Palmer Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Palmer Foundation names WASH initiatives and workforce development as its main areas of grantmaking focus. It also makes grants for “special family interests,” including the arts, education and health.

IP TAKE: The Palmer Foundation aims to support “projects that are realistic, impactful, and measurable.” In its main giving areas, it names highly specific goals, which makes for innovative giving and support for some smaller organizations doing hands-on work. This funder’s board, comprised mainly of members of the Enroth family, appears to have deep knowledge of the areas it supports, making this a competitive space. Proposals are accepted by invitation only. Reach out via email or phone only if you have relevant ideas or projects to introduce. 

PROFILE: Mary Palmer Enroth founded the Palmer Foundation in 1990. It is named for her grandfather, Stanton Palmer, who was “the first president of Snap-on Tools.” Based in Virginia, the foundation’s mission is “to fund projects that will have both immediate and perpetual effects that reflect our philanthropic passions –  including WASH and workforce development initiatives.” Outside of these areas, the foundation also gives for special family interests, including the arts, education and health.

Grants for Marine and Freshwater Conservation and Global Development

The Palmer Foundation “prioritizes WASH initiatives throughout the U.S. and around the world to improve water quality and availability.” Specific goals for this giving relate to both water conservation and access to clean water and sanitation in developing countries. Specific priorities include:

  • The cultivation and maintenance of oyster beds for clean water;

  • The distribution of water filters for communities that lack access to potable water;

  • The construction of “sanitation blocks comprised of latrines and handwashing stations” in communities that lack plumbing;

  • The restoration of coral reefs;

  • Funding for community legal and financial services advocating for related causes.

WASH grantees include ALDEA, an organization in Guatemala that provides water filtration systems and other hygiene-related services to rural communities, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which recently supported the Maryland Oyster Restoration Center.

In addition to its global WASH grantmaking, Palmer has supported other global development initiatives through its special family interests grantmaking. Grantees include the African Library Project and Habitat for Humanity International.

Grants for Work and Opportunity

The Palmer Foundation’s workforce development grantmaking area supports “programs that provide specialized training and skills geared toward veterans, youth, nurses, and tradespeople to bolster the careers and ultimately the lives of these invaluable members of the workforce.” Recent priorities of this work include:

  • Support for veterans experiencing PTST;

  • Scholarships for students pursuing business and entrepreneurship;

  • Leadership and staff for vocational training programs;

  • Equipment and technology for training and professional development of nurses;

  • “Testing and training device packages for technicians.”

Recent grantees include the Boulder Crest Retreat for Veteran and Military Wellness, North Carolina’s Sandhills Community College and the NEO Fund, which works in Nicaragua and Guatemala to “teach basic business skills” to recipients of micro-loans for small businesses.

Grants for Global Health

Some of Palmer’s special family interest grantmaking supports initiatives for global health. One recent grant went to Partner for Surgery, which provides support for families with infants born with cleft palates. The foundation has also given to Doctors Without Borders.

Grants for Arts and Culture

Although it is not named as a grantmaking priority, a significant portion of the Palmer Foundation’s grantmaking supports arts and culture organizations. In Wisconsin, the foundation has given to the Kemper Center, the Birch Creek Music Center and Write On, Door County, a creative writing program for writers of all ages and levels of experience. In Illinois, the foundation has provided ongoing support to the Lake Forest Symphony Orchestra. 

Important Grant Details:

The Palmer Foundation made over $900,000 in grants in a recent year, representing a significant increase from past years. Grants have ranged from $5,000 to $85,000, with an average grant size of about $15,000.

  • This funder’s grantmaking is global in scope, but more than half of all grants stay in the U.S.

  • Global grants mainly supports U.S.-based organizations working abroad.

  • Palmer supports organizations of all sizes, but small- to medium-sized outfits number significantly among its grantees.

  • WASH has been this funder’s largest giving area for the past two years.

  • For additional information about past grants, see a recent annual report or tax filings. 

The Palmer Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications but can be reached via email or telephone at (202) 595-1020.

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