What Is the Make More Marbles Foundation?
The Make More Marbles Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit — EIN 92-2489150 — founded by entrepreneur Brad Hart to fund Food, Utilities, Shelter, and Education (the FUSE) for people and communities on the edge. It has raised over $1,000,000 across all initiatives, funded 251 microloans through Kiva.org, and supported work in 36 countries.
The name comes from an abundance thesis: the world isn't a fixed pile of marbles you fight over — you can make more. The Make More Marbles brand applies that idea to business; the Foundation applies it to giving. Same founder, same operating philosophy, two different jobs.
What does the Foundation actually do?
It directs money and volunteer effort into four categories of basic human need, organized under one acronym — FUSE:
- Food — hunger relief through national partnerships including Feeding America and St. Vincent de Paul of Arizona.
- Utilities — access to clean water and sustainable energy where it's needed most.
- Shelter — building homes and infrastructure with partners like Baja Bound in Maneadero and Ensenada, Mexico.
- Education — mentorship and skill-building through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona and the Girls Rule Foundation.
The acronym doubles as the metaphor: lighting the FUSE for global abundance. The full breakdown of why these four needs — and why they're bundled instead of picked apart — is in what FUSE stands for.
What's the operating philosophy?
The Foundation serves people without access to basic human needs, and it's explicit about how:
"We don't fund band-aids. We build systems that compound."
That single sentence drives most of its decisions. Microloans through Kiva get repaid and re-lent — the same dollars work repeatedly. A house built in Ensenada doesn't need rebuilding next year. Mentorship through Big Brothers Big Sisters changes a trajectory, not a single afternoon. The bias is always toward interventions that keep working after the check clears.
Founder Brad Hart puts the underlying belief this way: when basic needs are met, people are freed up to create, contribute, and collaborate. Ending unnecessary suffering isn't about competing for scraps — it's about building systems of abundance.
Where does the money come from — and where does it go?
Donations are processed through FreeDonateButton, a donation platform built by the Foundation's founder that charges zero platform fees. Funds route directly to the Foundation's Stripe account and from there to partner organizations and direct programs across the four FUSE categories. Donors can give one-time or monthly, every donation is tax-deductible, and receipts are issued automatically. The mechanics of the fee question — and why it matters more than most donors realize — are covered in how much of your donation actually reaches the cause.
Impact is tracked and published every year, not just at year-end. The current numbers:
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Raised across all initiatives | $1,000,000+ |
| Kiva microloans funded | 251 |
| Countries supported | 36 |
| Founder's Kiva lender percentile (global) | 99th |
Fundraising doesn't only mean donation forms, either. The Foundation's featured story is Brad's 40th Birthday Charity Roast — instead of celebrating with gifts, he turned the evening into a mission for good and raised over $17,000 in a single night for causes that matter. That spirit — turning celebration into contribution — is repeatable, and the method is written up in how to turn a birthday into a fundraiser.
Who are the partner organizations?
Rather than duplicating infrastructure, the Foundation funds and collaborates with organizations that already turn money into outcomes: the Anthony Robbins Foundation, Feeding America, Kiva.org, the Greatness Foundation (now Greatness Ventures), Baja Bound, Operation Underground Railroad, the Girls Rule Foundation (founded by Dena Patton), St. Vincent de Paul of Arizona, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arizona. Each maps to at least one FUSE pillar, and each was chosen because it compounds — the partner list lives on the partners section of the homepage.
Can I get involved beyond writing a check?
Yes — the Foundation names four roles besides donor:
- Builders — join a hands-on build trip. The flagship is a weekend in Ensenada, Mexico building a real home for a family currently living under tarps and pallets. Details in how the Mexico house-building trips work.
- Advocates — share the mission with your network.
- Content creators — document the work and inspire others.
- Strategists — help scale operations and partnerships.
Whether your time or your money does more good is a fair question — it gets a straight answer in donating money vs. volunteering time.
FAQ
Is the Make More Marbles Foundation a registered 501(c)(3)?
Yes. The Make More Marbles Foundation is a U.S. 501(c)(3) public charity, EIN 92-2489150. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by U.S. law, and you can verify the EIN yourself in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.
How is makemoremarbles.org different from makemoremarbles.com?
Same founder, two sides of one idea. Makemoremarbles.com is Brad Hart's business brand — entrepreneurship, masterminds, and AI-powered business systems. Makemoremarbles.org is the giving side: the 501(c)(3) foundation that directs money and volunteer effort into Food, Utilities, Shelter, and Education.
How much has the Foundation raised?
Over $1,000,000 across all initiatives, including 251 microloans funded through Kiva.org, with initiatives reaching 36 countries. Founder Brad Hart is in the 99th percentile of Kiva lenders globally.
How can I help besides donating money?
Four ways: swing a hammer on a Mexico build trip, advocate by sharing the mission with your network, document the work as a content creator, or bring strategy skills to help scale operations and partnerships. Email support@makemoremarbles.org to get started.