Steward – convener – catalyst – legacy builder
The Marshall Community Foundation is honored to partner with our local friends and neighbors in this capacity through community endowment growth, the distribution of grants and scholarships, and by working to address our community’s most pressing needs. None of this is possible without the support of people like you—partners who choose to invest of their time, talent and treasure and serve as change makers in our own neighborhoods.
Together, we are making lasting local impact for the good of all.
As we launch into 2026, your Community Foundation is stewarding a portfolio of more than $26 million in total assets. These resources reflect the trust our community places in our ability to responsibly manage and grow your donations. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve as a conduit of local generosity, supporting the important work of our community’s nonprofits and the people they impact every day.
Bold Ideas for Future Grant Making
The Foundation values our ability to support our local nonprofit sector through the three reactive grant making platforms we currently offer: Mini-, Momentum and Impact grants.
During the 2024-25 grant cycle, the Foundation distributed $339,560 in total grants from the Fund for Marshall and Marshall Youth Fund. Our agency partners affirm that this form of grantmaking is invaluable, strengthening their ability to respond to immediate needs and serve our community most effectively.
Building on the strength of our reactive grantmaking, the Foundation is in the preliminary stages of exploring a proactive approach to grantmaking, positioning us to address emerging needs and invest strategically in our nonprofit partners to develop long-term solutions.
Proactive grantmaking is an intentional approach that will allow the Foundation to identify community needs, cultivate our strong partnerships, and invest in organizations whose work aligns deeply with our strategic priorities. Rather than relying solely on reactive applications, the foundation will take the initiative to address both arising needs and long-term opportunities through specific requests for proposals.
Last summer, the Foundation asked our volunteers and long-term donors to participate in a survey. The survey was emailed to 345 unique individuals, 200 of whom completed the survey for a 58 percent completion rate. (The industry standard completion rate is 20 to 30 percent.) Those surveyed were asked to rank priorities in order of importance to them, and the following priority rose to the top:
“Address challenges and barriers toward attaining employment, including but not limited to transportation, food security, childcare, personal care items, necessary tools, and appropriate work attire.”
Staff are using survey results to inform the development of a proactive grant making platform, which is currently under development. We hope to launch the new platform by the end of this calendar year.
Ambitious Goals for a Strong Future
A strong Community Foundation stewards resources with care and works to ensure your investments are making a difference, both now and forever. We are keenly aware that our long-standing volunteers and donors are integral to the Foundation’s success, and we are deeply grateful for the leadership, trust, and commitment you continue to share. As we celebrate and value our current partners, we consider the future of our work in the community.
Strengthening engagement with the next generation of our community’s leaders and philanthropists is imperative to building upon the strong foundation laid by those who came before. By creating opportunities for younger community members to learn, lead, and give back, we ensure that the values, traditions, and generosity that define our community continue to thrive for generations to come.
As we look to the future, we remain mindful of how we continue to manage internal operations effectively and efficiently. As our staffing structure, financial resources, and scope of work expands, our staff have committed to keeping operational expenses near 1 percent of the Foundation’s total assets. We recognize that our resources are made possible through the generosity of those we serve, so maintaining strong operational efficiency is a long-term commitment we take very seriously.
Our final goal this fiscal year is to expand our community’s Pillar Society, which recognizes our friends and neighbors who have chosen to invest in the ongoing success of our community through planned giving. Members of the Pillar Society share a deep commitment to our community and to ensuring the values they hold close endure for generations to come. A strong Pillar Society provides our non-profit partners with a reliable, permanent funding source that better allows them to sustain existing programs while responding effectively to emerging community needs over time.
Eye Toward the Future
Every plan your Foundation makes and goal we set is with you – our friends and neighbors – in mind. We understand that we are just momentary stewards of an organization that will impact our community for generations. We are grateful that you have chosen to partner with us on this journey, and trust that – together – we will continue to build a lasting impact.
For more information, to donate to an existing fund or to launch a new fund, please contact the Foundation at (269) 781-2273 or [email protected].