Donation Philosophy

Mickey Marden, our founder, was a firm believer that if a company operated successfully, it had a responsibility to those communities in which its employees, customers, and their families lived and worked. He believed that an essential component of corporate responsibility was to provide aid to organizations which offered needed support within these communities. This aid could be in the form of financial support to making available employees’ time as well as their varied expertise! He also advocated giving priority to organizations that provided assistance to many, those who promoted education and those whose works directly benefited children.

Today, this philosophy stills holds true! In an effort to encourage its employees to participate in annual United Way campaigns throughout Maine, Marden’s matches dollar-for-dollar all employee pledges. Although this match varies from year to year, it typically is in the $50,000 range. Marden’s established the Mickey Marden Scholarship Fund at Kennebec Valley Community College. Over 1 million dollars has been donated to this scholarship fund to assist deserving students who otherwise could not afford to continue their educations. Employees volunteer their time in different capacities ranging from piloting Angel Cancer Flights to serving on various local and state charitable organizations.

Our Policy for Financial and In-Kind Donations.

Please note that with unlimited requests and limited funding, it is not possible to contribute
to all of the great efforts taking place in our communities. Due to the volume of requests we
receive, we are not able to respond to proposals that do not meet our criteria. In making funding
decisions, Marden’s will prioritize those organizations whose primary activities align closely with
our donation philosophy and whose programs have proximity to Marden’s retail stores.

• The applicant must be a qualified 501(c)3 organization or be a duly registered non-profit charitable organization.
• The applicant must promote education, literacy or support the development and overall well being of children.
• The applicant must not be a third party or a professional fundraiser.
• The applicant must request the donation in writing.
• The request must not be a solicitation to advertise.
• The applicant must not have submitted a request within the past 12 months.

Exclusions:
Marden’s does not donate to:

• Individuals or for-profit businesses
• Political, religious, labor, or ethnic organizations
• Lobbyists or special interest groups
• Organizations already receiving assistance from the United Way

Donation requests over $50.00 must be made in writing 45 days prior to the date in which the donation is needed. To be considered, the following information must be included. 

• Tax ID: Your tax ID number and the state where you are formally registered as a not-for-profit/tax-exempt organization as defined by IRS Code 501(c)3 or Canadian equivalent.
• Summary: A summary about your organization, including what you do, who you help, and where you receive your primary funding. List who your request will help, including the age range of children who will benefit and estimated numbers who will benefit.
• Request: Your specific request and why your request is needed at this time along with any history of prior Marden’s gifts to your organization including the date and type of support/gift.