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Mars Foundation
The MARS Foundation operates as a disease-specific nonprofit based in Webster City, Iowa, directed by co-founders Margie and Bill Scott alongside Wayne...
Mars Foundation
The MARS Foundation operates as a disease-specific nonprofit based in Webster City, Iowa, directed by co-founders Margie and Bill Scott alongside Wayne Anderson, who also serves as President of Scenic Living Communities. The foundation's origin traces to Margie Scott's own multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 1992, which shaped its mission to fund research aimed at finding a cure for the disease. Board member Becky Hastie, a former MS patient ambassador for Biogen, reinforces the foundation's close alignment with patient advocacy. Funding is directed toward MS medical research and community-based support services. The foundation's primary deployment vehicle is its annual MARS Foundation Classic golf event, which draws sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies including Biogen and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Proceeds support research initiatives and grantees such as MercyOne, which partners with the foundation on MS day programs. While the foundation maintains a securities account, its public footprint suggests a lean operational model centered on the annual event rather than a diversified grantmaking portfolio. Leadership is concentrated among five named individuals based in Iowa, with no disclosed professional staff count. The foundation maintains a professional network affiliation with the International Organization of MS Nurses as an industry sponsor. No adjacent vehicles, separate philanthropic entities, or co-investment clubs are disclosed in public records. The foundation's operational scale appears closely tied to the success of its signature annual fundraiser. The foundation's structural distinction lies in its hyper-local, event-driven funding model. Unlike large disease foundations that deploy endowment-style investment pools across diversified research portfolios, the MARS Foundation funnels pharmaceutical sponsorship dollars and community fundraising through a single annual charitable event into targeted MS research and local care partnerships. This tightly coupled fundraiser-to-grant pipeline keeps overhead low and donor intent immediately visible.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2001
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Webster City
Corporate office
New York, IA, United States
Principals
Margie Scott
Co-founder and Vice President
Bill Scott
Co-founder
Wayne Anderson
Co-founder
Becky Hastie
Board Member
Jeremy Rogers
Treasurer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the MARS Foundation?
The foundation does not disclose a CIO or dedicated investment committee. Oversight likely falls to the co-founders and board, including Margie Scott, Bill Scott, and Wayne Anderson. A disclosed securities account suggests minimal investable assets are maintained, likely held conservatively to support operating grants.
How does the MARS Foundation source and fund its research grants?
The foundation's primary sourcing mechanism is its annual MARS Foundation Classic golf tournament, which attracts pharmaceutical sponsors including Biogen and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Event proceeds are directed to medical research grants and local partners such as MercyOne for MS day programs. The foundation does not publish a formal RFP process or grant application portal.
Is the MARS Foundation a private foundation or a public charity?
The foundation's nonprofit structure is consistent with a grantmaking private foundation, though it has not published its IRS determination letter or Form 990 publicly in a readily accessible format. Its reliance on a single annual fundraising event and small sponsor base suggests a modest asset base typical of family-led disease foundations rather than large public charities.
What is the relationship between the MARS Foundation and pharmaceutical companies like Biogen?
Biogen and Janssen Pharmaceuticals serve as sponsors of the MARS Foundation Classic golf event. Board member Becky Hastie's prior role as an MS patient ambassador for Biogen indicates a deeper partnership layer rooted in patient advocacy. The foundation does not disclose equity stakes in or licensing arrangements with these companies.
Where does the underlying funding for the MARS Foundation come from?
The foundation was seeded by co-founders Margie and Bill Scott, with Margie's personal MS diagnosis in 1992 providing the mission catalyst. Ongoing operational funding derives from the annual golf classic, which pools individual donations and pharmaceutical sponsorships. No large-scale donor base, endowment corpus, or recurring corporate grant program is disclosed.
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