The Marietta Rotary Foundation Fund, Inc. (affectionately referred to as MRFF and pronounced “MURPH”) is the vehicle through which the Marietta Rotary Club funds its charitable activities. Formed and incorporated in 1963, MRFF is a 501c(3) charitable organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Simply put, this determination means that contributions to MRFF are deductible for the donor.
MRFF is separately incorporated from the Club. While having a common membership, MRFF has its own five member Board consisting of the Club’s Past President, current President and President-Elect, an elected Treasurer and, since the mid 1980’s, a long-term Chairman. The first long-term Chairman, Phil Malonson, was one of the original incorporators. The Chair since 1998 has been Walt Walker.
Funding for MRFF comes from member dues, member donations, donations at large, fund raisers, our weekly raffle and investment income. Until 1998, MRFF operations were essentially cash in, cash out. Under the leadership of Phil Malonson and Joe DeSantis, an Endowment was established in 1998 with the hopes that income from the Endowment would expand our charitable presence and decrease our reliance on member dues.
The MRFF Board determines a budget each year and provides a discretionary amount for the Club Board to direct. The Foundation typically funds the Georgia Rotary Student, the Hancock Matthews Drivers Education project, Marietta Reads, Must Ministries, and a variety of other charitable projects. In addition, MRFF acts as the Administrator for the Karl and Paula Reinhard Fund, a fund established by a former member to provide an annual scholarship for a Cobb County resident to do post graduate study abroad.
MRFF’s assets today are approximately $285,000 with the Endowment approximately $235,000. Annual charitable expenditures are approximately $35,000. The directors and officers receive no compensation and less than 1% of the annual budget is dedicated to administrative expense.