Mary Katherine Dixon Martz, a former resident of Excelsior Springs, had a vision to help the Excelsior Springs Museum and Archives become financially independent. It is Martz's belief that a financially stable and active museum improves the quality of life in the downtown area and the community at large. In this effort, she has established the Maurer Foundation named to honor Martz's father Jake, and uncle John Maurer, who established Lake Maurer as an amusement park at the edge of Excelsior Springs.

Officers elected at the first meeting were: Jinx Fisher, President; Richard Wharton, Vice-President; Kathie J Mason, Secretary; and Nathan Johnson, Treasurer. Martz provided the seed money for the foundation however a number of other people have also made contributions to the foundation.