Marcus Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Marcus Foundation focuses on promoting sustainability and preventing hunger.
IP TAKE: While the Marcus Foundation may have a narrow funding focus, it is an important environmental ally and supporter of food systems. This funder does not award a larger number of grants per year, but it supplements its monetary giving with strategic support to its grantee partners. A significant portion of grants serves small, community-oriented organizations in the Denver, Colorado area. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted, but grantseekers may reach out to inquire about “matching grants and partnerships” to get on this funder’s radar.
PROFILE: Based in Denver, Colorado, the Marcus Foundation was established in 2009 when it became a separate entity of the Grace and Alan Marcus Foundation. It seeks to support “organizations that are making a difference in the delivery of community food resources or are expanding the understanding and implementation of sustainability.” While this funder does not make many grants each year, it supplements its financial support for nonprofits by working collaboratively with its grantees “to enhance impact and reduce fundraising and operating expenses.” This work consists of collaborations with other grantmakers in fields of interest, providing strategic assistance to nonprofits and serving as “a broker between organizations and qualified vendors when this can advance the mission of grantees.”
Grants for the Environment, Wildlife and Climate Change
The foundation’s environmental grantmaking works broadly to support “efforts to change underlying structural obstacles and incentives that hinder efforts to bring sustainable practices to the mainstream.” It does not name specific goals for its grantmaking in these areas.
Past grantees include Denver Urban Gardens, the Green Bronx Machine, the Wilderness Society, Ceres and the Dumb Friends League, an animal rescue in Denver.
Grants for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
The foundation’s giving for sustainable agriculture and food systems supports “organizations that work to increase awareness of hunger as a critical problem and/or deliver food resources to meet critical short-term needs.”
Grants have gone to organizations including New York City’s Community Food Advocates, the National Young Farmers Coalition, Delaney Community Farm of Denver and the California-based MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.
Important Grant Details:
Most of the Marcus Foundation’s grants range between $1,000 and $20,000. Grantmaking appears to prioritize organizations in Colorado, New York and Massachusetts.
This funder only awards about ten grants each year but supplements its giving with strategic support to its grantee partners.
Many grants support smaller local organizations, such as food banks, community gardens and local conservation groups.
This funder does not review unsolicited proposals, but it will accept “[w]ritten inquiries regarding matching grants and partnerships in our stated areas of interest.”
To learn more about the types of organizations supported by the Marcus Foundation, explore its recent grants list.
Submit general inquiries to the foundation via its contact page.
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