Empowering the Future of Skilled Trades and Communities

The Marston Foundation exists to close America’s most critical labor gaps and help communities unlock the full value of their assets, through two mission tracks:

1. Service-Enriched Affordable Housing Development
The Marston Foundation partners with local and national nonprofit organizations to expand affordable housing opportunities and create service-enriched communities. We believe a home is more than shelter; it is the cornerstone of opportunity and the foundation for long-term success.

Our Approach and Impact: We work in joint venture with Marston Development Group and other partners to structure projects that combine high-quality affordable units—primarily financed through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program—with comprehensive wraparound services. These services are tailored to resident needs and address stability, income, health, and community connection. This model ensures that families not only have stable housing, but are also empowered through financial literacy programs, workforce development, mental health support, and community-building events. By tracking resident outcomes and leveraging federal grants, we turn housing into a platform for growth, dignity, and generational progress.

2. Faith Based Community Development
We work alongside churches and religious institutions to help them activate underutilized land for mission-aligned projects. These typically include the development of affordable housing, education centers, and vital services that meet local needs. By helping faith communities structure long-term ground leases or other development partnerships, this track creates new, sustainable revenue streams to replace declining donations and ensures their ministries can be sustained long into the future, transforming underused property into a vibrant community asset.

3. Workforce Development in Skilled Trades (Coming Soon)

We fund and coordinate training opportunities embedded in real-world construction and nuclear energy projects. Whether it's a housing development in Florida or a power facility in Missouri, our programs connect aspiring tradespeople with hands-on experience, mentorship, and nationally recognized credentials. By linking training directly to active projects, we ensure participants gain in-demand skills relevant to the current labor market, providing them with a sustainable career path while simultaneously supporting the construction and energy sectors.