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Richard E And Nancy P Marriott Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$4.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,000,000 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (fall decision cycle)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $50,000 (first-time applicants: $5,000-$10,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Washington D.C. metropolitan area (primary), Montgomery County MD, Utah, New Hampshire

Contact Details

Website: https://remnpmfoundation.org/ Phone: (301) 246-0124 Email: info@remnpmfoundation.org Address: Bethesda, MD

Overview

Established in 1999 by Richard E. and Nancy P. Marriott, the Richard E. & Nancy P. Marriott Foundation is a private family foundation with assets of approximately $62 million. The foundation awarded approximately $4 million in grants in 2023, distributed across approximately 150 grants. The foundation's mission is to help support organizations to increase education and human services, with a focus on the Washington D.C. metropolitan region. Richard and Nancy Marriott signed The Giving Pledge in 2013, committing to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy, with the bulk of their estate planned to go to a charitable foundation run by their four daughters.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • General Operating Support: Grants typically range from $1,000 to $50,000
  • First-Time Applicants: Recommended to request $5,000-$10,000
  • Application Method: Annual cycle with August 1 deadline, fall decision-making

Priority Areas

Education Focus:

  • Early childhood education (birth to five years)
  • Brain development from birth to three years
  • High-quality Pre-K programs to close achievement gaps
  • Teacher and staff development
  • K-12 academics and youth development
  • Youth leadership programs and mentoring

Human Services Focus:

  • Food security for vulnerable populations
  • Ending homelessness and relief from hunger
  • Gainful employment opportunities for vulnerable youth and adults
  • Job training and employment counseling
  • Workforce development in hospitality and technology sectors
  • Programs that help individuals with limited skills find stable employment at livable wages

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (except through scholarship program)
  • Government agencies
  • For-profit businesses
  • Special events or conferences

Governance and Leadership

Richard E. Marriott - President and Director: Chairman of Host Hotels & Resorts, the largest lodging Real Estate Investment Trust in the United States. He is the younger son of Marriott Corporation founders J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott. He began his career in the family hospitality business and held various executive positions before the company's strategic split in 1993.

Nancy P. Marriott - Director: Co-founder with Richard of the foundation, committed philanthropist and Giving Pledge signatory.

Nancie Lynch - CEO, Treasurer, and Secretary: Leads the foundation's day-to-day operations and also leads two other private family foundations. Compensation: $144,575.

In their Giving Pledge statement, Richard and Nancy explained: "the bulk of our estate will go to a charitable foundation that will be run by our four very capable daughters who are already heavily involved in supporting their own communities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications through an online application portal. Applicants must create an account with an email address and password. All grants require a programmatic report documenting how funds were used, submitted online. Organizations that do not submit grant reports for prior year grants may not receive funding even if another proposal is submitted.

Decision Timeline

  • Deadline: August 1 at 12:00 PM for new proposals and prior year reports
  • Review Period: September to mid-October (requests for additional information sent as needed)
  • Decision: Fall (typically October-November)
  • Notification: All organizations submitting a proposal receive written notice regarding the decision

Success Rates

The foundation awards approximately 150 grants totaling $1.8 million annually according to their website, though 2023 IRS filings show approximately $4 million distributed. Success rate and number of applications received are not publicly disclosed. Inside Philanthropy notes this is "a particularly accessible foundation for D.C. and Maryland organizations" that provide basic needs services.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may reapply in subsequent years. However, due to high proposal volume, the foundation is unable to provide individual feedback if a proposal is declined. Organizations must maintain good standing by submitting required grant reports from previous awards to remain eligible for future funding.

Application Success Factors

Early Childhood Education Alignment: The foundation emphasizes that "a child's brain development from birth to three years old is the foundation for all future learning." Applications that demonstrate understanding of early childhood development and focus on the birth-to-five continuum align strongly with their priorities.

Closing Achievement Gaps: The foundation explicitly seeks to "close the achievement gap between low income children and more affluent children" through high-quality Pre-K programs. Applications should demonstrate measurable impact on this goal.

Employment as Community Connection: For human services grants, the foundation views employment as more than financial—it "provides community connection and personal dignity." Applications should emphasize how workforce programs build self-esteem and connect individuals to community.

Hospitality and Technology Focus: Given the Marriott family's background in hospitality (Richard E. Marriott chairs Host Hotels & Resorts), the foundation has particular interest in workforce development in hospitality and technology sectors.

Quality Over Quantity: The foundation invests in "long-time partnerships with a focus on building trust and sustainability." They seek ongoing relationships rather than one-time grants.

Past Successful Grantees: The foundation's partner list includes organizations such as KIPP DC, DC Central Kitchen, Byte Back, Generation Hope, Urban Alliance Foundation, Children's Law Center, Martha's Table, Reading Partners, Briya Public Charter School, BUILD Metro DC, and SOME's Center for Employment Training.

Realistic First Requests: The foundation explicitly advises first-time applicants to request $5,000-$10,000 rather than approaching the $50,000 maximum.

Geographic Alignment: Primary focus is Washington D.C. metropolitan area, with secondary interest in Montgomery County MD, Utah, and New Hampshire—reflecting the Marriott family's personal connections to these regions.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start small: First-time applicants should request $5,000-$10,000 to establish a relationship before seeking larger amounts
  • Focus on early childhood: For education grants, emphasize birth-to-five programs and early brain development research
  • Connect employment to dignity: For human services, frame workforce programs as building community connection and self-esteem, not just job placement
  • Submit reports on time: Failure to submit required grant reports from previous awards can disqualify organizations from future funding
  • Apply by August 1: Mark the 12:00 PM deadline clearly; decisions won't be made until fall
  • Build long-term relationships: The foundation values sustained partnerships over one-time funding
  • Geographic fit matters: Organizations must serve Washington D.C., Montgomery County MD, Utah, or New Hampshire
  • No feedback on declines: Plan to reapply without specific guidance on why a proposal wasn't funded

References

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