Marie Groark leads grantmaking at the Foundation, including the most ambitious and complex projects that aim to create pathways of opportunity for populations facing barriers to success, focusing on youth transitioning to adulthood. As a Foundation leader, she ensures the Foundation prioritizes learning in its grantmaking, identifying what works and being transparent about what doesn't, and using data and insights to build upon existing programs.

Prior to joining the Foundation, Marie was at Paramount for nearly a decade, where she founded and led Get Schooled, a nonprofit organization that supports young people as they navigate education, the job market, or both. Guided by Marie’s leadership, in 2017 Get Schooled was named a Most Innovative Company by Fast Company for its use of gamification to drive youth engagement and improve student outcomes. Marie was previously a Senior Program Officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and also advised public, non-profit, and private sector clients as a management consultant with PwC Consulting. She began her career as a social studies teacher at John F. Kennedy High School in the Bronx.

Marie holds a BA from New York University, an MA from Teacher's College at Columbia University, and an MPP from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She lives in Seattle with her husband, three children, and Australian Shepherd, Teddy. Marie is actively involved in her children’s schools and her neighborhood Scout committee, and volunteers as a VITA tax preparer with United Way King County during tax season.