John & Mary R Markle Foundation
The John & Mary R Markle Foundation is a private foundation established in 1927 by American industrialist and financier John Markle and his wife, Mary. Based in New York, the foundation has evolved over nearly a century to focus on leveraging information technology and innovation to address critical public problems affecting all Americans.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$125.1M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.9M
+323.0% YoY
Grant Count
18
-21.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$270K
+440.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Mary R Markle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to work toward improving the economic wellbeing, health, and national security for all Americans. The organization's focus has evolved significantly since its inception:
- 1927-1969: Traditional social welfare programs and medical research, including the Markle Scholars-in-Medicine Program
- 1969-1998: Mass communications in a democratic society
- 1998-Present: Accelerating the use of information and information technology to address critical public problems
Current Priority Areas:
- Workforce development and economic security, particularly through the Rework America initiative focused on advancing a skills-based labor market
- Technology policy and emerging technologies
- Health and healthcare innovation
- National security
- AI for Disasters + Emergencies (AIDE Initiative) — leveraging artificial intelligence to help emergency managers and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters
Grantmaking
The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. It typically selects grantees rather than accepting applications. The foundation makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations only.
Grant Range
$1,000–$3,500,000
Average Grant
amount: $60,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with John & Mary R Markle Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in the District of Columbia, New York, and California, which account for 56% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 14 states with a national focus on the United States.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $125,078,322 (2024)
- Total Giving: $4,853,459 (2024)
- Total Revenues: $14,205,954 (2024)
- Total Expenses: $16,444,929 (2024)
- Giving Rate: 3.9% of assets
- IRS Ruling Year: 1938
- Tax Status: 501(c)(3) exempt organization
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $125,078,322 | $125,655,510 | $129,145,156 |
| Revenue | $14,205,954 | $-803,771 | $22,688,730 |
| Expenses | $16,444,929 | $14,595,922 | $16,836,170 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $13,764,169 | $12,623,254 | $14,217,872 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,075,498 | $213,120 | $15,841,619 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,665,627 | $6,020,479 | $6,413,955 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Jobs for the Future ($3,500,000), National Urban League Inc ($300,000), Unidosus ($275,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASSOCIATION OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EXECUTIVES FOUNDATION ALEXANDRIA, VA | SUPPORT GRANTEE TO EXPAND UNDERSTANDING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SKILLS-BASED PRACTICES WITHIN THE CHAMBER COMMUNITY | $125,000 |
| BROOKINGS INSTITUTION WASHINGTON, DC | GRANT TO SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE WORKFORCE RESEARCH | $50,000 |
| CENTER FOR NEW AMERICAN SECURITY INC WASHINGTON, DC | GRANT TO SUPPORT TECH POLICY RESEARCH | $37,500 |
| CICP FOUNDATION INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | SUPPORT APPRENTICE | $10,000 |
| INSTITUTE FOR WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | SUPPORT ACTIVATOR & TRAINING OF ACTIVATORS | $37,500 |
| INSTITUTE FOR WORKFORCE EXCELLENCE INC INDIANAPOLIS, IN | SUPPORT APPRENTICE | $5,000 |
| JOBS FOR THE FUTURE BOSTON, MA | SUPPORT CONTINUATION OF THE REWORK AMERICA ALLAINCE | $3,500,000 |
| LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT CORPORATION NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT THE GRANTEES PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP IN THE REWORK AMERICA ALLIANCE. | $225,000 |
| MI CASA RESOURCE CENTER DENVER, CO | SUPPORT THE GRANTEES PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP IN THE REWORK AMERICA ALLIANCE. | $37,500 |
| NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE INC NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT THE GRANTEES PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP IN THE REWORK AMERICA ALLIANCE. | $300,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- President: Ellen V. Futter
- Board Chair: Suzanne N. Johnson
- Board Members: Steven Denning, Cheryl C. Effron, Margaret Hoover, Dr. Christopher Howard, Gilman Louie, Dr. James Manyika, Kathleen A. Murphy, Stanley S. Shuman
- Staff: 27 employees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUZANNE NORA JOHNSON | CHAIR | 3 | — |
| STEVEN DENNING | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| CHERYL COHEN EFFRON | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| MARGARET HOOVER | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| DR CHRIS HOWARD | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| GILMAN LOUIE | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| DR JAMES MANYIKA | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| KATHLEEN MURPHY | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| STANLEY S SHUMAN | DIRECTOR | 3 | — |
| BETH COBERT THROUGH 2924 | ACTING PRESIDENT | 40 | $342,095 |
| ELLEN FUTTER BEGINNING 21024 | ACTING PRESIDENT | 40 | $240,705 |
| SHARON BUTLER | TREASURER/CFAO | 40 | $280,042 |
| JANA JUGINOVIC | SECY/CHIEF COMMS | 40 | $360,000 |
| SUSAN ROBERSON THROUGH 113023 | TREAS/SECY/CFO | 40 | $190,290 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John & Mary R Markle Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to work toward improving the economic wellbeing, health, and national security for all Americans. The organization's focus has evolved significantly since its inception: • **1927-1969**: Traditional social welfare programs and medical research, including the Markle Scholars-in-Medicine Program • **1969-1998**: Mass communications in a democratic society • **1998-Present**: Accelerating the use of information and information technology to address critical public probl…
How do I apply for a grant from John & Mary R Markle Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total annual giving: $4,853,459 (2024) • Typical grant range: $1,000–$3,500,000 • Median grant amount: $38,000 • Average grant amount: $60,000 • Number of grants (2024): 18 grants **Recent Grant Examples:** • Jobs for the Future (JFF): $3,500,000 for continuation of the Rework America Alliance (2024) • National Urban League: $300,000 for participation and leadership in the Rework America Alliance (2024) • UnidosUS: $275,000 for participation and leadership in the Rework Am…
Where does John & Mary R Markle Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in the District of Columbia, New York, and California, which account for 56% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 14 states with a national focus on the United States.
What size grants does John & Mary R Markle Foundation award?
In 2024, John & Mary R Markle Foundation awarded 18 grants totaling $4.9M — an average of about $270K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John & Mary R Markle Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John & Mary R Markle Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John & Mary R Markle Foundation's EIN?
John & Mary R Markle Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-1770307. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John & Mary R Markle Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
The Reich Family Charitable Trust
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$689K
Grants
1
Total Given
$453K
Launa Beuhler Foundation for
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$2K
Grants
4
Total Given
$20K
The Hilary Grace Foundation Inc
EAST AMHERST, NY
Assets
$126K
Grants
2
Total Given
$36K
Uw E J Madden Mem Open Hearts Club 10-214880
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$307K
Hindy's Foundation
BROOKLYN, NY
Assets
$142K
Grants
8
Total Given
$225K
Jeanne & Thomas Hardy Family Foundation
NEW YORK, NY
Assets
$3K
Grants
3
Total Given
$3K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with John & Mary R Markle Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching John & Mary R Markle Foundation to a real strategy.