Marks Family Foundation
The Marks Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 2013, based in Bainbridge Island, Washington. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on supporting innovative initiatives across multiple sectors including technology, music, hospitality, food and wine, motorsports, and venture capital.
Key facts about Marks Family Foundation
- EIN
- 46-1352263
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $949,934
- Grants made (2024)
- 27
- Average grant
- $35,183
- Median grant
- $11,100
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (5 of 27, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Washington (82% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who Marks Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Marks Family Foundation's 27 itemized 2024 grants were Washington (82%) and Georgia (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Bainbridge Island, WA (11 grants), Seattle, WA (6 grants), Augusta, GA (5 grants) and Denver, CO (2 grants). None of its 27 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Further the Organization's Charitable Goals" (27 grants).
Is Marks Family Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 27 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 81% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+15%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Marks Family Foundation
- How to evaluate Marks Family Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$950K
+20.6% YoY
Grant Count
27
-3.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$35K
+25.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes itself as "a family of entrepreneurs passionate about innovation" that seeks to fund visionary students, women and girls, disease research, education, music and the arts, and community funding initiatives.
The foundation's approach emphasizes:
- Supporting passionate thinkers with unique perspectives on catalyzing change
- Belief in the power of new ideas and encouragement of risk-taking and innovation
- Trust-based philanthropy with unrestricted funding, allowing grantees to determine resource allocation for maximum impact
- Empowering grantees with tools and resources needed for success and pathways to diversified funding
Grantmaking
The foundation made 16 grants in 2024, with notable recipients including:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations in the Pacific Northwest, with particular emphasis on the Bainbridge Island, Washington area and the broader Seattle region. The foundation also supports organizations in Western New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 27 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2024:
- Total Assets: $23,443,641
- Total Revenues: $6,758,147
- Total Expenses: $1,034,317
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
129 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Bainbridge Island Museum of Art ($204,250), Seattle Symphony Foundation ($160,000), Seattle Opera ($125,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BAINBRIDGE ISLAND MUSEUM OF ART Bainbridge Island, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $204,250 |
| SEATTLE SYMPHONY FOUNDATION Seattle, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $160,000 |
| SEATTLE OPERA Seattle, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $125,000 |
| AUGUSTA JEWISH FEDERATION Augusta, GA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $110,000 |
| HELPLINE HOUSE Bainbridge Island, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $105,000 |
| PILCHUCK GLASS SCHOOL Seattle, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $35,000 |
| ISLANDWOOD Bainbridge Island, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $26,584 |
| BAINBRIDGE ISLAND LAND TRUST Bainbridge Island, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $25,000 |
| BAINBRIDGE ARTISAN RESOURCE NETWORK Bainbridge Island, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $15,000 |
| BAINBRIDGE YOUTH SERVICES Bainbridge Island, WA | FURTHER THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE GOALS | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Elizabeth C. Marks — Executive Director
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian J Marks | President | 2 | — |
| Carol Maione | Secretary | 0.2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation actively distributed grants throughout fiscal year 2024, supporting a diverse portfolio of organizations across arts, education, youth services, and community development sectors. Grant recipients in 2024 included cultural institutions like the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art and Seattle Symphony Foundation, as well as community-focused organizations addressing youth enrichment, domestic violence prevention, and foster youth support.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Marks Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes itself as "a family of entrepreneurs passionate about innovation" that seeks to fund visionary students, women and girls, disease research, education, music and the arts, and community funding initiatives. The foundation's approach emphasizes: • Supporting passionate thinkers with unique perspectives on catalyzing change • Belief in the power of new ideas and encouragement of risk-taking and innovation • Trust-based philanthropy with unrestricted funding, allowing grant…
How do I apply for a grant from Marks Family Foundation?
**Recent Grant Activity (Fiscal Year 2024):** The foundation made 16 grants in 2024, with notable recipients including: • Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA): $204,250 • Seattle Symphony Foundation: $160,000 • Seattle Opera: $125,000 Additional 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $10,000 and supported organizations focused on youth enrichment, domestic violence services, foster youth education, mentoring programs, arts education, and community services. **Grant Characteristics:** • Grants vary…
Where does Marks Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations in the Pacific Northwest, with particular emphasis on the Bainbridge Island, Washington area and the broader Seattle region. The foundation also supports organizations in Western New York.
What size grants does Marks Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Marks Family Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $950K — an average of about $35K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Marks Family Foundation's EIN?
Marks Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1352263. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.