Marquis George MacDonald Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Marquis George MacDonald Foundation supports a diverse range of global and community development, and health-related projects, mainly with large, national groups. Global and community development projects tend to emphasize poverty alleviation hunger and homelessness, but there appears to be no pattern in its disease-related grantmaking. 

IP TAKE: This is not an accessible funder. While it awards modest grants, it restricts information about its grantmaking and strategies. It operates with minimal staff, so if you contact them at the information below, expect a lag in response. MacDonald also funds many of the same foundations year over year making its grant space a crowded one. It’s not particularly approachable, however.

This funder may be best suited for organizations that have the ability to have a significant impact with limited funding. Grantseekers should note that they will have to compete with large organizations for MacDonald grants.

PROFILE: The Marquis George MacDonald Foundation awards grants to a wide variety of causes, including global and community development, homelessness, animal welfare, and health and disease-related organizations around the United States. Information about the foundation is limited, as it does not have a website and appears to operate with a minimal staff.

Grants for Public Health and Diseases

The foundation’s latest available tax filings show some disease grantmaking favoring national groups, but a few grants to smaller outfits and community-based nonprofits. Past grantees include the Doctors Without Borders, Alzheimer’s Association and the American Cancer Society, as well as local organizations such as Henderson Mental Health and the Brattleboro Area AIDS Project.

Grants for Global Development

Recent tax filings suggest MacDonald’s global development grantmaking prioritizes large, international organizations that focus on poverty alleviation. For example, the foundation has awarded grants to major organizations such as the Carter Center, Heifer International, and Oxfam. The foundation also awards a few grants to human rights groups such as the International Rescue Committee and Social Accountability International.

Grants for Housing and Community Development

The foundation’s community development grants appear to prioritize homelessness, children and hunger. Previous grantees in this area include Fall Mountain Emergency Foodshelf, City Harvest, World Food Program USA, Covenant House, Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center Center, UNICEF, Cedarcrest Foundation, and Coalition for the Homeless.

Grants for Animal Welfare and Wildlife

While it is unclear if the foundation has an animal welfare program, recent tax filings suggest that animals are a funding priority. Past grantees include People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Blue Chip Farms Inc, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare of Volusia County.

Important Grant Details:

Grants are modest, for the most part, generally ranging from around $1,000 to $10,000. MacDonald makes a handful of grants between $15,000 to $30,000 range on the rare occasion.

The foundation takes a proactive approach to grantmaking, and does not accept unsolicited applications or requests. That said, while MacDonald does support a number of the same organizations year after year, new groups make it on its grant lists each year as well. Grantseekers, however, must contact the foundation to establish a relationship.

PEOPLE:

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CONTACT:

Marquis George MacDonald Foundation

PO Box 803878

Chicago, Illinois 60680

(312) 630-6000