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John & Tami Marick Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$10.2M
Grant Range
$2K - $1.0M

John & Tami Marick Foundation Inc (JTMF Foundation)

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,243,204 (2023)
  • Assets: $274,763,075
  • Grant Range: $1,500 - $1,000,000
  • Average Grant: $103,467
  • Number of Grants: 99 awards in 2023, 124 awards in 2022
  • Geographic Focus: Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington), with some grants in Texas
  • Application Process: No unsolicited applications accepted (invitation/trustee discretion only)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.jtmffoundation.org
Location: Wilmington, DE (registered) / Lake Oswego, OR (operational)
Contact: Organizations aligned with focus areas may introduce themselves through the foundation's website contact form

Overview

The JTMF Foundation (John & Tami Marick Foundation) was established in 2020 with proceeds from the sale of Consumer Cellular, a company co-founded by John Marick in 1995 that grew to be the second-largest MVNO in the United States with 4 million customers and over $1.5 billion in annual sales. The foundation represents the culmination of 25 years of Consumer Cellular's culture of giving back and community support.

The foundation is guided by Catholic values and focuses its philanthropy on creating meaningful impact for individuals in need. With assets of approximately $274.8 million, the foundation awarded 99 grants totaling over $10.2 million in 2023. Their approach balances addressing immediate needs with working toward long-term systemic solutions. While not exclusively making grants in the Pacific Northwest, this is where the foundation focuses its giving, "with the intent their local efforts will have broader implications."

Funding Priorities

Four Key Areas of Giving

1. Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
The foundation "believes individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are some of the most loving and special people" and looks for opportunities to help these individuals "be included, productive, happy members of their communities." Grants support programs promoting inclusion, productivity, and community integration.

2. Older Adults
Supports organizations working to eliminate diseases, hunger, and loneliness among older adults. The foundation places "particular importance on finding ways to prevent, detect and treat those with Alzheimer's and dementia." Programs address both physical health challenges and social isolation.

3. Veterans
The foundation "believes individuals who have served the country, particularly those who were put in harm's way, deserve gratitude and support." Grants support programs addressing both the physical and mental well-being of retired military personnel as they cope with their service experiences.

4. Children
Focuses on promoting healthy development of children, "particularly those in diverse and lower-income populations." Grants support programs that provide foundational support during critical developmental years.

Recent Grant Examples

  • The Headstrong Project: $1.15M multi-year grant (2023) to expand mental health care access and clinical capacity for Oregon's 110,000-veteran population
  • Victory Academy: $100,000 grant (2023) for the Compass Capital Campaign
  • Ontario Senior Center: Grant funding to support services for older adults (2024)
  • Hire Heroes USA: Partnership to expand veteran employment support in the Pacific Northwest
  • Central Oregon Community College (COCC) Madras: $1M gift for campus transformation

What They Fund

  • Education programs for priority populations
  • Mental health and wellness services
  • Community integration programs
  • Services addressing isolation, hunger, and basic needs
  • Workforce development for veterans
  • Programs serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  • Alzheimer's and dementia prevention, detection, and treatment initiatives

Geographic Priorities

Primary focus: Oregon, Washington
Secondary focus: Texas
All grants must align with one or more of the four key focus areas

Governance and Leadership

John Marick - Director, President, and Trustee
Co-founded Consumer Cellular in 1995 and led its growth over 25 years. Known for building a corporate culture that emphasized giving back to the community at every milestone.

Tami Marick - Director, Secretary, and Treasurer
Co-founder of the foundation, actively involved in strategic direction and grant-making decisions.

The foundation appears to be run directly by the founders, with no compensation paid to the directors for their service. Their daughter Kelsie has noted that "giving back to the community is a very huge part of what they do at Consumer Cellular, and our whole family really emphasizes that."

Foundation Philosophy: According to their website, the foundation is guided by the principle of "impacting the lives of individuals today, while working to solve long-term challenges" - reflecting their dual approach of addressing immediate needs while investing in systemic solutions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The JTMF Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. The foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations." All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees.

However, organizations that align with the foundation's four focus areas are encouraged to introduce themselves through the contact form on the foundation's website (jtmffoundation.org). The foundation states: "if your organization falls within our areas of giving focus, we would be happy to learn more about you."

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Given the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grant-making, timelines vary based on trustee discretion and existing relationships.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation made 99 awards in 2023 and 124 awards in 2022 to preselected organizations.

Application Success Factors

Since the JTMF Foundation operates on an invitation-only/trustee-discretion model, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's documented priorities and funded projects, organizations can position themselves strategically:

Alignment with Core Values:

  • The foundation is explicitly "guided by their Catholic values" when seeking areas where they can have the largest impact
  • Projects should demonstrate how they address immediate needs while also contributing to long-term systemic solutions
  • The foundation values programs that promote dignity, inclusion, and community integration

Evidence-Based Approaches:

  • Grants to organizations like The Headstrong Project (evidence-based mental health care) and educational institutions suggest the foundation values programs with demonstrated effectiveness
  • The foundation's focus on Alzheimer's/dementia prevention, detection, and treatment indicates interest in research-backed interventions

Geographic Connection:

  • Strong preference for Pacific Northwest organizations, particularly in Oregon and Washington
  • Organizations should demonstrate how their work in the region could have "broader implications" beyond the immediate community

Population Focus:

  • Projects must clearly serve one or more of the four priority populations: individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities, older adults, veterans, or children from diverse/lower-income backgrounds
  • Multi-year, high-impact grants (like the $1.15M Headstrong Project grant) suggest the foundation is willing to make substantial investments in comprehensive solutions

Scale and Impact:

  • The foundation has demonstrated capacity for both small grants ($1,500+) and transformational gifts ($1M+)
  • Average grant size of $103,467 suggests most funding falls in the mid-range
  • Large grants appear to be reserved for organizations with strong track records addressing significant gaps in services

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No public application process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation identifies and selects organizations at trustee discretion.
  • Introduction pathway exists: Organizations aligned with the four focus areas can introduce themselves via the website contact form - this is not an application but may lead to future consideration.
  • Geographic focus matters: Pacific Northwest organizations have a clear advantage, though the foundation does make selective grants in Texas and potentially other locations.
  • Catholic values influence decisions: Understanding Catholic social teaching principles (dignity of the person, common good, preferential option for vulnerable populations) may provide insight into the foundation's priorities.
  • Dual-approach appeals: Projects that address both immediate needs and long-term systemic change align with the foundation's stated philosophy.
  • Substantial grants possible: With an average grant of $103,467 and a maximum demonstrated range up to $1M, the foundation can be a transformational funder for aligned organizations.
  • Multi-year partnerships: The three-year, $1.15M grant to Headstrong Project suggests the foundation is open to multi-year commitments for the right partnerships.

References

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