The Marsh Foundation Inc
The Marsh Foundation Inc is a company-sponsored foundation established in 1954 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The organization operates both as a grantmaking foundation and as a direct service provider, offering residential treatment, foster care, adoption services, and clinical services for youth in need.
Key facts about The Marsh Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 56-6056515
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $290,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 28
- Average grant
- $10,357
- Median grant
- $4,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (6 of 28, 2024)
- Total assets
- $6,296,658
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (90% 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 The Marsh Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Marsh Foundation Inc's 28 itemized 2024 grants were North Carolina (90%) and South Carolina (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charlotte, NC (7 grants) and Okatie, SC (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Marsh Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 28 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $6K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 75% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 71% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 The Marsh Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate The Marsh Foundation Inc as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$6.3M
+7.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$290K
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
28
+12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-7.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Marsh Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $415K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: "Inspire. Teach. Care."
The foundation's enduring philosophy stems from the vision of George H. Marsh, expressed in his Last Will and Testament dated November 26, 1919. He sought to establish a foundation dedicated to supporting youth "who by reason of misfortune or any other cause are denied the opportunity for secure home training, education and instruction," with the hope that the foundation would "become an instrument of enduring and ever-increasing benefit to mankind."
Primary Funding Interests:
- Museums
- K-12 education
- Health
- Human services
- Christianity
Grantmaking
The foundation provides grants to support its stated focus areas. Beyond grantmaking, The Marsh Foundation operates direct service programs for youth, including:
Ready to take the next step with The Marsh Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and serves youth through its direct service programs in that region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 28 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets (2023): $5,850,005
Total Giving (2023): $279,800
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $6,296,658 | $5,850,005 | $5,125,410 |
| Revenue | $855,325 | $1,002,787 | $690,828 |
| Expenses | $360,194 | $346,988 | $294,390 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $294,250 | $283,750 | $240,850 |
| Net Investment Income | $299,015 | $136,629 | $196,011 |
| Distributable Amount | $414,573 | $344,786 | $324,803 |
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
117 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Davidson College ($59,000), Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation ($45,000), The Crossnore School ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DAVIDSON COLLEGE Davidson, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $59,000 |
| CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG LIBRARY FOUNDATION Charlotte, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $45,000 |
| THE CROSSNORE SCHOOL Crossnore, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| WEE KIRK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Linville, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY Charlotte, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| ROOF ABOVE INC Charlotte, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR THE CAROLINAS Charlotte, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $20,000 |
| DILWORTH CENTER FOR CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY Charlotte, NC | GENERAL PURPOSE SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| 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 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gretchen M Johnston | President | — | — |
| Hunter J McLawhorn | Vice President / Asst. Secretary | — | — |
| James H McLawhorn | Secretary | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Marsh Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission Statement:** "Inspire. Teach. Care." The foundation's enduring philosophy stems from the vision of George H. Marsh, expressed in his Last Will and Testament dated November 26, 1919. He sought to establish a foundation dedicated to supporting youth "who by reason of misfortune or any other cause are denied the opportunity for secure home training, education and instruction," with the hope that the foundation would "become an instrument of enduring and ever-increasing benefit to mankind…
How do I apply for a grant from The Marsh Foundation Inc?
**Total Assets:** $5,850,005 **Total Annual Giving:** $279,800 The foundation provides grants to support its stated focus areas. Beyond grantmaking, The Marsh Foundation operates direct service programs for youth, including: • **Residential Services:** Three on-campus halls serving males ages 7 to 17 • **Foster Care:** Foster homes providing care to more than 50 children over the past year • **Adoption:** Licensed homes with dual foster care and adoption capability • **Clinical Services:** Serv…
Where does The Marsh Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation is based in Charlotte, North Carolina and serves youth through its direct service programs in that region.
What size grants does The Marsh Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Marsh Foundation Inc awarded 28 grants totaling $290K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Marsh Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Marsh Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $415K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.