Bert W. Martin Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,664,609 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly specified
• Grant Range: Varies (documented grants from tens of thousands to $500,000+)
• Geographic Focus: Central Florida, Tucson/Southern Arizona, and San Francisco Bay Area (San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties only)
• Total Assets: $48.3 million (2024)

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 803878, Chicago, IL 60680-3878
Phone: 312-630-6000
Website: https://bertmartinfoundation.org
Administrative Management: The Northern Trust Company

Overview

The Bert W. Martin Foundation was established in 1948 by Bert W. Martin to provide services to those in need in his community. With total assets of $48.3 million and annual charitable disbursements of $2.66 million (2024), the foundation has maintained consistent growth and philanthropic impact over more than seven decades. After Bert's death, his daughter Winifred ("Wynee") Martin Warden served as chair of the Foundation for decades until her passing in 2017. The foundation continues as a family-operated private foundation, with several next-generation descendants of Bert W. Martin serving as Directors. The foundation received the 2023 Harman Award from the Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, recognizing outstanding philanthropic leadership and charitable responsibility. The foundation's approach is distinctly local, with Directors maintaining hands-on involvement in evaluating the direct impact of philanthropic giving in the communities where they reside.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates with a localized grantmaking approach focused on three specific geographic regions. The foundation does not have distinct program categories but awards grants based on director discretion for projects that meet local needs effectively.

Geographic Eligibility: Grants are awarded exclusively for projects in:

• Central Florida
• Tucson/Southern Arizona
• San Francisco Bay Area (limited to San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties only)

Application Method: Online application through the foundation's Grant Interface (rolling basis for eligible organizations)

Priority Areas

The foundation supports local charities that "meet local needs in an effective manner." While the foundation does not specify rigid program categories, documented funding has included:

• Healthcare facilities and burn treatment centers
• Emergency medical services
• Community health and wellness programs
• Organizations serving vulnerable populations in their three geographic areas

The foundation's philosophy emphasizes local impact, allowing directors to directly evaluate and witness the results of their philanthropic investments in communities where they live.

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations outside the three specified geographic regions (Central Florida, Tucson/Southern Arizona, and San Francisco Bay Area in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties only)
• Non-501(c)(3) organizations
• Projects that do not align with directors' local knowledge and assessment of community needs

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed as a family foundation with descendants of founder Bert W. Martin serving as Directors. Winifred ("Wynee") Martin Warden, Bert's only child, led the foundation for decades alongside her sons Andy, Chandler, and the late Bert Warden.

Current Leadership includes:

• Thomas M. James, Director (compensation: $42,500 as of 2024 filing)
• Andy Warden, Director (also serves on the Board of Directors of Orlando Health Foundation)
• Multiple next-generation family members serving as Directors

Representatives at foundation events have included Taylor Bousfield, Andy Warden, and Dana Sutherland, indicating active family involvement across generations.

The foundation's approach is characterized by direct family involvement in grantmaking decisions, with directors residing in the foundation's three geographic focus areas, enabling firsthand knowledge of local needs and grant impact.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Eligibility Requirements: Organizations must meet one of the following criteria:

1. Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with projects exclusively in one of the three geographic areas (Central Florida, Tucson/Southern Arizona, or San Francisco Bay Area - San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties only)
2. Have been directed to apply by an Officer or Director of the Bert W. Martin Foundation
3. Have been previously awarded a grant by the foundation within the last 5 years

Application Method: Eligible organizations apply online through the foundation's Grant Interface at https://bertmartinfoundation.org

Application Type: Rolling basis for eligible applicants

Important Note: The foundation operates with limited public access. New organizations without prior relationships or director invitation face significant barriers to consideration. The foundation primarily supports organizations already known to directors or those specifically identified by them.

Decision Timeline

The foundation does not publicly specify decision timelines. As a private foundation with director-led grantmaking, decisions are made based on director meetings and evaluations rather than fixed schedules.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. Given the limited eligibility criteria (requiring either previous grants, director invitation, or projects in specific geographic areas), the applicant pool is highly restricted compared to typical open-application foundations.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have received a grant within the last 5 years remain eligible to apply again. The foundation's eligibility criteria suggest a preference for ongoing relationships with previously funded organizations.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented grantmaking and stated philosophy, successful applicants demonstrate:

Geographic Alignment is Non-Negotiable: The foundation exclusively funds projects in Central Florida, Tucson/Southern Arizona, and the San Francisco Bay Area (specifically San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties). Projects outside these regions are ineligible regardless of merit.

Measurable Local Impact: The foundation emphasizes supporting organizations that "meet local needs in an effective manner." Directors evaluate the direct impact of their philanthropic giving, suggesting applications should clearly demonstrate tangible community benefits that directors can witness firsthand.

Long-term Relationships: The foundation's eligibility criteria favor organizations with prior grant history or director connections. Notable example: the foundation has supported Orlando Health for over three decades, with cumulative giving exceeding $8 million since 1988, including a recent $500,000 gift to the Burn Center.

Director Connection: Andy Warden's daughter Kala experienced serious burns, leading to the family's sustained support of burn treatment services. This illustrates how personal connections to causes influence funding priorities. Understanding director interests and community involvement may provide insight into funding decisions.

Healthcare and Emergency Services: Documented major grants include support for the Warden Burn Center at Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center (achieving American Burn Association verification) and emergency department renovations, indicating strong interest in acute care facilities.

Capacity for Significant Projects: The foundation has made substantial single gifts ($500,000 to Orlando Health), suggesting capacity for major capital and program support beyond typical annual operating grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic restriction is absolute: Only apply if your project is exclusively in Central Florida, Tucson/Southern Arizona, or San Francisco Bay Area (San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties). Multi-region projects are ineligible.

• Relationship-based grantmaking: The foundation strongly favors organizations with previous grant history or director invitation. Cold applications from unknown organizations face significant barriers.

• Family foundation with hands-on involvement: Directors reside in the three geographic areas and directly evaluate impact. Applications should emphasize outcomes directors can witness and verify in their own communities.

• Substantial assets support significant grants: With $48.3 million in assets and $2.66 million in annual giving, the foundation can provide transformational support, including six-figure grants for capital projects and multi-year commitments.

• Healthcare and burn survivor support are demonstrated priorities: Recent recognition from the Phoenix Society and decades of Orlando Health support indicate strong commitment to healthcare, particularly burn treatment and emergency services.

• No public timeline creates uncertainty: Without specified decision schedules or notification processes, applicants should be prepared for variable timelines and limited communication.

• Consider relationship-building if you're new: For organizations without previous grants, establishing connections with foundation directors through community involvement in their three geographic areas may be more effective than direct applications.

References

• Bert W. Martin Foundation official website: https://bertmartinfoundation.org (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Bert William Martin Foundation Form 990-PF filings: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/366060591 (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Orlando Health Foundation: "Bert W. Martin Foundation Continues Support with Gift to the Burn Center" https://www.orlandohealthfoundation.com/content-hub/bert-w-martin-foundation-continues-support-with-gift-to-the-burn-center (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Orlando Health Foundation: "Three Decades of Support" https://www.orlandohealthfoundation.com/content-hub/three-decades-of-support (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors: "2023 Phoenix Society Award Recipients" https://phoenix-society.org/news/awards-2023 (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Cause IQ - Bert W Martin Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/bert-william-martin-foundation,366060591/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Grantmakers.io - Bert W Martin Foundation Profile: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/366060591-bert-w-martin-foundation/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)