The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation's stated focus includes children, education, homelessness and animal welfare, so a charity should first check whether its work sits in one of those areas.
- The filing says it does not accept unsolicited requests and works by invitation only, so a small nonprofit should look for an introduction rather than send a cold application.
- Most of its grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $110,000, with a median of $15,000, so a request in that region is realistic; that band is typical, not a ceiling, since its largest grant was $2,500,000.
- Most of its grant dollars go to organisations it has funded before, so an introduction through an existing connection is the sensible route.
- No geographic focus is stated, and its grants have mainly gone to Florida, Montana and North Carolina, but that pattern is not a rule about who may apply.
Overview
The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation is a US private foundation based in Palm Beach, FL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (thelordsplace.org, palmbeachdailynews.com), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation makes grants to charitable organisations whose initiatives improve the quality of life in local communities. Its focus includes children, education, homelessness and animal welfare. Most grant rows describe general support for programmes; recipients include health-care providers, educational institutions and youth organisations as well as other charities. These grants support a range of community needs through established charitable organisations. Its grants reach organisations across many states, with the largest recorded shares in Florida and Montana.
Themes
- Children
- Education
- Homelessness
- Animal welfare
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Florida, Montana and North Carolina.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 89% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 761 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 3%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 14% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to organisations The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom).
- 3% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 265 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $15,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Billings Clinic Foundation · General support for programs$2,500,0002024 tax year
- Duke University - Bass Connections · General support for programs$1,060,0002024 tax year
- Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County · General support for programs$760,0002024 tax year
- Busch Wildlife Sanctuary · General support for programs$750,0002024 tax year
- St Vincent Healthcare Foundation · General support for programs$540,0002024 tax year
- Hanley Foundation - Capital Campaign · General support for programs$400,0002024 tax year
- Lord's Place · General support for programs$386,5002024 tax year
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach · General support for programs$360,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Carla Termini — Director
- Diane Wilson — Director
- Walter L Ross III — Director
- Betsy Turner — Director
- Carol Mccracken — Director
- Larry B Alexander — Secretary & Director
- Nick R Cladis — Director
- Susan Stockard Channing — Director
- Lesly S Smith — Vice President & Director
- Danielle Hickox Moore — President & Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $18,467,630 | $13,055,200 | $267,542,611 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $17,487,663 | $12,349,625 | $292,164,338 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $20,016,630 | $14,860,840 | $324,428,447 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palm Beach, FL
Applying to The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palm Beach, FL