Community Foundation of Marquette County logo

Community Foundation of Marquette County

Public charity · Grantmaker Marquette, MI EIN: 38-2826563 Website

The Community Foundation of Marquette County is a public charity based in Marquette, Michigan. It supports charitable giving, scholarships, and grants intended to address community needs and improve quality of life in Marquette County.

Key facts about Community Foundation of Marquette County

In short: Community Foundation of Marquette County gave $2.3M across 80 grants in 2025 (avg $28K), mostly in Michigan. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
38-2826563
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$2,253,767
Grants made (2025)
80
Average grant
$28,172
Median grant
$11,013
Total assets
$64,905,706
Primary geography
Michigan (87% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
How to apply
The foundation describes application processes for its grant programs and directs applicants to apply through its Grants Portal. Full details ↓
Deadline
The County-Wide Basic Needs Grants timeline lists an application deadline of September 30.

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$64.9M

+142.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$2.3M

-24.1% YoY

Grant Count

80

+40.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$28K

-45.9% YoY

How Community Foundation of Marquette County gives

  • 55% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 109% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of people in Marquette County by connecting donors with community needs, building permanent funds for charitable giving, distributing scholarships and grants, and leading and collaborating to address community opportunities.

Its grant programs include Community Impact Grants for projects with meaningful, measurable local benefits and Basic Needs Grants for organizations addressing food, clothing, essential items, and safe shelter. Community Impact examples include youth development and education, health and wellness, arts and culture, environmental sustainability, food access, workforce development, and recreation. The foundation’s filing describes grants supporting educational, cultural, recreational, environmental, and social welfare resources, as well as youth development and leadership.

Examples of grantees’ own missions illustrate the range of organizations receiving support: the Superior Watershed Partnership says it works in watershed protection, restoration, and education; the Women’s Center says it supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence; and Room at the Inn says it provides emergency shelter, food, and case management for people experiencing homelessness or a housing crisis. Janzen House describes its work as transitional housing and shelter for low-income and homeless individuals.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 57 grants totaling $2,968,714. Grant amounts ranged from $5,265 to $1,376,453, with a median of $11,415. The largest listed award was $1,376,453 to the City of Marquette for general operations. Other notable 2024 grants included $212,135 to the Superior Watershed Partnership, $157,199 to the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame, $100,000 to Great Lakes Recovery Center, $92,238 to the Women’s Center, $91,000 to Room at the Inn, and $80,000 each to Janzen House and Superior Connections Recovery Community.

Review Cycle

The County-Wide Basic Needs Grants timeline lists an application deadline of September 30. The Community Impact Grants timeline lists May 31.

How to Apply

es for its grant programs and directs applicants to apply through its Grants Portal.

Open Grants

4 open opportunities from Community Foundation of Marquette County

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation describes its community focus as Marquette County, Michigan. In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan.

Grant Distribution by State

10states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 80 itemized grants.

Cities

MarquetteIshpemingBig BayNegauneeEscanabaWashingtonAnn ArborGwinnHarrisAllendaleBrookfieldChicagoEast LansingMerrifieldOklahoma CitySt PetersurgDetroitHoughtonMt PleasantSaulte Ste

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M12 grants2019 36 grants2020 26 grants2021 44 grants2022 47 grants2023 57 grants2024 80 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $844K (2020) to $3.0M (2024). In 2025 it made 80 grants totaling $2.3M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Superior Watershed Partnership: $361KSuperior Watershed Partnership$361KCity of Marquette MI: $335KCity of Marquette MI$335KRoom at the Inn: $184KRoom at the Inn$184KGrow and Lead Community and Youth: $174KGrow and Lead Community andYouth$174KSuperior Connections Recovery Commu: $75KSuperior Connections RecoveryCommu$75KNorthern Michigan University: $73KNorthern Michigan University$73KJanzen House: $50KJanzen House$50KUpper Penisula Land Conservancy: $46KUpper Penisula LandConservancy$46KCommunity Foundation of Marquette C: $45KCommunity Foundation ofMarquette C$45KPowell Township Schools: $32KPowell Township Schools$32K

The largest 2025 recipient was Superior Watershed Partnership ($361K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.

Grant Size Distribution

254 grants across all recorded years

224<$50K12$50–100K13$100–250K4$250–500K$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 224 grants of 254 (88%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Superior Watershed Partnership Marquette, MIEnviromental Monitor$360,925
City of Marquette MI Marquette, MIGeneral Operations$335,441
Room at the Inn Marquette, MI—$184,004
Grow and Lead Community and Youth Marquette, MIGeneral Operations$173,526
Superior Connections Recovery Commu Marquette, MI—$75,000
Northern Michigan University Marquette, MIScholarships$73,400
Janzen House Marquette, MI—$50,000
Upper Penisula Land Conservancy Marquette, MI—$45,901
Community Foundation of Marquette C Marquette, MIGeneral Operations$45,000
Powell Township Schools Big Bay, MIGeneral Operations$32,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $26,822,641 $3,910,816 $3,549,344 $2,968,714
2023 $24,988,668 $2,330,416 $1,778,921 $1,162,074
2022 $22,525,710 $2,994,805 $1,680,580 $1,077,418
Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$20M$40M$60M2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$64,905,706$26,822,641$24,988,668
Revenue$39,513,367$3,910,816$2,330,416
Expenses$2,932,980$3,549,344$1,778,921
Net Investment Income$1,796,060$1,362,902$622,409

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 14, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 7, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 16, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 14, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 12, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 14, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 5, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Thomas Blake as chair, Judy Vonck as vice-chair, and Maura Davenport as secretary. Trustees listed are Gail Anthony, Patricia Davis, Shannon Edmark, Marcia Gonstead, Lisa Jahnke, Alexander Kofsky, and Lowell Larson.

Community Foundation of Marquette County is led by Zosia Eppensteiner, CEO on every filing since 2021; 1 of 14 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Zosia Eppensteiner

    CEO

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $68K (2021) → $115K (2025)

  • Thomas Blake

    Chair

    Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2022

    Vice Chair → Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alexander Kofsky

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jack Lenten

    Trustee

    Trustee → Vice Chair, 2020

    Vice Chair → Trustee, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lisa Jahnke

    Trustee

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Canale

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marcia Gonstead

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Shannon Edmark

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Emily Leach

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kyle Aho

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Victoria Leonhardt

    Trustee

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Judy Vonck

    Vice Chair

    Trustee → Vice Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Maura Davenport

    Secretary

    Trustee → Secretary, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Andrew Herro

    Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (18)
  • Former: Don Mourand (2019–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Gail Anthony (2019–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Lowell Larson (2019–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Patricia Davis (2021–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Robert Eslinger (2021–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Andy Herro (2023–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Susan Goodkind Wideman (2019–2023) — Trustee
  • Former: John Lenten (2021–2023) — Chair
  • Former: Alex Flannery (2023) — Trustee
  • Former: Sally Searle (2019–2022) — Trustee
  • Former: Anne Giroux (2019–2021) — Trustee
  • Former: Thomas Vear (2021) — Chair
  • Former: Fred Taccolini (2019–2020) — Trustee
  • Former: James Hewitt (2019–2020) — Secretary
  • Former: Levi Giroux (2019–2020) — Trustee
  • Former: Tom Vear (2019–2020) — Chair
  • Former: Trish Davis (2019–2020) — Trustee
  • Former: Deborah Veiht (2019) — Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Zosia Eppensteiner — CEO: $115KZosia EppensteinerCEO$115K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $115K, to Zosia Eppensteiner (CEO).

Contact

Mailing address: 228 W Washington St Suite 6, Marquette, MI 49855
Phone: (906) 226-7666
Website: https://cfofmc.org

Frequently asked questions about Community Foundation of Marquette County

How much does Community Foundation of Marquette County give each year?

Community Foundation of Marquette County gave $2.3M across 80 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $3.0M across 57 grants.

What is Community Foundation of Marquette County's typical grant size?

Community Foundation of Marquette County's median grant in 2025 was $11,013, and its average grant was $28,172, across 80 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Where does Community Foundation of Marquette County give grants?

Community Foundation of Marquette County gives mostly in Michigan: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Marquette, MI (23 grants), Ishpeming, MI (5 grants), Negaunee, MI (4 grants) and Big Bay, MI (4 grants).

Does Community Foundation of Marquette County give general operating support?

Yes: 90% of Community Foundation of Marquette County's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (63 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Scholarships" (6 grants).

Who are Community Foundation of Marquette County's largest grantees?

Community Foundation of Marquette County's largest 2025 grantees include Superior Watershed Partnership ($360,925), City of Marquette MI ($335,441) and Room at the Inn ($184,004), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Community Foundation of Marquette County?

Community Foundation of Marquette County reported $64.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $39.5M.

What does Community Foundation of Marquette County fund?

The foundation’s mission is to enrich the lives of people in Marquette County by connecting donors with community needs, building permanent funds for charitable giving, distributing scholarships and grants, and leading and collaborating to address community opportunities. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Community Foundation of Marquette County?

The foundation describes application processes for its grant programs and directs applicants to apply through its Grants Portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Community Foundation of Marquette County's EIN?

Community Foundation of Marquette County's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2826563. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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