Living from 1862 to 1952, Frank Marini became known in San Francisco as the “Mayor of North Beach.” He had political and accounting experience, was active in numerous clubs and organizations, and gave steadily to charity during his lifetime. Marini’s main philanthropic interests were local churches, recreation for children and social services agencies to benefit the Italian American community. Today, the Marini Family Trust (MFT) still operates as a family foundation and carries out the legacy of Frank Marini.
Here are some facts to know about the Marini Family Trust for organizations working in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Four program areas of interest
Frank Marini’s four sisters created MFT after his death to benefit the organizations he supported during his lifetime. Those organizations included the University of San Francisco and St. Nicholas Catholic Church.
Overall, MFT’s four main topics of interest are education, health, human services and religion. Other examples of MFT grantees are Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael, Hanna Boys Center in Sonoma and the Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos.
Typical foundation giving
Because of his background and upbringing, Marini favored Italian and Catholic organizations, and MFT’s current giving still reflects those preferences. Frank Marini was born in the Bayview district of San Francisco and worked to make substantial improvements for North Beach. Additional Marini family members were residents of Los Altos, California. Almost all MFT giving stays within the state of California.
The foundation usually awards about eight grants per year, each ranging in size from approximately $10,000 to $50,000. Most MFT grants are for general operating support.
Wells Fargo manages the foundation
The Marini Family Trust is a family foundation that recently reported a little over $5.2 million in assets. However, the foundation does not have a website or a professional staff. Instead, MFT enlists the assistance of Wells Fargo Bank as its trustee and administrator. MFT has a listing on the Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services website that provides details about its grant guidelines and application procedures.
Applying for a Marini grant
Since Wells Fargo manages MFT, grantseekers will enjoy a straightforward and accessible grant application process. The foundation accepts unsolicited grant requests and has an annual application deadline of October 1. Organizations can apply for a grant online through the Wells Fargo website after registering for an account.
Find additional details about MFT in IP’s full profile of this funder, which is part of our Bay Area and Northern California funding guide.