Lowe's Foundation
Lowe's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by Lowe's Companies Inc. that distributes Gable Grants of $100K–$1M to community colleges and nonprofits to train U.S. skilled tradespeople, backed by a $250M, 250,000-trainee commitment through 2035.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersMooresville, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lowe's Foundation does
Lowe's Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1957 and headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, that is wholly funded by Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW). Its sole programmatic focus since 2023 is the Gable Grants program, which distributes needs-based grants ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofits, and national nonprofit organizations that deliver skilled trades training. The foundation targets a U.S. skilled trades labor shortage estimated at 349,000 net new construction workers needed in 2026 and 2.1 million jobs potentially unfilled by 2030, and focuses on carpentry, construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, property maintenance, and clean technology pathways.
Underlying program architecture consists of three grant tracks (community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofits, national nonprofits) operated through recurring competitive and invitation-only application cycles, supplemented by strategic national partnerships with credentialing and training organizations such as SkillsUSA, Goodwill Industries International, NCCER, LISC, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and Hiring Our Heroes, plus a 200+ vendor partner ecosystem that provides in-kind and financial support. The foundation does not operate a technology product; supporting infrastructure is limited to an internal grants management portal, a website (lowesfoundation.org), a quarterly Gable Gazette newsletter, social media channels, and awareness vehicles such as the 'Building Back America's Trades' docuseries premiered in April 2026 on Magnolia Network, HBO Max, and discovery+.
The business model is that of a corporate foundation: Lowe's Companies Inc. provides charitable contributions that the foundation deploys as multi-year grants (24-month terms for colleges and community nonprofits, 12-month terms for national nonprofits) to training providers, who in turn serve aspiring tradespeople. The foundation has scaled from a 2023 launch commitment of $50 million / 50,000 trainees to an expanded April 2026 commitment of $250 million / 250,000 trainees by 2035, with roughly $53 million deployed across 65 organizations in 28 states as of early 2026. Governance is provided by a board composed of Lowe's executives, with Janice Dupré (EVP HR, Lowe's) as President & Chair and Betsy Conway as Executive Director.
Lowe's Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lowe's Foundation
- Legal name
- Lowe's Foundation
- Website
- https://lowesfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Lowe's Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by Lowe's Companies Inc. that distributes Gable Grants of $100K–$1M to community colleges and nonprofits to train U.S. skilled tradespeople, backed by a $250M, 250,000-trainee commitment through 2035.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lowe's Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Workforce Development Grants
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)
Keywords
Where Lowe's Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mooresville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lowe's Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Charitable Grants from Lowe's Companies Inc. The Lowe's Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization funded by Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW). The foundation receives charitable contributions from Lowe's to fund its Gable Grants program which supports skilled trades workforce development training at community colleges and nonprofits across the United States.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Needs-based grants to community colleges and nonprofits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Lowe's Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Lowe's Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that operates the Gable Grants program, awarding needs-based grants of $100,000 to $1,000,000 to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofits, and national nonprofit organizations to expand skilled trades training in carpentry, construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance. The foundation has committed $250 million to train 250,000 skilled tradespeople by 2035, with early-2026 cumulative investment of nearly $53 million across 65 organizations in 28 states.
Product overview
Lowe's Foundation is a nonprofit charitable organization established in 1957 and founded by Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW). It is NOT a technology product company; it is a workforce development foundation. The organization's primary offering is the Gable Grants Program, a major workforce development initiative that provides needs-based grants ranging from $100,000 to $1,000,000 to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofits, and national nonprofit organizations to train skilled tradespeople. The foundation is investing $250 million to train and develop 250,000 skilled tradespeople by 2035. Supporting initiatives include the 'Building Back America's Trades' docuseries, NCCER CareerStarter platform partnership, and SkillsUSA National Signing Day events. The foundation does not offer technology products, SaaS platforms, or developer tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gable Grants: The foundation's primary grant program dedicated to training and developing skilled tradespeople through community colleges and nonprofit organizations.
Products and services
- Gable Grants Program The primary workforce development initiative of the Lowe's Foundation; provides needs-based grants to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofits, and national nonprofit organizations to train and develop skilled tradespeople in carpentry, construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance. Grants range from $100,000 to $1,000,000 over 24-month (community/technical college) or 12-month (national nonprofit) periods. The program is the foundation's mechanism to deploy its $250 million, ten-year commitment to train 250,000 tradespeople by 2035.
- Building Back America's Trades (Docuseries) A three-part television docuseries produced by the Lowe's Foundation showcasing aspiring skilled tradespeople and their mentors, airing on Magnolia Network, HBO Max, and discovery+ as an awareness and storytelling vehicle for the Gable Grants mission.
Quantifiable outcome
- On track to reach original 50,000-person training goal a year ahead of schedule
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Lowe's Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lowe's Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lowe's Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Hiring Our HeroescoreLowe's Foundation awarded $500,000 to Hiring Our Heroes (U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation) to establish a Skilled Trades Academy near Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Program provides hands-on training for active duty service members, veterans, and spouses in HVAC, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance careers.
- All Within My Hands (Metallica's Foundation)corePartnership between Lowe's Foundation and Metallica's All Within My Hands foundation to support the Metallica Scholars Initiative. Lowe's Foundation contributed $500,000 to expand skilled trades training for community college students at five colleges (Pima Community College, College of Lake County, San Juan College, Western Dakota Technical College, Milwaukee Area Technical College). The initiative focuses on HVAC, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and automotive careers.
- SkillsUSAcoreLowe's Foundation awarded $1 million Gable Grant to SkillsUSA to support the workforce development nonprofit for students. Partnership includes SkillsUSA National Signing Day ceremonies at Lowe’s stores featuring students committing to skilled trades careers.
- National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)coreNational nonprofit partner expanding Community Construction Academies to reach adult learners. Lowe's Foundation is also sponsoring NCCER's CareerStarter platform, a free service connecting students and job seekers with educators, employers, and career opportunities.
- Goodwill Industries InternationalcoreNational nonprofit partner strengthening skilled trades programs through clean technology pathways, including training in appliance repair, carpentry, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, solar installation and EV charging maintenance.
- Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC)coreNational nonprofit partner embedding AI curriculum in skilled trades programs to emphasize safety and critical thinking. Also establishing Pre-Apprenticeships+ Accelerator with financial coaching and career advancement services.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of AmericacoreNational nonprofit partner enhancing skilled trades job readiness programs for young adults (ages 16-24) at pilot club locations in Hobe Sound, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; and Seattle.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Lowe's Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- SkillsUSA: National workforce-development nonprofit for trade students and an actual Gable Grant recipient/partner; adjacent ecosystem participant delivering trades career pathways rather than grantmaking.
- NCCER: National nonprofit providing construction education credentials and the CareerStarter platform; a Lowe's Foundation partner and ecosystem enabler in trades training rather than a grantmaker.
Emerging players
- Generation USA: Workforce nonprofit training and placing learners into in-demand jobs including trades-adjacent roles; overlaps on the underserved-population workforce-development mission.
Direct peers
- Harbor Freight Tools for Schools: Grantmaking program funding public high school skilled-trades education; comparable retailer-affiliated philanthropy investing in trades workforce development.
- The Home Depot Foundation: Corporate foundation of Home Depot that funds skilled-trades training (e.g., Path to Pro) and veterans' housing; nearly identical model of a home-improvement retailer's philanthropic arm addressing the trades labor gap.
- mikeroweWORKS Foundation: Nonprofit awarding work-ethic scholarships to fund skilled-trades training; directly overlaps in mission of closing the skilled-labor gap through grants to trainees.
- All Within My Hands (Metallica Foundation): Foundation funding community-college trades education via the Metallica Scholars Initiative; same grant-to-institution model targeting skilled trades, and a co-funding partner of Lowe's Foundation.
- Gene Haas Foundation: Grantmaking foundation funding manufacturing and machining skills scholarships and programs; comparable corporate-linked philanthropy addressing skilled-trades shortages.
Broad incumbents
- JPMorgan Chase Foundation: Large corporate foundation with major workforce-development and skills grantmaking; overlaps on funding job training but across a much broader portfolio than trades.
- Walmart Foundation: Retailer corporate foundation making grants for workforce development and economic mobility; comparable corporate-philanthropy structure though not specialized in skilled trades.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lowe's Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceLowe's Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lowe's Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles24 records
Lowe's Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Lowe's Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments44 records
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Frequently asked questions about Lowe's Foundation
What does Lowe's Foundation do?
The Lowe's Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that operates the Gable Grants program, awarding needs-based grants of $100,000 to $1,000,000 to community and technical colleges, community-based nonprofits, and national nonprofit organizations to expand skilled trades training in carpentry, construction, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and property maintenance. The foundation has committed $250 million to train 250,000 skilled tradespeople by 2035, with early-2026 cumulative investment of nearly $53 million across 65 organizations in 28 states.
Is Lowe's Foundation a public or private company?
Lowe's Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lowe's Foundation founded?
Lowe's Foundation was founded in 1957. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Lowe's Foundation based?
Lowe's Foundation is headquartered in Mooresville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lowe's Foundation make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Grants from Lowe's Companies Inc.
Who are Lowe's Foundation's main competitors?
Others on record are SkillsUSA and NCCER. Generation USA is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, The Home Depot Foundation, mikeroweWORKS Foundation, All Within My Hands (Metallica Foundation) and Gene Haas Foundation. Broad incumbents are JPMorgan Chase Foundation and Walmart Foundation.
Does Lowe's Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lowe's Foundation.
What industry is Lowe's Foundation in?
Lowe's Foundation's product category is Workforce Development Grants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPADAOAB, Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors). Its NAICS code is 813211.