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J M Rubin Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$2.9M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.3M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.9 million (2024)
  • Total Historical Giving: Over $17.5 million in scholarships + $12 million in nonprofit grants
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed after March 1 deadline; selections made in May
  • Grant Range: $87 - $263,250
  • Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Palm Beach County, FL; also supports organizations in Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania

Contact Details

Address: 505 South Flagler Drive, Suite 1320, Flagler Center Tower, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Phone: (561) 833-3309

Fax: (561) 833-3647

Email: kim@jmrf.org

Website: www.jmrf.org

Overview

The J.M. Rubin Foundation is a Florida not-for-profit charitable corporation established in 1973 by J.M. (Jake) Rubin and fully funded upon his death in 1993. With current assets of approximately $38.7 million, the foundation has distributed over $17.5 million in individual college scholarship grants to Palm Beach County students and over $12 million in grants to local nonprofit organizations. The foundation's primary mission is providing scholarships to Palm Beach County residents attending any recognized educational institution, with discretionary charitable support for local organizations. In 2014, the foundation received the Outstanding Private Philanthropic Foundation Award at National Philanthropy Day at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, recognizing its significant impact on the community.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Individual Scholarship Program: The foundation's primary focus

  • Open to bona fide residents of Palm Beach County, Florida
  • All applicants must be U.S. citizens
  • Awards for use at any recognized educational institution
  • Renewable annually for undergraduate work only
  • Selection based on academic and/or athletic achievement or promise
  • Application deadline: March 1 annually (applications open in early January)
  • Selections announced in May

Organizational Grants: Discretionary support at Board's discretion

  • Grant range: $87 - $263,250
  • Strives to limit giving to local institutions or those benefiting the local community
  • 105 organizational awards made in 2024
  • 102 organizational awards made in 2023

Priority Areas

  • Education (primary focus)
  • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
  • Human Services
  • Local Palm Beach County institutions and programs
  • Organizations in Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania

What They Don't Fund

  • Graduate or post-undergraduate education (for scholarship program)
  • Non-U.S. citizens
  • Non-residents of Palm Beach County (for scholarship program)
  • The foundation strives to limit organizational grants to those with local benefit

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Mary S. Harper - President/CEO

Kimberly L. Harris - Vice President and Treasurer (contact: kim@jmrf.org)

Trustees:

  • Laurel T. Baker
  • Edward R. Griffin
  • Barbara S. Noble

The foundation maintains a small, focused board that exercises discretion over both scholarship selections and organizational grant awards.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Scholarships:

  • Online application available at www.jmrf.org or applications.jmrf.org
  • Applications open in early January
  • Submission deadline: March 1 (for following academic year)
  • Required materials:
    • Complete online application
    • At least two recommendations (from school, community, or employment)
    • Official high school and college transcripts (must be received or postmarked by March 1)
    • Two complete consecutive years of tax returns

For Organizational Grants: The foundation does not have a public application process for organizational grants. At the discretion of the Board, they provide charitable support to some organizations, striving to limit this giving to local institutions or to the benefit of the local community.

Decision Timeline

Scholarships:

  • Application deadline: March 1
  • Review and processing: March - May
  • Selections announced: May
  • Scholarships are renewable annually subject to good standing at educational institution

Organizational Grants:

  • No public timeline available
  • Grants awarded at Board discretion throughout the year

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation makes approximately 100-105 awards annually, with the majority being scholarship awards to individual students.

Reapplication Policy

Scholarships: Selected scholars can renew annually if maintaining good standing at their educational institution. Policies for unsuccessful applicants to reapply are not specified on public materials.

Organizational Grants: No formal reapplication policy disclosed due to discretionary nature of organizational giving.

Application Success Factors

For Scholarship Applicants

  • Strong Academic or Athletic Achievement: The foundation explicitly states that "Recipients are selected on the basis of academic and/or athletic achievement or promise as the basic criterion."

  • Palm Beach County Residency: Applicants must be bona fide residents of Palm Beach County, Florida - this is a strict requirement.

  • U.S. Citizenship: All scholarship applicants must be U.S. citizens.

  • Complete and Timely Documentation: All required materials (application, recommendations, transcripts, tax returns) must be submitted by the March 1 deadline.

  • Financial Documentation: The requirement for two consecutive years of tax returns suggests financial need may be considered alongside merit.

For Organizations Seeking Support

  • Local Connection: The foundation "strives to limit this giving to local institutions or to the benefit of the local community," with strong preference for Palm Beach County organizations.

  • Board Discretion: Organizational grants are made at the discretion of the Board, suggesting that existing relationships and connections to board members may be relevant.

  • Alignment with Focus Areas: Organizations working in education, human services, and community development appear most likely to receive support based on the foundation's stated priorities.

  • No Public Application Process: Organizations should note that this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications through a formal process.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Scholarship Focus: The foundation's primary mission is scholarships for Palm Beach County students - this accounts for the majority of their annual giving.

  • Limited Organizational Grantmaking: While the foundation does make grants to nonprofits (over $12 million historically), these are discretionary and there is no public application process.

  • Local Preference: Strong preference for Palm Beach County and local Florida institutions, though some grants extend to Virginia and Pennsylvania.

  • Established Foundation: With over 50 years of operation and nearly $40 million in assets, this is a stable, well-established funder.

  • Recognition: The 2014 Outstanding Private Philanthropic Foundation Award demonstrates community recognition of their impact.

  • Renewable Support: Scholarship recipients can receive multi-year support, suggesting the foundation values long-term investment in individuals.

  • Board-Driven: With a small board of five trustees making discretionary decisions, building relationships and understanding board priorities would be important for organizations seeking support.

References

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