positive change. Foundation staff participate in leadership programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kauffman Foundation: Large private nonprofit foundation that funds research, programs, and partnerships to advance entrepreneurship in the U.S. Highly comparable mission and operating posture to Edward Lowe Foundation, with a significantly larger asset base.
• SCORE: U.S. nonprofit supported by the SBA that provides free mentorship and educational resources to small business owners. Direct peer in mission and delivery of educational programming for entrepreneurs, though volunteer-led rather than endowment-driven.
• Young Presidents' Organization (YPO): Global peer learning community for CEOs and business leaders that runs member-driven forums, retreats, and educational programs. Closely comparable peer-learning and roundtable methodology to Edward Lowe Foundation's PeerSpectives.
• Vistage: CEO peer advisory and executive coaching organization that runs peer group meetings for CEOs of small and mid-market companies. Strong methodological overlap with Edward Lowe Foundation's CEO roundtables and retreat-based leadership programming.
• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): Global peer network for founders and owners of businesses typically above $1M in revenue, offering member forums, learning programs, and events. Comparable in targeting growth-stage entrepreneurs and the middle-market segment Edward Lowe Foundation serves.
• Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses: Philanthropically funded business education program for growth-oriented small business owners that blends classroom education with peer learning and access to advisors. Directly aligned with second-stage entrepreneur education provided by Edward Lowe Foundation.

Broad incumbents

• Babson College - Lewis Institute: Academic institution known for entrepreneurship education, conducting research and running programs to support entrepreneurs. Operates across a broader portfolio including degree programs but shares focus on entrepreneurial education content and ecosystem building.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Federal agency that funds and coordinates small business support including the SBDC network. Provides overlapping educational, advisory, and capital-access services for second-stage companies, though at vastly greater scale.

Emerging players

• Ashoka: Global nonprofit that supports social entrepreneurs and changemakers through fellowships and network programming. Comparable in operating as a foundation-funded ecosystem builder, though with a narrower social-enterprise focus versus ELF's commercial entrepreneur focus.

Regional players

• TEDCO (Maryland Technology Development Corporation): State-funded economic development organization that supports entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, and programs. Operates comparably to ELF's MEDC and LED state economic development partners, though focused on Maryland and on tech-oriented founders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_vBvCR5TwhWqiAMNJ2NXYg
• Facebookfacebook.com/EdwardLoweFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edward-lowe-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/edwardlowefoundation
• Xx.com/LoweFoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Edward Lowe Foundation