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Marksbury Family Foundation Inc. is a private corporation based in NICHOLASVILLE, KY. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2009. It holds total assets of $13.3M. Annual income is reported at $2.2M. Total assets have grown from $4.4M in 2011 to $13.3M in 2024. The foundation is governed by 6 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2016 to 2024. The foundation primarily funds organizations in Central Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and Charleston SC. According to available records, Marksbury Family Foundation Inc. has made 14 grants totaling $2.3M, with a median grant of $75K. Annual giving has grown from $519K in 2021 to $1.8M in 2022. Individual grants have ranged from $10K to $417K, with an average award of $165K. The foundation has supported 7 unique organizations. Grants have been distributed to organizations in Kentucky and Colorado. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
The Marksbury Family Foundation is a strategic, high-engagement funder that serves as lead donor on major projects with total budgets of $1M-$5M. They primarily work with preselected organizations but issue public RFPs through their website. To approach this foundation:
1. Monitor marksburyfamilyfoundation.org/current-rfps/ for active Requests for Proposals 2. Demonstrate innovation — the foundation explicitly seeks projects that represent new programs, facilities, or geographic expansion 3. Show measurable, sustainable growth potential for individuals, communities, and local economies 4. Ensure your project is located in Kentucky (preferably Central or Eastern) or Charleston, SC 5. Be prepared to present a comprehensive project budget in the $1M-$5M range with matching funding commitments 6. Highlight your organization's capacity to manage a large-scale initiative — the foundation wants to partner with leading nonprofits ready to expand
The foundation contributed $981,000 across 15 grants in 2024 from a $13.3M asset base. Typical individual grants range from $1,000 to $347,000, with a median of $12,000 and average of approximately $53,567. The foundation uses an RFP-based process and focuses on being the lead donor on capital and programmatic expansion projects. Their 16+ completed projects span education (Davis Marksbury Building at UK, Junior Achievement BizTown), community infrastructure (Lexington Public Library branch, Julietta Market, WayPoint Center), human services (Nurse-Family Partnership, Big Brothers Big Sisters), and entrepreneurship (Awesome Inc Fellowship, Keenstart Governor's School for Entrepreneurs). The wide grant range reflects their model of both anchor gifts on large capital projects and smaller programmatic grants.
| Foundation | Location | Assets | Median Grant | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marksbury Family Foundation | Nicholasville, KY | $13.3M | $12,000 | Education, STEM, Community Dev |
| Scripps Family Fund for Education And The Arts | Ft Mitchell, KY | $29.9M | $30,000 | Education, Arts |
| Jerry E Baker Foundation | Bowling Green, KY | $28.1M | $3,000 | General |
| Elsa M Heisel Sule Charitable Trust | Ft Mitchell, KY | $25.5M | $9,000 | General |
| Woodland Farm Foundation | Russell Springs, KY | $25.4M | $33,130 | General |
Among Kentucky-based private foundations, the Marksbury Family Foundation stands out for its strategic, high-engagement lead-donor approach despite a smaller asset base. While larger foundations distribute more grants at higher medians, Marksbury distinguishes itself by targeting $1M-$5M projects and leveraging its capital to catalyze significantly larger initiatives.
The foundation was recognized as the 2023 Distinguished Philanthropist by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, KY Bluegrass Chapter. Recent major projects include the Lexington Public Library Marksbury Family Branch (a two-story renovation opened fall 2023) and ongoing support for the Blue Grass Community Foundation's GoodGiving Challenge (annual since 2018). The foundation responded to COVID-19 with emergency PPE and food assistance grants in both Kentucky and Charleston, SC. Their active RFP page suggests continued grantmaking in 2024-2025 across their focus areas of education, STEM, community development, and entrepreneurship.
1. Check RFPs regularly: The foundation posts current Requests for Proposals at marksburyfamilyfoundation.org/current-rfps/ 2. Think big: Target project budgets of $1M-$5M — the foundation wants to be your lead donor on transformative initiatives, not fund routine operations 3. Emphasize innovation: Every funded project involved establishing something new — a new building, new program, new geographic area, or new approach 4. Quantify impact: The mission emphasizes "sustainable and measurable growth" — your proposal must include clear metrics for individual, community, and economic outcomes 5. Geographic fit is essential: Projects must be in Kentucky (Central or Eastern preferred) or Charleston, SC — no exceptions apparent in their portfolio 6. Build capacity first: Past grantees are established nonprofits with track records — organizations like United Way, Junior Achievement, and Centre College — not early-stage nonprofits 7. Note preselection tendency: While RFPs exist, the foundation acknowledges it primarily supports preselected organizations — building relationships through community engagement may be as important as a formal application
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Smallest Grant
$1K
Median Grant
$12K
Average Grant
$54K
Largest Grant
$347K
Based on 15 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
Major infrastructure and building projects for nonprofit partners
Grants for innovative, scalable programs that expand nonprofit reach
Emergency PPE and food assistance funding
Lead donor partnerships on $1M-$5M community development projects
The foundation contributed $981,000 across 15 grants in 2024 from a $13.3M asset base. Typical individual grants range from $1,000 to $347,000, with a median of $12,000 and average of approximately $53,567. The foundation uses an RFP-based process and focuses on being the lead donor on capital and programmatic expansion projects. Their 16+ completed projects span education (Davis Marksbury Building at UK, Junior Achievement BizTown), community infrastructure (Lexington Public Library branch, Jul.
Marksbury Family Foundation Inc. has distributed a total of $2.3M across 14 grants. The median grant size is $75K, with an average of $165K. Individual grants have ranged from $10K to $417K.
The Marksbury Family Foundation is a strategic, high-engagement funder that serves as lead donor on major projects with total budgets of $1M-$5M. They primarily work with preselected organizations but issue public RFPs through their website. To approach this foundation: 1. Monitor marksburyfamilyfoundation.org/current-rfps/ for active Requests for Proposals 2. Demonstrate innovation — the foundation explicitly seeks projects that represent new programs, facilities, or geographic expansion 3. Sho.
Marksbury Family Foundation Inc. is headquartered in NICHOLASVILLE, KY. While based in KY, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 2 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan Marksbury | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Davis L Marksbury Jr | CHAIRMAN | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Beverly E Marksbury | TREASURER/SECRETARY | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Stacie Marksbury | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Davis L Marksbury Iii | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Doris G Marksbury | DIRECTOR | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
N/A
Total Assets
$13.3M
Fair Market Value
N/A
Net Worth
$13.3M
Grants Paid
N/A
Contributions
N/A
Net Investment Income
N/A
Distribution Amount
N/A
Total Grants
14
Total Giving
$2.3M
Average Grant
$165K
Median Grant
$75K
Unique Recipients
7
Most Common Grant
$50K
of 2022 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegrass Community FoundationDONATION TO ENHANCE QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE BLUEGRASS REGION | Lexington, KY | $417K | 2022 |
| Lexington Public Library FoundationCAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLEDGE OF $300K OVER SIX YEARS TO REBUILD A LIBRARY BRANCH | Lexington, KY | $300K | 2022 |
| Lexington Hearing & Speech CenterDONATION TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR HEARING, SPEECH, AND LANGUAGE IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS | Lexington, KY | $75K | 2022 |
| Nurse Family PartnershipDONATION TO POSITIVELY TRANSFORM THE LIVES OF VULNERABLE BABIES, MOTHERS AND FAMILIES | Denver, CO | $50K | 2022 |
| Keenstartkentucky Entrepreneurship EducationDONATION TO AID STUDENTS IN THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING ENTREPRENEURS AND KEY BUSINESS LEADERS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS KENTUCKY | Lexington, KY | $50K | 2022 |
| KeenstartDONATION TO AID STUDENTS IN THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS BECOMING ENTREPRENEURS AND KEY BUSINESS LEADERS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS KENTUCKY | Lexington, KY | $15K | 2021 |
| Awesome Center For Entrepreneurship IncDONATION TO AID IN GOAL OF BUILDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY IN KENTUCKY | Lexington, KY | $10K | 2021 |