The Marsh Foundation Inc
The Marsh Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Its 2025 filing reports 26 grants totaling $408,000, with most grant dollars going to recipients in North Carolina.
The Marsh Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Marsh Foundation Inc gave $408K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in North Carolina. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $408,000
- +40.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- -7.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,692
- +51.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $6,275,660
- -0.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (6 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Marsh Foundation Inc
- Contact
Application contact: Gretchen Johnston
Mailing address: PO Box 35329, Charlotte, NC 28235
Phone: (704) 376-0281
Website: https://marshfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Marsh Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Artplus Community Campus ($100K). Together the top 10 received $376K.
Grant Size Distribution
122 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 113 grants of 122 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina, 3% to South Carolina, and 2% to Florida. It also lists shares of 0% for Indiana and Virginia. The named 2025 grantees include organizations in North Carolina, Florida, and South Carolina.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Marsh Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 6 of 26 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $35K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 73% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 72% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $237K (2022) to $408K (2025). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $408K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Artplus Community Campus Charlotte, NC | General Purpose Support | $100,000 |
| Foundation for the Carolinas - Housing Impact Fund Charlotte, NC | General Purpose Support | $100,000 |
| Davidson College Davidson, NC | General Purpose Support | $58,000 |
| Crisis Assistance Ministry Charlotte, NC | General Purpose Support | $27,500 |
| The Crossnore School Crossnore, NC | General Purpose Support | $25,000 |
| Roof Above Inc Charlotte, NC | General Purpose Support | $20,000 |
| Discovery Place Charlotte, NC | General Purpose Support | $20,000 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | General Purpose Support | $10,000 |
| Carolina Thread Trail Charlotte, NC | General Purpose Support | $10,000 |
| Young Men's Christian Association of Greater Charlotte DBA YMCA of Greater Charlotte, NC | General Purpose Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Marsh Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,275,660 | $467,145 | $492,197 | $408,000 | 26 | $412,250 | $179,847 | $462,296 |
| 2024 | $6,296,658 | $855,325 | $360,194 | $290,000 | 28 | $294,250 | $299,015 | $414,573 |
| 2023 | $5,850,005 | $1,002,787 | $346,988 | $279,800 | 25 | $283,750 | $136,629 | $344,786 |
| 2022 | $5,125,410 | $690,828 | $294,390 | $237,000 | 22 | $240,850 | $196,011 | $324,803 |
| 2021 | $4,733,153 | $773,033 | $318,548 | $248,000 | 21 | $251,750 | $248,311 | $322,470 |
| 2020 | $4,274,650 | $716,087 | $322,791 | $269,500 | 21 | — | $135,941 | $259,695 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Marsh Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $462K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The website uses the phrase “Inspire. Teach. Care.” and describes the foundation’s mission as empowering and uplifting youth in need. Its 2025 grants went to organizations working in areas including housing and homelessness, crisis assistance, education, science, conservation, youth services, and food access.
For example, Crisis Assistance Ministry says it assists and advocates for people in financial crisis as they move toward self-sufficiency; Roof Above says it works to end homelessness through housing and homeless services; and Alexander Youth Network says it provides treatment to children with serious emotional and behavioral problems. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 26 grants totaling $408,000. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $100,000, with a median grant of $3,750. Its largest grants included $100,000 each to ArtPlus Community Campus and the Foundation for the Carolinas’ Housing Impact Fund; $58,000 to Davidson College; $27,500 to Crisis Assistance Ministry; and $25,000 to The Crossnore School. Other listed grants included $20,000 each to Roof Above and Discovery Place, and $10,000 each to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Carolina Thread Trail. All of these grants were reported as general purpose support.
The foundation’s filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications should be submitted in written format to Gretchen Johnston. The filing states that grants are made to organizations, not individuals or partisan political programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gretchen M Johnston as president, Hunter J McLawhorn as vice president and assistant secretary, and James H McLawhorn as secretary.
The Marsh Foundation Inc is led by Gretchen M. Johnston, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gretchen M. Johnston
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Hunter J. McLawhorn
Vice President & Assistant Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
James H. McLawhorn
Secretary
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Marsh Foundation Inc
How much does The Marsh Foundation Inc give each year?
The Marsh Foundation Inc gave $408K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $290K across 28 grants.
What is The Marsh Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Marsh Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $3,750, and its average grant was $15,692, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Marsh Foundation Inc that year got $35K on average.
Where does The Marsh Foundation Inc give grants?
The Marsh Foundation Inc gives mostly in North Carolina: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (8 grants) and Okatie, SC (2 grants).
Does The Marsh Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Marsh Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Marsh Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Marsh Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Artplus Community Campus ($100,000), Foundation for the Carolinas - Housing Impact Fund ($100,000) and Davidson College ($58,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Marsh Foundation Inc?
The Marsh Foundation Inc reported $6.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $412K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $462K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Marsh Foundation Inc fund?
The website uses the phrase “Inspire. Teach. Care.” and describes the foundation’s mission as empowering and uplifting youth in need. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Marsh Foundation Inc?
The Marsh Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check marshfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The Marsh Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Marsh Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 56-6056515. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in North Carolina
North Carolina Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Marsh Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
The Trexler Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Trexler Foundation supports charitable organizations working in areas including education, housing, the arts, hunger relief, and assistance for people in crisis, primarily in North Carolina. In 2025, it made 23 grants totaling $497,000; grants ranged from $1,000 to $165,000, with a median of $5,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$9.2M
Grants
23
Total Given
$497K
Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community
Charlotte, NC
The Foundation supports Jewish programs and services, education, arts and culture, and other charitable work including human services, health, housing, and youth development. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $23,600, with awards ranging from $5,250 to over $2.1 million; 84% of grant dollars went to North Carolina organizations. It grants only to approved 501(c)(3) organizations, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$228.6M
Grants
82
Total Given
$8.5M
The Marc & Mattye Silverman Family
Charlotte, NC
Assets
$3.3M
Grants
74
Total Given
$108K
Philip L Van Every Foundation
Wilmington, DE
The Philip L. Van Every Foundation funds established 501(c)(3) nonprofits in North and South Carolina, primarily in human and community services, education, healthcare and rehabilitation, and arts, culture, and history; it favors special projects and capital needs over operating costs. In 2025, grants ranged from $7,500 to $200,000, with a median of $25,000. Its 2025 filing says it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$39.6M
Grants
51
Total Given
$1.8M
Nucor Charitable Foundation
Charlotte, NC
NUCOR Charitable Foundation funds a varied range of charitable work, including survivor services, memorials, health, education, and hunger relief. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000; nearly half of grant dollars went to North Carolina, with additional support in Georgia, Washington, D.C., Tennessee, and South Carolina. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$38.3M
Grants
51
Total Given
$5.2M
More similar funders
More Funders in North Carolina
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Marsh Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-marsh-foundation-inc-morg_ed3a04ba777f468aa728167541053fc6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_566056515_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Marsh Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-marsh-foundation-inc-morg_ed3a04ba777f468aa728167541053fc6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Marsh Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Marsh Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?