Votum Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• EIN: 593580800
• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Activity: 6 grants (2022), 10 grants (2021), 16 grants (2020)
• Geographic Focus: Florida (primarily Polk County area)
• Foundation Type: Private Foundation

Contact Details

Address:
500 South Florida Ave, Suite 700
Lakeland, FL 33801

Phone: (863) 647-1581

Contact Person: Lawrence Maxwell

Note: This foundation does not appear to have a public website or email address.

Overview

Votum Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Lakeland, Florida, that has been making grants in support of charitable activities. The foundation files Form 990-PF annually with the IRS, indicating its status as a private foundation. While specific financial details are not publicly accessible, the foundation's grant activity shows a pattern of supporting multiple organizations, with 6 grants made in 2022, 10 in 2021, and 16 in 2020.

The foundation operates from the same address as attorney Peter Angus McFarlane in Lakeland, suggesting legal or administrative support for the foundation's operations. Lawrence Maxwell serves as the primary contact for the foundation. The foundation's grantmaking has been decreasing in recent years, though the reasons for this trend are not publicly documented.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Polk State College Scholarship
The foundation provides scholarships to students enrolled or planning to enroll at Polk State College. Students seeking professional certification, associate, or bachelor's degrees are eligible to apply. The scholarship amount is not publicly disclosed. Applications are processed through the Polk State College Foundation's general scholarship application system at polk.academicworks.com during the annual application period (typically February 1-28).

Priority Areas

According to IRS filings, the foundation's stated charitable purpose includes support for a wide variety of charitable activities including:

• Education: Supporting educational institutions and programs
• Health: Healthcare-related organizations and initiatives
• Arts and Cultural: Arts organizations and cultural programs
• Human Services: Organizations providing human services
• Civic and Environmental: Civic engagement and environmental programs

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. As a private foundation with limited public information, funding priorities may be determined by trustee discretion.

Governance and Leadership

Contact Person: Lawrence Maxwell

Legal Counsel: The foundation shares an address with Peter Angus McFarlane, an attorney admitted to practice in Florida since 1991, suggesting possible legal or administrative support for foundation operations.

Detailed information about trustees, board members, and governance structure is available in the foundation's Form 990-PF filings but was not accessible through public web searches.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Polk State College Scholarships:
Students should apply through the Polk State College Foundation's general scholarship application system:

• Visit polk.academicworks.com
• Create or update your scholarship account using your Polk State student email
• Complete the Foundation General Scholarship Application
• The system automatically matches applications with eligible scholarships, including the Votum Foundation scholarship
• Application period is typically February 1-28 annually

For General Grants:
This foundation does not have a public application process for general grantmaking. The foundation appears to make grants through trustee discretion rather than accepting unsolicited applications. There is no publicly available application portal, guidelines, or formal application process documented.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's limited public presence and lack of a formal application process, organizations seeking support might consider:

• Geographic Connection: The foundation is based in Lakeland, Florida, and has demonstrated support for Polk County institutions (e.g., Polk State College). Organizations serving the Lakeland/Polk County area may be of greater interest.

• Relationship Building: With only 6-16 grants made annually, this appears to be a small, relationship-driven foundation. Personal connections or introductions through existing grantees may be valuable.

• Alignment with Stated Priorities: Focusing on the foundation's stated interest areas (education, health, arts/cultural, human services, civic/environmental) increases the likelihood of consideration.

Note: Without a public application process or contact email, direct outreach is challenging. Organizations might consider sending a brief letter of inquiry to the foundation's Lakeland address, though there is no guarantee of response.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Private foundations typically make grant decisions quarterly or annually, but Votum Foundation's specific timeline is not documented.

Success Rates

Not available. With only 6-16 grants made per year from potentially many more requests (or from a pre-selected pool), this foundation maintains a highly selective grantmaking approach.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed.

Application Success Factors

Given the limited public information available about this foundation, specific success factors are difficult to identify. However, based on the foundation's characteristics:

• Local Connection: The foundation's demonstrated support for Polk State College suggests a preference for local (Lakeland/Polk County) organizations and causes.

• Established Organizations: Private foundations without public application processes often prefer to work with established organizations with proven track records.

• Alignment with Broad Charitable Purposes: Organizations working in education, health, arts/culture, human services, or civic/environmental areas align with the foundation's stated purposes.

• Small to Medium Requests: Given the declining number of grants (from 16 in 2020 to 6 in 2022), the foundation may be focusing on fewer, possibly larger grants, or experiencing changes in its grantmaking capacity.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Limited Accessibility: This is a private foundation without a public application process, making it difficult for new organizations to access funding.

• Local Focus: The foundation's support for Polk State College indicates a preference for Polk County, Florida organizations.

• Decreasing Grant Activity: Grant numbers have declined from 16 (2020) to 6 (2022), suggesting either strategic focus or capacity constraints.

• Multiple Interest Areas: The foundation's broad charitable purposes (education, health, arts, human services, civic/environmental) suggest flexibility in funding decisions.

• Relationship-Driven: Without formal application processes, this foundation likely operates through personal relationships, board member connections, or invitation-only grantmaking.

• Limited Transparency: The absence of a website, published guidelines, or detailed public information makes it challenging to develop a targeted approach.

• Student Support: The Polk State College scholarship program demonstrates commitment to education and direct student support.

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - Votum Foundation Inc., https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/593580800-votum-foundation-inc/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• College Board BigFuture Scholarship Search - Votum Foundation, Inc. Scholarship, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarships/votum-foundation-inc-scholarship (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• Polk State College Foundation - Foundation Scholarship Information, https://foundation.polk.edu/foundation-scholarship-information/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• FindLaw Attorney Directory - Peter Angus McFarlane, https://pview.findlaw.com/view/1542005_1 (Accessed March 11, 2026)

• CEOWORLD Magazine - "Lawrence Todd Maxwell: From Lakeland Roots to Real Estate Leadership," https://ceoworld.biz/2025/06/29/lawrence-todd-maxwell-from-lakeland-roots-to-real-estate-leadership/ (Accessed March 11, 2026)