Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties
/OVERVIEW: This funder makes a wide variety of grants in the community for affordable housing, arts and culture, basic needs, and more.
IP TAKE: A new grant seeker’s best shot is often with the competitive community impact grants. Funding categories shift each year, so grant seekers should keep up with the foundation’s newsletter. This is a collaborative funder that seeks to connect donors with nonprofit partners.
The foundation has a competitive grant process, as well as donor Field of Interest funds that accept proposals by invitation only. It is somewhat accessible in that it permits LOIs, but it chooses who to invite to submit a full proposal. Since they don’t appear to share language on their site discouraging cold calls, it’s advisable to call them and learn more about what sets apart strong LOIs from those less likely to be advanced. For starters, your work will need to focus on it’s narrow geographic serves areas to qualify. As well, you’re able to submit separate LOIs to this funder’s various initiatives - but not several times a year. Call them to learn more.
This is a hands-on funder that likes to conduct site visits and provide workshops and other events that help it’s grantees navigate both racial equity and nonprofit development and management.
PROFILE: The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties (CFPBMC) is based in West Palm Beach, Florida, serving a two-county region. It seeks to “serve as the leading catalyst for building vibrant communities through meaningful philanthropy.” It was established in 1972 and is one of the oldest and largest foundations in the state of Florida. Palm Beach residents Winsome and Michael McIntosh established the organization with a $50,000 endowment to meet the changing needs of the local community.
In a recent report, the foundation had at least $171 million in assets under management and more than 300 charitable funds. View current financial data here.
Grants for Community Development, Economic Opportunity, Housing, the Arts, and Health, Education, and Racial Equity
CFPBMC provides either donor-directed funding or competitive grantmaking. This funder’s overall giving strategy has evolved in recent time, which is important to review prior to asking for funding. This funder provides support through a handful of main focus areas:
Youth and Education, which funds organizations and initiatives that close opportunity gaps for the area’s youth through support for academic achievement, better mental and physical health, and a strong social network.
Economic Opportunity works to “fund projects that prepare people to take their place in a strong workforce, run stable households and contribute to a vital local economy.”
Crisis Preparation and Response funding responds to man-made crises and natural disasters.
Thriving Community programs work to “address a broad range of issues aligned with current community needs, such as arts and culture, environment, housing, mental health, community revitalization and more.”
Scholarships that serve high school students in the community.
Lastly, the Racial Equity Hub, which is not a grantmaking entity, provides workshops that provide “foundational knowledge and shared experience to move forward in common purpose” as well as organizing efforts.
CFPBMC awards community impact grants through a competitive process. Its recent interests include affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, arts and culture, and the environment. This foundation also awards Field of Interest grants in areas that donors are particularly interested in, such as education, the arts, housing, and feeding the hungry. It accepts proposals for Field of Interest grants by invitation only.
This community funder also serves as a home to the local chapter of Impact 100. The Impact 100 Palm Beach County chapter is a women’s charitable fund at CFPBMC, and the community foundation assists with its grants process. There is also an Impact 100 Men Palm Beach County group that is newer and awards grants from local men in a similar but unique way. The foundation also manages quite a few nonprofit endowment funds for regional groups, including the Florida Council on Economic Education and the Palm Beach Symphony.
Important Grant Details:
Grants tend to range from $2,00o to $60,000 or more. To pursue a grant with this funder, complete an online application if invited to do so after you submit an LOI. Grantmaking opportunities vary from year to year. The foundation staff evaluates the budget each year and assesses where the greatest local needs are. It recommends that new grantees call the community investment department to discuss an idea before submitting any type of inquiry or application.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS:
