The Marietta Community Foundation isn't simply one large pool of assets, but a collection of over 100 individual component Funds. Each Fund functions like a separate "account," disbursing money to charity in accordance with the donor's restrictions and/or instructions. These more than 100 different Funds can be separated into eight different Fund categories that are listed below. Collectively, they distribute over $500,000 a year to charities throughout the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The Foundation is proud to be one of just a handful of community foundations across the nation that does not charge an administrative fee for administering its Funds on behalf of donors.

This is only possible because the Foundation enjoys a strong based of unrestricted assets, making it the envy of small community foundations everywhere. These Unrestricted Funds support both the operations of the Foundation and provide grants to other non-profits.

The only expenses to which a Fund might be subjected are the investment management fees which are charged by the Foundation's external investment professionals. However, the Foundation's size and charitable status has helped it negotiate greatly rebated investment fees. The vast majority of the Foundation's Funds are assessed between 0.32% to 0.34% annually for these expert services -- which is taken out directly by the investment houses themselves. This is possible because of the partnership the Foundation has created with local investment managers.

We must never forget that the Marietta Community Foundation is a charity, it does not exist to make a profit. The Foundation's Board has made the strategic decision to subsidize the cost of administering its more than 100 Funds out of its own unrestricted assets. Every dollar that isn't absorbed by an administration fee is another dollar that can be distributed to worthy charities in our community.

Unrestricted Funds
Donors place no restrictions on how these funds are to be used, giving the Foundation the greatest flexibility in making grants to address the community’s most pressing needs.

The Foundation offers competitive grants three times a year enabled by the generous donations from the community. Marietta Community Foundation adds all general and memorial contributions to its unrestricted funds and currently manages five such funds.

Donor Advised Funds
Many donors maintain an active interest in the Foundation by participating in a grant-making process. Donor Advised Funds allow suggestions for distributions to specific charities. This fund type is especially useful for donors who want to take a charitable deduction one year and make distributions from the income or principal over several years.

Field of Interest Funds
The donor directs the Foundation to support an area of choice; e.g., arts, education, health or recreation. The Foundation's Board of Governors awards grants to organizations within the specified field.

Designated Funds
The donor specifies qualified organizations for support during their lifetimes and beyond. If at any time the named organization changes its purpose, or ceases to exist, MCF selects additional qualified organizations in order to ensure that the donor’s charitable intent is perpetuated.

Designated-Organization Endowment Funds
Established by a qualified charitable organization, this type of fund generally distributes income at least annually to carry forward the organization’s purpose. Charitable organizations place endowment funds with MCF as a means of protecting them for the future.

Designated-Administrative Fund
Administrative funds provide support for the ongoing operation of the Marietta Community Foundation. This support permits the Foundation to charge no administrative fees to the funds entrusted to it for charitable purposes.

Designated-Scholarship Funds
Scholarship funds are established with strict guidelines and with a predetermined committee, outside the Foundation, to review nominations and recommend recipients.

Builders Funds
Funds that are being built to reach the amount needed to establish a separate fund at the Foundation.