Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

The Marion Institute Inc

EIN 04-3206583 · Marion, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MARION INSTITUTE IS BUILDING A MOVEMENT. WE ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES IN AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH TO WHOLE-BODY HEALTH. WE EDUCATE AND EMPOWER BY SUPPORTING, CONNECTING AND APPLYING THE SCIENCE OF SELF-HEALING. WE BELIEVE OPTIMAL HEALTH IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
82%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
11
Volunteers
62
Highest pay
$126,273, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 18% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $697,572 spent. THE GREENHOUSE INITIATIVES PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SERVICES TO LEADERS OF MISSION-BASED ORGANIZATIONS LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.
  2. $263,689 spent. FROGFOOT FARM PROGRAM, A PROGRAM TO GROW, FARM, AND HARVEST FOOD FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN MA (BRISTOL, PLYMOUTH, AND NORFOLK COUNTIES).
  3. $200,243 spent. THE GROW EDUCATION PROGRAM FOCUSES ON EDUCATING REGIONAL COMMUNITIES TO INSPIRE AND INFLUENCE A CULTURE OF HEALTH. THERE ARE THREE FRAMEWORKS WHICH GROW SOUTHCOAST USES TO CULTIVATE CHANGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES: EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT.
  4. $384,679 spent. BIOMED PROGRAMS - IS DEDICATED TO EXPANDING COMPLETE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT AND WIDENING AVAILABILITY OF BIOLOGICAL MEDICINE AROUND THE WORLD.BUS RAPID TRANSIT (BRT) - BUS RAPID TRANSIT STRATEGIC GRANTS PROGRAM IS AN INITIATIVE TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRT CORRIDORS IN BOSTON TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.SOUTHCOAST FOOD POLICY COUNCIL - BEGINNING IN 2020, ITS MISSION IS TO CONNECT, CONVENE, AND ADVOCATE FOR LOCAL FOOD PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO SEEK POLICY AND SYSTEMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM, IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH, AND ELIMINATE FOOD INSECURITY;CONNECTOR SERIES - BRINGS THOUGHT LEADERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD TO HELP SHARE IDEAS AND EXPAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR WORK, LOCALLY AND BEYOND. THESE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND HAVE FOCUSED ON HEALTH, SOCIAL JUSTICE, SUSTAINABILITY, RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS, AND INDIVIDUAL POTENTIAL;
  5. REFER TO NOTE 1 IN FS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1994.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: The May Institute Inc (Randolph, MA), EIN 04-2197449. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.