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Indian River Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$21.6M

Indian River Community Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $21.6 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Monthly LOI review cycles
  • Grant Range: Varies by fund (average $27,583 in 2024)
  • Geographic Focus: Indian River County, Florida

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 2008, the Indian River Community Foundation has distributed over $130 million in grants to support local nonprofits and community development initiatives in Indian River County, Florida. With current assets of approximately $100 million, the foundation operates as a donor-driven philanthropic organization that connects charitable giving with community needs. The foundation has achieved both the National Standards Seal and GuideStar Platinum status, demonstrating operational excellence and transparency. Under the leadership of President & CEO Jeff Pickering and Board Chair Kathryn Healy, the foundation has significantly expanded its impact, awarding $21.6 million in grants during 2024 alone.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates several grant programs:

  • Discretionary Grants: Competitive grants from unrestricted funds (amounts vary)
  • Donor-Advised Fund Grants: Grants directed by individual donors
  • Field of Interest Funds: Targeted funding for specific causes
  • Designated Funds: Pre-determined beneficiary organizations

Priority Areas

  • Vulnerable Individuals and Families
  • Animal Welfare, Environment & Historic Preservation
  • Health Services and Healthcare Access
  • Youth Development and Education (kindergarten readiness focus)
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building
  • Community Development

What They Don't Fund

  • Political activities or lobbying
  • Services primarily benefiting a single religious sect
  • International social or political issues
  • Grants to individuals
  • Federated appeals

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by President & CEO Jeffrey R. Pickering and Board Chair Kathryn Healy. The board of directors consists of active community members who volunteer their time and expertise, including Allen Jones, Angelia Perry, Anthony Guettler, Carla E Meyer, Dawn E Michael, and others. The leadership emphasizes "Building a better community through donor-driven philanthropy" as their core mission.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation uses a two-step online application process:

  1. Setup GuideStar Profile: Organizations must establish or update their GuideStar profile to Platinum Seal level
  2. Submit Letter of Idea (LOI): Applications begin with an LOI submitted through the Grant Interface portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=indianriver
  3. Full Application: Staff reviews LOIs and invites qualifying organizations to submit full applications

First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a Nonprofit Grantseeker Orientation before applying.

Decision Timeline

  • LOIs due by 5:00 PM on the last day of each month
  • Staff reviews LOIs and determines which organizations advance to full application
  • Full applications reviewed by Board of Directors and community members
  • First-time applicants may require pre-application conference

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

Multi-year requests are not considered. Organizations must reapply annually for continued funding.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's structure and priorities:

  • Must serve Indian River County, Florida residents or operate within the county
  • Strong alignment with one of the foundation's priority areas
  • Clear demonstration of community impact
  • Platinum Seal GuideStar profile demonstrates organizational transparency
  • Attendance at orientation sessions for first-time applicants is strongly recommended
  • Projects should address documented community needs, particularly those identified through the foundation's Indian River Indicators data platform

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is strict - must serve Indian River County, Florida
  • Monthly LOI submission cycles provide regular opportunities to apply
  • Foundation emphasizes donor-driven philanthropy, suggesting strong donor engagement in funding decisions
  • Average grant size of $27,583 indicates mid-range funding capacity
  • Strong emphasis on data and community indicators suggests proposals should reference local data
  • First-time applicants should plan extra time for orientation and potential pre-application conference
  • Multi-year funding not available - budget for single-year projects only

References

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