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Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund

Annual Giving
$7.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.5M

Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7,105,595 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $500,000 (most under $200,000)
  • Total Grants Since 2001: Over $141 million
  • Number of Awards: 164 (2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Oregon only (slight preference for Bend area)
  • Founded: 1970

Contact Details

Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund
Post Office Box 1496
Bend, Oregon 97709

Email: info@mcmfundgiving.org
Website: https://mcmfundgiving.org

Overview

The Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund (MCM Fund) was established in 1970 by Maybelle Clark Macdonald and her husband, Fred Macdonald, with the mission "to relieve the misfortune and promote the well-being of mankind." With over 50 years of grantmaking history, the foundation has distributed more than $141 million in grants to Oregon nonprofits since 2001. The fund emphasizes long-term relationships with community-based organizations and prioritizes building leadership capacity to sustain programs. With $7.1 million in annual giving distributed across 164 grants in 2024, MCM Fund supports Oregon nonprofits across five core areas: cultural arts, education, human services, medical, and public benefit. The foundation has a particular interest in programs that benefit children, including scholarships, youth arts programs, and services for vulnerable youth.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The MCM Fund does not operate distinct named grant programs but funds across five priority areas with a focus on long-term sustainability and leadership development.

Grant Size: $5,000 - $500,000 (most grants under $200,000)
Application Method: Invitation only, requires board sponsorship before submitting Letter of Inquiry
Grant Cycles: Spring (April 15 deadline) and Fall (October 15 deadline)

Priority Areas

Cultural Arts ($10.9 million distributed through June 2023)

  • Performing arts organizations (Oregon Symphony)
  • Museums and cultural centers
  • Arts education programs
  • Community arts initiatives
  • Youth arts programming

Education

  • K-12 schools (Edison High School)
  • Colleges and universities (Oregon Institute of Technology, University of Oregon, Central Oregon Community College)
  • Youth mentoring programs
  • Educational scholarships
  • Programs for students with learning differences

Human Services (Primary mission focus)

  • Food security (Oregon Food Bank)
  • Homelessness services (Helping Hands)
  • Domestic violence prevention
  • Poverty alleviation
  • Healthcare access
  • Alcohol and drug rehabilitation
  • Services for abused and neglected children

Medical

  • Medical equipment
  • Public health initiatives
  • Healthcare technology
  • Patient care improvements (American Red Cross, Providence Seaside)

Public Benefit

  • Community development projects
  • Public infrastructure (Harper's Playground)
  • Civic initiatives

Special Priority: Programs benefiting children, including disabled youth, educational opportunities, and protective services.

What They Don't Fund

The fund does not publicly list specific exclusions, but operates exclusively within Oregon state boundaries. Based on their invitation-only model and emphasis on preselected organizations, they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside Oregon
  • Unsolicited applications from organizations without board connections

Governance and Leadership

Officers

  • Clark C. Munro - Chair
  • Monique M. Sanvitale - President
  • Maurie M. Munro - Secretary

Directors

  • Janeen McAninch
  • Gary R. Branden
  • Gene d'Autremont
  • Warner R. Munro
  • Clark C. Munro, Jr.

Staff

  • Jennifer J. Petrie - Operations Manager

Leadership Philosophy

The fund emphasizes Maybelle Clark Macdonald's legacy of "making long-term commitments to leverage the support of community leaders" for ongoing benefit to recipient organizations. The leadership philosophy centers on the principle that "Oregon is our community," reflecting their geographic commitment and sustained investment approach.

According to Dennis Keenan, former executive director of Catholic Charities, Mrs. Macdonald was deeply committed to vulnerable populations and "cared especially about those in marginalized circumstances facing difficult situations."

The fund states: "We invest in the leadership necessary to sustain and grow important programs," emphasizing capacity building over one-time project support.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: This funder does not have a public application process.

The MCM Fund operates exclusively through invitation-only grantmaking. Organizations cannot submit unsolicited letters of inquiry. The application process requires:

  1. Board Sponsorship Required: Organizations must obtain sponsorship from a member of the board of directors before submitting any application materials.

  2. No Public Contact Information: The foundation does not provide individual board member contact information or any mechanism to solicit sponsorships.

  3. Preselected Organizations: The fund "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations" with whom they have established relationships.

  4. Letter of Inquiry Deadlines (for sponsored organizations):

    • Spring Cycle: February 15 (final deadline April 15)
    • Fall Cycle: August 15 (final deadline October 15)

Getting on Their Radar

This section contains specific information about how the MCM Fund identifies and develops relationships with potential grantees:

Board-Driven Relationship Model: The fund's approach centers on board member connections. According to their stated policy, board relationships are "essential to our charge." Board members identify organizations in their networks and communities that align with the fund's mission.

Long-Term Commitment Approach: The fund explicitly states they prioritize "long-term commitments" and work with "community-based, preselected Oregon not-for-profit organizations with whom we have established relationships." This suggests that initial grants often lead to multi-year support.

Community Leader Engagement: The fund leverages "the support of community leaders" - indicating that being known to Oregon nonprofit sector leaders, particularly those who may have connections to fund board members, is the primary pathway to consideration.

Strategic Note: Organizations interested in MCM Fund support should focus on excellence in their work, visibility in the Oregon nonprofit sector, and building relationships with established Oregon philanthropic leaders. The fund discovers organizations through their board members' community involvement rather than through direct outreach.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The fund operates two annual cycles with Letter of Inquiry deadlines in February (spring) and August (fall), with final deadlines in April and October respectively. Actual decision and notification timelines are not documented in public materials.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With 164 awards made in 2024 from a preselected pool of organizations, success rates are not comparable to open application processes.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Given the relationship-based model and emphasis on long-term commitments, organizations with board sponsorship can likely apply in subsequent cycles.

Application Success Factors

Given the unique invitation-only structure, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, the fund's stated priorities and philosophy provide insight into what they value:

1. Long-Term Sustainability Focus

The fund explicitly commits to "assisting organizations in achieving sustainability of programs and services through increasing their fundraising capacity." Organizations that demonstrate:

  • Strong fundraising capacity or commitment to building it
  • Sustainable program models
  • Long-term strategic planning

2. Leadership Development

The fund states: "We invest in the leadership necessary to sustain and grow important programs." They value:

  • Strong organizational leadership
  • Community leadership engagement
  • Capacity building initiatives

3. Children and Vulnerable Populations

Based on founder Maybelle Clark Macdonald's values and documented priorities:

  • Programs serving children (especially at-risk or disabled youth)
  • Services for marginalized populations
  • Protective services for abused and neglected children

4. Oregon Community Impact

With the philosophy "Oregon is our community," they prioritize:

  • Deep Oregon roots and community connections
  • Statewide impact potential
  • Bend-area organizations (slight preference given headquarters location)

5. Examples of Funded Work

Recent documented grants include:

  • Oregon Institute of Technology: $150,000 for new Wilsonville campus
  • Central Oregon Community College: $300,000 for "Growing Together" campaign (including $50,000 matching funds)
  • Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge: $45,000 for lodge siding completion
  • Oregon Symphony: Multi-year support for K-12 music education programs serving Title 1 schools
  • Oregon Food Bank: Food security initiatives
  • Helping Hands: Homeless services

These examples demonstrate funding for capital projects, education infrastructure, arts access for underserved youth, and direct human services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Board connections are essential: Without board sponsorship, there is no pathway to funding. This is a relationship-driven funder, not an open application funder.

  • Focus on capacity building: The fund prioritizes organizations seeking to strengthen their fundraising capacity and achieve long-term program sustainability, not just project funding.

  • Children are a priority: Programs benefiting children, particularly vulnerable or underserved youth, receive special consideration across all funding areas.

  • Oregon-only, with Bend preference: All grants stay within Oregon state boundaries, with slight preference for the Bend area where the fund is headquartered.

  • Think long-term partnerships: With a stated emphasis on "long-term commitments" and established relationships, this funder invests in multi-year partnerships rather than one-off grants.

  • Size matters less than mission alignment: Grants range from $5,000 to $500,000, indicating flexibility based on organizational capacity and project scope rather than rigid grant tiers.

  • Leadership quality is crucial: The fund explicitly invests in "leadership necessary to sustain and grow important programs" - demonstrating strong organizational leadership is critical.

References

  1. MCM Fund Official Website - Home Page. https://mcmfundgiving.org/ (Accessed December 2024)

  2. MCM Fund - Our Story. https://mcmfundgiving.org/our-story/ (Accessed December 2024)

  3. MCM Fund - Our Board. https://mcmfundgiving.org/our-board/ (Accessed December 2024)

  4. MCM Fund - Funding Areas. https://mcmfundgiving.org/portfolio-items/funding-areas/ (Accessed December 2024)

  5. MCM Fund - Grants. https://mcmfundgiving.org/grants/ (Accessed December 2024)

  6. Inside Philanthropy - Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/oregon-grants/maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund (Accessed December 2024)

  7. Inside Philanthropy - Top Things to Know About the Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund in Oregon. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2023-1-5-top-things-to-know-about-the-maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund-in-oregon (Accessed December 2024)

  8. Instrumentl - Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund (Accessed December 2024)

  9. Cause IQ - Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund,237108002/ (Accessed December 2024)

  10. Grantmakers.io - Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/237108002-maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund/ (Accessed December 2024)

  11. Oregon Institute of Technology - Oregon Tech Awarded $150,000 Grant by the Maybelle Clark MacDonald Fund. https://www.oit.edu/news/oregon-tech-awarded-150000-grant-maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund (Accessed December 2024)

  12. Central Oregon Community College - "Growing Together" Campaign Moved by $300K from Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. https://cocc.edu/news/growing-together-moved-by-300k-from-maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund (Accessed December 2024)

  13. Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge - Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund Awards Friends of Santiam Pass Ski Lodge $45,000. https://www.santiampassskilodge.org/annoucements/2023/6/2/maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund-awards-friends-of-santiaam-pass-ski-lodge-5000-for-completion-of-the-the-lodges-siding (Accessed December 2024)

  14. Portland Monthly - Fighting Hunger with Humility. https://www.pdxmonthly.com/sponsored/2020/03/fighting-hunger-with-humility (Accessed December 2024)

  15. Imprint News - The Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. https://imprintnews.org/funders/maybelle-clark-macdonald-fund (Accessed December 2024)

  16. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Maybelle Clark Macdonald Fund. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/237108002 (Accessed December 2024)

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