Updated:
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation was created in 1966 by J. Willard Marriott and Alice Sheets Marriott. Its grantmaking continues to reflect the...
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation
The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation was created in 1966 by J. Willard Marriott and Alice Sheets Marriott. Its grantmaking continues to reflect the founders' emphasis on the Washington, D.C. area. The foundation channels capital through direct grants to nonprofits rather than fund commitments or co-investments. Primary focus areas include education and health programs inside the District and surrounding counties. Ticket sizes range from $10,000 to $20 million. Geographic scope remains limited to the mid-Atlantic. The organization employs 13 professionals and maintains relationships with four related family foundations. Mieka Wick has led day-to-day operations as CEO. No material governance or leadership changes occurred in the last 24 months. The foundation operates as a grantmaking vehicle tied directly to the Marriott family rather than an independent investment manager. Its structure channels distributions through the same family entities that control Marriott International equity positions.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1966
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Bethesda
Corporate office
Fernwood Road Bethesda, MD 20817, US
Principals
Mieka Wick
Chief Executive Officer
J.W. Marriott Jr.
Trustee and Chairman Emeritus
Richard E. Marriott
Trustee
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation?
Mieka Wick serves as Chief Executive Officer and oversees grant deployment. Trustees include J.W. Marriott Jr. and Richard E. Marriott.
Does the foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct grants?
The foundation makes direct grants to nonprofits. No fund commitments or external manager relationships are disclosed.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
Wealth originated from J. Willard Marriott and Alice Sheets Marriott through the hospitality and food services businesses that became Marriott International.
What is the foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?
No co-investment activity with external managers is recorded. Capital deployment occurs solely through grant awards.
Which sectors does the foundation explicitly avoid?
No explicit avoidance list is published. Activity concentrates on education, health, and community programs inside the Washington, D.C. region.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on endowments & foundations?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: