Martha-Ellen Tye

"I love Marshalltown. I was born here and it will

always be home to me. I want it to prosper and

grow. It should never be the same. My goal for

The Foundation is that it will help

Marshalltown

after I'm gone."

Mission

The Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation is dedicated to helping Marshalltown thrive through bold, community-rooted investments in people, place, and possibility.

Our Core Values

Boldness with Humility

We pursue transformative opportunities while staying grounded in community wisdom.

Trust and Transparency

We build lasting relationships through honesty, responsiveness, and shared purpose.

Community Engagement

We work to engage all segments of our community.

Place-Based Commitment

We invest with deep belief in Marshalltown’s future.

Grantmaking Approach

Our work is guided by a deep commitment to Marshalltown, a belief in its future, and a drive to create lasting impact. Our grantmaking combines our strategic priorities with responsiveness to community-led ideas.

Strategic Priorities for Impact

We prioritize investments that advance Marshalltown’s civic and cultural life through three connected strategies:

Develop Community Champions: We invest in leadership development to build a pipeline of local talent to drive positive change.
Elevate Pride, Identity, and Belonging: We support processes where community stakeholders use arts and cultural strategies to implement community-led change, fostering a sense of pride and belonging.
Strengthen Civic and Cultural Infrastructure: We invest in the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center (MACC) as a catalyst for civic and cultural connection.

Our next funding cycle is now open!

To streamline our grantmaking and increase accessibility, we have adopted a Letter of Intent (LOI) process. LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed during our spring, summer, and fall grant cycles.

Learn More