The Marin Community Foundation

Name: Marin Community Foundation
Price range: $

Connects the people who want to create change in the world with the organizations that can produce the greatest impact.

Current News & Resources

California Disaster Response

Racial Justice

Reproductive Rights

Hunger Relief in the Horn of Africa

Giving is personal.

Perhaps there’s a cause or an organization that’s special to you. Perhaps giving is a family tradition. Or maybe you want to start a family tradition. Whatever the reason, you want to partner with someone who understands you and your goals and can make your experience easy, effective and joyful.

Welcome to MCF.

We're here to provide access to the people, resources and issue-area expertise to transform your philanthropic ambitions into reality.

At A Glance

About the Marin Community Foundation

1 Oversees over $2.7 billion in philanthropic assets

2 Distributed more than $254 million in grants in FY22

3 Distribution trustee for the Buck Family Fund

4 Makes grants to charitable organizations locally, nationally and internationally

5 Grants go to a broad array of educational, medical, social and environmental issues

6 Partners with over 550 individuals & families in their giving

7 Manages more than 860 different funds

8 Has granted $2.3 billion over the past 30 years

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

The answer is simple: individualized service. Tell us the type of experience you want and we’ll deliver it. Interested in designing a family giving strategy? We’ll facilitate it. Want to explore innovative new ways to put your philanthropic dollars to work? Done. Thinking about international grantmaking? We’ll do the research.

Tailored. Focused. Personal. It’s all about you.

"Dedicated people in a well-run organization committed to making philanthropy the pleasure that it should be."
- MCF Donor

"MCF provides an invaluable analytical approach to grant-making as well as meaningful assistance in formulating a giving plan."
- MCF Donor

"MCF makes it possible for donors to focus more of their time on grant making by efficiently handling administration, accounting, correspondence, and investing and by acting as a resource of information about effectively-run charities."
- MCF Donor

MCF Innovation Timeline

2020 Launched The Lens

2021

Launched The Lens

A program which allows donors to add an increased level of intention to their philanthropy by using a racial or gender equity framework.

2019 Launched the Venture Impact Program, The Family Office of Philanthropy, and Commissioned The Book of Mom

2019

Launched the Venture Impact Program, The Family Office of Philanthropy, and The Book of Mom

Launched the Venture Impact Program
An initiative that enables impact investing via grantmaking.

Established The Family Office of Philanthropy
A multi-disciplinary team focused on serving the needs of Virtuoso clients.

Commissioned The Book of Mom
Featuring insights from a human-centered design research project of mothers living in poverty in Marin.

2018 Opened a branch office in San Francisco

2018

Opened a branch office in San Francisco

A stylish co-working space in Jackson Square to better serve advisors and donors throughout the Bay Area.

2016 Launched Virtuoso

2016

Launched Virtuoso

MCF’s modern alternative to a private foundation.

2015 Launched Philanthropy Inc.

2015

Launched Philanthropy Inc.

MCF’s customized philanthropic service for advisory firms.

2012 Commissioned A Portrait of Marin

2012

Commissioned A Portrait of Marin

The first comprehensive analysis of the county’s characteristics and disparities.

2007 Offered international grantmaking to donors

2007

Offered international grantmaking to donors.

2005 Instituted a nondiscrimination policy

2005

Instituted a nondiscrimination policy

Led the community foundation field by instituting a nondiscrimination policy for all grants, discretionary and advised.

2004 Launched the MCF Giving Center

2004

Launched the MCF Giving Center

Enabling donors to make secure online grants, 24/7.

2001 Published "Making a Difference in Marin"

2001

Published "Making a Difference in Marin"

The first comprehensive report on giving and volunteering in the county.

1999 Established MCF's Legacy Giving Program

1999

Established MCF's Legacy Giving Program

To enable donors to incorporate philanthropy into their estate planning.

1989 Launched the MCF Loan Fund

1989

Launched the MCF Loan Fund

(Now called CommunityFirst) to enable nonprofits critical access to financing options which they may not be able to access or afford through traditional commercial avenues.