The Marcus Foundation Inc
The Marcus Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of The Home Depot, and his wife Billi Marcus. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission centered on entrepreneurial philanthropy aimed at saving and changing lives.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$366.8M
+252.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$227.5M
+18.4% YoY
Grant Count
221
+3.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.0M
+14.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Marcus Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Marcus Foundation's grantmaking philosophy is derived from Bernie Marcus' personal life and career experiences as an entrepreneur. The foundation identifies five key areas of philanthropic focus:
- Medical Research and Healthcare — Including support for childhood brain tumor research and other brain-related research
- Jewish Causes
- Free Enterprise — Including veteran initiatives and national security
- The Health and Welfare of Children — With emphasis on civics education
- Targeted Community Support
The foundation's approach emphasizes meeting short-term critical needs while addressing underlying system-wide challenges. The organization seeks partners and grantees committed to developing innovative approaches and bringing creative thinking to their work. Core values include systemic change and immediate responses to critical needs, effective communication and collaboration, and partnerships that leverage the assets and skills of all participants.
Grantmaking
Since its founding in 1989, The Marcus Foundation has distributed more than $2.7 billion through more than 3,500 grants.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Georgia, New York, and Florida, though the foundation has demonstrated nationwide and international impact through its support of major research institutions and organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $366,827,569
- Total giving: $227,455,181
- Total revenues: $547,934,030
- Total expenses: $261,620,885
- Staff: 10 employees
As of 2023:
- Fair market value of all assets: $103,973,296
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $366,827,569 | $103,973,296 | $100,467,714 |
| Revenue | $547,934,030 | $222,024,981 | $102,886,682 |
| Expenses | $261,620,885 | $223,457,384 | $185,342,833 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $258,879,196 | $222,979,632 | $184,831,217 |
| Net Investment Income | $144,533,739 | $1,192,544 | $1,476,214 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,142,365 | $4,011,936 | $4,307,530 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Hillel Fdn for Jewish Campus ($10,575,000), Jewish Education Project ($5,076,000), Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta ($2,256,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ISRAEL EMERGENCY ALLIANCE DBA ALUMS FOR CAMPUS FAIRNESS NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $510,000 |
| JEFFERSON COUNCIL RICHMOND, VA | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $100,000 |
| JEWBELONG UPPER MONTCLAIR, NJ | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $300,000 |
| JEWISH CHRISTIAN DISCOVERY CENTER MARIETTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $400,000 |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS OF NORTH AMERICA NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $1,500,000 |
| JEWISH COMMUNITY LEGACY PROJECT MARIETTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $175,000 |
| JEWISH EDUCATION CENTER OF SOUTH FLORIDA BOCA RATON, FL | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $130,000 |
| JEWISH EDUCATION PROJECT NEW YORK, NY | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $5,076,000 |
| JEWISH FAMILY & CAREER SERVICES ATLANTA, GA | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $719,000 |
| JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES OF WNC INC ASHEVILLE, NC | TO SUPPORT THE EXEMPT PURPOSE OF THE RECEIPIENT ORGANIZATION | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jay Kaiman — Director and President
- Douglas P. Dinapoli — Chief Financial Officer
- Medical Director — Position identified on staff
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BERNARD MARCUS | FORMER CHAIRMAN | 10 | — |
| KEN LANGONE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DOUG HERTZ | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DOUGLAS P DINAPOLI | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 10 | $107,531 |
| FREDERICK MARCUS | DIRECTOR | 10 | $50,076 |
| FREDERICK SLAGLE | FORMER SEC/TREASURER | 5 | — |
| JAMES GRIEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAY KAIMAN | DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT | 40 | $570,048 |
| LARRY SMITH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL LEVEN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MICHAEL MORRIS | DIRECTOR | 10 | $50,039 |
| FRANK BLAKE | DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN | 20 | — |
| RENAY BLUMENTHAL | VICE PRESIDENT | 40 | $423,907 |
| TINA PRICE | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| TONY GELBART | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Marcus Foundation has announced several significant grants in recent years:
The Marcus Foundation awards $14.4 million to create Marcus VITAL Laboratory\**$21.9 million** to the Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to conduct the largest-ever study on profound autism in children
The Marcus Foundation Awards Marcus Autism Center at Children\u2019s Healthcare\**$14.4 million** to Baylor College of Medicine's Center for Aortic Surgery to establish the Marcus VITAL Laboratory
The Marcus Foundation awards $14.4 million to create Marcus VITAL Laboratory\**$30 million** jointly awarded to the University of Michigan and Stanford University for research related to stroke patient brain implants
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Marcus Foundation Inc fund?
The Marcus Foundation's grantmaking philosophy is derived from Bernie Marcus' personal life and career experiences as an entrepreneur. The foundation identifies five key areas of philanthropic focus: 1. **Medical Research and Healthcare** — Including support for childhood brain tumor research and other brain-related research 2. **Jewish Causes** 3. **Free Enterprise** — Including veteran initiatives and national security 4. **The Health and Welfare of Children** — With emphasis on civics educat…
How do I apply for a grant from The Marcus Foundation Inc?
Since its founding in 1989, The Marcus Foundation has distributed more than $2.7 billion through more than 3,500 grants. **Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000 to $25,188,626 • The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; proposals are by invitation only **Recent Grant Activity:** Recent grants include $21.9 million to the Marcus Autism Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for research on profound autism in children, $14.4 million to Baylor College of Medicine's …
Where does The Marcus Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on Georgia, New York, and Florida, though the foundation has demonstrated nationwide and international impact through its support of major research institutions and organizations.
What size grants does The Marcus Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Marcus Foundation Inc awarded 221 grants totaling $227.5M — an average of about $1.0M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Marcus Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Marcus Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Marcus Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Marcus Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1815651. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Marcus Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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