Marietta Community Foundation Launches $2 Million Foundation First Matching Campaign
Washington County - After more than five decades of turning local generosity into lasting impact, Marietta Community Foundation is inviting Washington County to be part of a defining moment in its history.
Today, the Foundation announces the Foundation First Matching Campaign, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock a transformational new chapter for the Foundation and the community it serves. From October 12 through December 31, 2026, Ryan and Katarina Robinson will match, dollar for dollar, up to $2 million in qualifying unrestricted gifts to MCF.
The momentum has already begun. As of launch day, the campaign has raised $522,862, more than 25% of its $2 million goal before it was publicly announced.
Ryan and Katarina Robinson envisioned bringing together a select group of early supporters, known as “Friends,” who shared their belief in what this campaign could make possible. Their commitment reflects the spirit behind Foundation First: an opportunity for people who believe in Washington County to come together, invest in the Foundation, and help create what comes next.
“Having support from this early group truly strengthens the message that this campaign is far more than just our family’s match. It’s a unique opportunity for a community to collaborate for its own greater good,” Ryan said.
The Robinsons and MCF are grateful to the first “Friends” who stepped forward to invest in the Foundation’s future:
Artex Oil Company, in honor of Bob Kirkbride
Sally Evans
Bob & Carol Chase
Chris & Kim Hall
Janet Chase and Theresa Fitzgerald
Eric & Lynn Erb
Give With Us Charitable Foundation
Charles & Lynn Lowe
Matt & Cathy Macatol
David & Leslie Haas
Alex & Christy Minard
Ken & Theresa Morrison
Wark Accounting
That early momentum is reinforced by the leadership of Marietta Community Foundation itself. Every member of MCF’s Board of Directors, along with members of its staff, has also contributed financially to Foundation First. Their participation reflects a shared belief in the importance of investing in the Foundation itself, and an invitation to the broader community to join them.
MCF Board of Directors (member in bold):
Mike & Rosanne Buell
Brian & Christy Chavez
Nick & Aleece Dye
Ryan & Michelle Elliott
Matt & Susie Evans
Dan & Elanda Fliehman
Ben & Jennifer Schenkel
J.D. & Michelle Secrest
Matt & Cara Ingram
Kevin & Jill Witucky
Why Foundation First?
Over the past several years, the Foundation has grown dramatically. Since 2020, its assets have increased 86%, from $42.7 million to more than $79 million, and now stewards more than 400 charitable funds. Since its founding in 1974, MCF has awarded more than $37 million in grants to strengthen Washington County.
That growth is a reflection of the extraordinary generosity of donors who have entrusted the Foundation with their charitable giving. And with that growth comes an opportunity to think bigger about what is possible.
Most of the Foundation’s assets are directed by donors to the causes they care about, making an incredible difference throughout Washington County and beyond. Unrestricted resources serve a different purpose. They give the Foundation the flexibility to look ahead, recognize opportunities and respond when there is a chance to make a larger impact.
Over the past five years, unrestricted resources have grown, but they have not kept pace with the Foundation’s overall growth, declining from 26.7% of total investments to 17.2%.
Foundation First is an opportunity to change that trajectory and give the Foundation greater capacity to dream bigger alongside the community it serves.
Gifts to the campaign will build a permanent source of unrestricted resources that will:
Strengthen the Foundation for what comes next.
Unrestricted resources help ensure the Foundation has the people, systems and leadership needed to responsibly grow its impact and be ready for what the future brings.Give the Foundation room to dream bigger.
The Foundation can be more than a funder. It can be a catalyst. Stronger unrestricted resources give the Board and leadership the ability to step forward when a big idea emerges, serve as an early or lead funder, bring people together and help turn possibilities into projects that might otherwise never get off the ground.
For Ryan and Katarina Robinson, the decision to make the $2 million gift comes down to a belief in both the Foundation and the people who lead it.
“I believe in the Foundation, and I believe in the people leading it,” Ryan said. “I believe they have the vision, the experience, and the commitment to make a real difference in this community, and I believe that is worth investing in. There are going to be opportunities in the years ahead that we can’t see today. We want to give the Foundation the resources and the freedom to recognize those opportunities, bring people together and help make big things happen.”
Heather Allender, who has served at the Foundation for 19 years, sees the campaign as an opportunity to build on everything the Foundation and the community have accomplished together.
“I’ve had the privilege of spending 19 years at the Foundation, and when I look back at everything we’ve been able to accomplish together, I’m amazed by the generosity of this community and the impact it has made,” Heather said. “We’ve helped donors turn their hopes into action, supported organizations doing incredible work and been part of so many moments that have made Washington County stronger. I’m incredibly proud of where we are today. But what excites me most is that this isn’t the end of that story. Ryan and Katarina’s extraordinary gift gives us the opportunity to unlock what comes next. It gives us the ability to dream bigger, to see an opportunity and have the capacity to pursue it, and to imagine what the Foundation could make possible for this community over the next 50 years. After 19 years, I can honestly say I’ve never been more excited about what’s ahead.”
Every qualifying unrestricted gift to the Foundation First Matching Campaign will be matched dollar for dollar by Ryan and Katarina Robinson, up to $2 million. Gifts will be placed in the ‘Robinson and Friends Foundation First Fund’ - an unrestricted fund stewarded by MCF leadership and the Robinson family. Gifts can be made online at https://www.mcfohio.org/foundation-first-matching-campaign or by check made payable to Marietta Community Foundation with “Foundation First Matching Campaign” noted in the memo line.
To hear more about why Ryan and Katarina chose to make this investment, learn how you can get involved or ask questions about the campaign, visit https://www.mcfohio.org/foundation-first-matching-campaign or contact Heather Allender at heather@mcfohio.org.
