Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation
Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation is a private foundation, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2021. In 2021, it awarded 3 grants totaling $17.9M. Net investment income was $6.4M.
Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation at a glance
In short: Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation gave $17.9M across 3 grants in 2021 (avg $6.0M), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $17,900,000
- +539.3% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $5,966,667
- +752.4% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $5,700,000
- Primary geography
- Ohio (83% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated September 2026.
Who Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Hamilton Community Foundation ($9.1M). Together the top 3 received $17.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 2 grants of 7 (29%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation gives
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $2.8M (2020) to $17.9M (2021). In 2021 it made 3 grants totaling $17.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Community Foundation Hamilton, OH | Sarah M. Shuffield Fund | $9,075,000 |
| Dayton Foundation Dayton, OH | General | $5,700,000 |
| Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program Warwick, RI | General | $3,125,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $6,419,437 | $18,109,672 | $17,900,000 | 3 | $17,996,586 | $6,381,775 | $80,719 |
| 2020 | $11,759,266 | $867,718 | $2,984,966 | $2,800,000 | 4 | — | $774,035 | $745,224 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $81K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation is led by Joseph L. Marcum, Chairman on every filing since 2020; 4 of 5 officers listed in 2021 are compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Joseph L. Marcum
Chairman
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine M. Lowe
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2021)
M. Christina Manchester
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2021)
Sarah M. Shuffield
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2021)
Stephen S. Marcum
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$20K (2020) → $20K (2021)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $20K, to Catherine M Lowe (Trustee). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation
How much does Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation give each year?
Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation gave $17.9M across 3 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $2.8M across 4 grants.
What is Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation's typical grant size?
Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $5,700,000, and its average grant was $5,966,667, across 3 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation give grants?
Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Rhode Island (17%).
Does Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
How much is Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $81K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation's EIN?
Joseph L & Sarah S Marcum Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1190243. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2021
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