-
About
Marist Fall 2026 Open House
Join us for a Fall Open House and see Marist for yourself. Explore our stunning riverfront campus, learn more about academics and admissions, and get a firsthand look at life as a Red Fox. Along the way, you'll hear from students, faculty, and staff about the opportunities, connections, and experiences that make Marist special. Register Below:
About
-
Academics
Marist Fall 2026 Open House
Join us for a Fall Open House and see Marist for yourself. Explore our stunning riverfront campus, learn more about academics and admissions, and get a firsthand look at life as a Red Fox. Along the way, you'll hear from students, faculty, and staff about the opportunities, connections, and experiences that make Marist special. Register Below:
Academics
-
Admission & Financial Aid
Marist Fall 2026 Open House
Join us for a Fall Open House and see Marist for yourself. Explore our stunning riverfront campus, learn more about academics and admissions, and get a firsthand look at life as a Red Fox. Along the way, you'll hear from students, faculty, and staff about the opportunities, connections, and experiences that make Marist special. Register Below:
Admission & Financial Aid
-
Student Life
Marist Fall 2026 Open House
Join us for a Fall Open House and see Marist for yourself. Explore our stunning riverfront campus, learn more about academics and admissions, and get a firsthand look at life as a Red Fox. Along the way, you'll hear from students, faculty, and staff about the opportunities, connections, and experiences that make Marist special. Register Below:
Student Life
- Athletics
Community Impact Fund
Learning Through Giving. Impacting Through Service.
The Community Impact Fund is a student-led philanthropic initiative at Marist University. Students research, evaluate, and recommend funding for five Hudson Valley nonprofits and one Marist campus initiative, then help raise and steward the resources that support them. This year's campus initiative is the Presidential Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience to support student internships and short-term travel abroad.
The fund gives students direct, applied experience in philanthropic giving, donor stewardship, and community engagement, while strengthening Marist's ties to the region it calls home.
From Classroom to Community
- Community Support
- Faculty, staff, and the wider Marist community support the fund through one-time and recurring gifts. Contributions are divided evenly across five external Hudson Valley charities and one Marist campus initiative, selected annually.
- Student Evaluation
- Students taking the course ,Strategic Philanthropy (BUS 383), collect nominations and evaluate organizations by examining their mission and outcomes through site visits, financial assessments, and external ratings.
- Funding Selection
- Students recommend and select nonprofit organizations and a campus initiative to receive support from the fund.
- Fundraising & Stewardship
- Students in Nonprofit Leadership and Management (BUS 335), engage in fundraising efforts, communicate the impact of these funds, and cultivate relationships with donors and partners.
From Classroom to Community
Open to students across disciplines, the Community Impact Fund provides hands-on experience throughout the philanthropic process. Through coursework, students evaluate local nonprofit organizations, raise funds, engage with donors and community partners, and see the impact of their work firsthand.*
*The Community Impact Fund does not accept proposals from nonprofits.
Community Support
Faculty, staff, and the wider Marist community support the fund through one-time and recurring gifts. Contributions are divided evenly across five external Hudson Valley charities and one Marist campus initiative, selected annually.
Student Evaluation
Students taking the course, Strategic Philanthropy (BUS 383), collect nominations and evaluate organizations by examining their mission and outcomes through site visits, financial assessments, and external ratings.
Funding Selection
Students recommend and select nonprofit organizations and a campus initiative to receive support from the fund.
Fundraising & Stewardship
Students in Nonprofit Leadership and Management (BUS 335), engage in fundraising efforts, communicate the impact of these funds, and cultivate relationships with donors and partners.
President's Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience
The President's Fund for Equity in the Marist Experience enables talented students with financial need to access internships and attachment courses. The fund is intended to help all Marist students reach their full potential and get the most out of their college experience.
“To continue to reach greater heights, Marist must attract, enroll, and retain a diverse group of talented students and enable them to experience the full range of College offerings once they arrive, regardless of their financial circumstances.”
– President Weinman
Our Vision
As the Community Impact Fund grows into a university-wide effort, it will serve as a model for how higher education can teach students the value and practice of giving back to their communities. Students who take part leave with more than academic knowledge. They leave with experience in ethical decision-making, community partnership, and the judgment that defines effective civic leadership, a foundation they carry into their careers and communities long after graduation.
CONTACT: James Melitski, Community Impact Fund Director
Community Impact Fund Frequently Asked Questions
Students research and evaluate Hudson Valley nonprofits through site visits, financial assessments, outside ratings, and an examination of each organization’s mission and impact before selecting the organizations the fund will support.
No. The Community Impact Fund does not accept proposals from nonprofit organizations. Students identify, research, and evaluate potential organizations through the fund’s annual selection process.
Contributions are divided evenly among five Hudson Valley nonprofits and one Marist campus initiative.
Faculty, staff, and members of the wider Marist community can make one-time or recurring gifts to the fund. Support provides resources for the selected organizations while giving students hands-on experience in philanthropy, donor stewardship, and community engagement.