The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity should not send it an application unless it has been invited to do so.
- Its priority is the Washington, D.C. region and its work centres on community vitality, so organisations outside that focus should weigh whether their work fits before approaching it.
- Where it does fit, the typical grant band, in which about 8 in 10 of its 101 grants to organisations fall, runs from $75,000 to $1,000,000, and half of its 101 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less, so a request towards the lower end of that band is most in line with its giving.
- Because approaches are by invitation, the realistic route is to build a relationship with the foundation before making any request; its grants have also reached Maryland, Utah, Minnesota and Ohio, though those places are not stated as its focus.
- The filing gives no timing, so it offers no advice on when to approach the foundation.
Overview
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation is a US private foundation based in Bethesda, MD.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation seeks to foster equitable, sustainable and thriving communities by partnering with extraordinary nonprofit organisations. It pursues solutions to pressing challenges, addresses root causes and seeks transformational change. Its core geographic area of grantmaking is the Washington, D.C. region, where it invests in strengthening community vitality and vibrancy. It also engages with communities and partners across industries and sectors to drive impact. Its work is directed towards transformational change and stronger, more vital and vibrant communities, with the Foundation working alongside nonprofit organisations and partners across sectors.
Themes
- Community vitality
Geographic Focus
Priority: Washington, D.C. region. From its grants, not stated by the foundation: District of Columbia; Maryland; Utah; Minnesota; Ohio.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Grant size: In its TY2025 filing, half of its 101 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.
Grant dollars by state
5 other states: 6%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 101 grants in tax year 2025 by size
Median $250k (tax year 2025)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Mayo Clinic · Marriott family atrium$8,000,0002025 tax year
- Bridges from School to Work · General operating support$5,050,0002025 tax year
- University of Utah · The j.w. marriott, jr. institute - capital$5,000,0002025 tax year
- American Endowment Foundation · The j. willard & alice s. marriott charitable fund$3,950,7612025 tax year
- Greater Washington Community Foundation · Marriott disaster relief fund$2,000,0002025 tax year
- Suburban Hospital Foundation · Emergency department expansion$1,500,0002025 tax year
- MedStar Health Research Institute · Dcp sdoh innovation and resilience fund$1,250,0002025 tax year
- Unity Health Care · Food pharmacy$1,075,0002025 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Alice Marriott Hales — Trustee
- Karen Christine Marriott — Trustee
- Ashley Samuelian — Trustee
- David Sheets Marriott — Trustee
- Sandra Peery Marriott Bertha — Trustee
- J Willard Marriott Jr — Trustee
- Richard E Marriott — Trustee
- Deborah Marriott Harrison — Trustee
- Julie Ann Marriott — Trustee
- Michelle Logsdon — Chief Financial Officer
- Nicole Marriott Avery — Trustee
- Mieka Wick — Chief Executive Officer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $49,303,525 | $46,196,774 | $1,195,359,092 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $51,347,617 | $47,765,897 | $1,373,465,519 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
| 2025 tax year | $62,839,287 | $58,745,941 | $1,466,545,770 | Filing for 2025 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Bethesda, MD
- jwasmarriottfoundation.org
Applying to The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Bethesda, MD
- jwasmarriottfoundation.org