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GiveWell Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$72.7M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
7mo
Success Rate
74%

GiveWell Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $72,731,278 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 70-79% (Impact Polk program)
  • Decision Time: 5-9 months (application to award notification)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $24,000+ (competitive grants)
  • Geographic Focus: Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties in Central Florida

Contact Details

Main Office: 1501 South Florida Avenue Lakeland, FL 33803 Phone: 863-683-3131 Email: info@givecf.org Website: https://www.givecf.org

Grant Inquiries: Johnna Martinez, Grants Manager Phone: 863-683-3131 Email: jmartinez@givecf.org

Winter Haven Office: Available by appointment

Overview

GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) was established in 1997 by community leaders in Central Florida and became a stand-alone 501(c)(3) public charity in 2000. With over $620 million in total assets, the foundation has distributed over $400 million to thousands of nonprofits across its 25+ year history. Serving Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties, GWCF holds more than 400 charitable funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits. In fiscal year 2023-24, fundholders awarded 1,684 grants—more than any previous year. The foundation is accredited with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, representing the highest philanthropic standards, and holds a 4-star rating (99%) from Charity Navigator. Recent strategic emphasis includes transparency in finances and investments while helping donors maximize their charitable impact throughout Central Florida communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Impact Polk (Annual Competitive Grant Program)

  • Typical awards: $5,000 - $24,000
  • Total annual distribution: $665,000 - $835,000
  • Application method: Online portal, fixed annual deadline
  • Focus: Addressing community needs throughout Polk County

Empower Polk/Empower Hardee, Highlands & Polk (Capacity-Building Program)

  • Award range: $1,000 - $5,000
  • Total annual distribution: $90,000 - $113,000
  • Application method: Invitation only to organizations with agency funds at GWCF
  • Focus: Organizational capacity building, technology upgrades, strategic planning, staff and board training

Community Clinic Grant Program

  • Focus: Identifying and treating chronic conditions
  • Limited public information available

Discretionary Grants from Donor-Advised Funds

  • Fundholders can recommend grants to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations locally, nationally, and internationally
  • No public application process; awarded at fundholder discretion

Priority Areas

GWCF's competitive grant programs support a broad range of community needs:

  • Health & Human Services (largest funding category)
  • Education (literacy programs, student support, early childhood)
  • Arts & Culture (community enrichment, youth arts education)
  • Animal Welfare (pet rescue, veterinary care)
  • Food Security (food banks, meal programs, mobile pantries)
  • Affordable Housing & Shelter (transitional housing, home repairs)
  • Economic & Employment Opportunities
  • Transportation (access to services)
  • Quality of Life (recreation, community development)

What They Don't Fund

GWCF explicitly cannot fund:

  • Grants that benefit individuals directly
  • Personal obligations or pledges
  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities
  • Private foundations (501(c)(3) public charities only)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Executive Committee:

  • Kimberly Elmhorst – Board Chair
  • Wesley Barnett – Vice Chair
  • Doug McPherson – Treasurer
  • Jason Rodda – Secretary
  • Jay Gray – Immediate Past Chair

Committee Chairs:

  • James Previte – Audit Committee Chair
  • Tom Oldt – Investment Committee Chair

Board Members at Large: Barney Barnett, Ann Barnhart, Bo Boyte, Jackie Byrd, Bruce Davis, Barrett Hollis, Christina Criser Jackson, Kristen Labbe, Katrina Lunsford, Jerry Mixon, Garrett Roberts, Shannon Sapp, Sandra Sheets, Jillian Spangler, Katherine Sultenfuss Schichtel (Ex Officio)

Staff Leadership

  • Callie Neslund – President/CEO (appointed March 2023)
  • John Attaway – Counsel
  • Lori Martini – Vice President/Chief Philanthropic Officer
  • Dorena Geary, CPA – Chief Financial Officer
  • Johnna Martinez – Grants Manager
  • Gabby Fazekas – Philanthropic Services Manager
  • Sara Hallett – Communications Manager

The board comprises directors with deep community roots and broad knowledge of local needs, emphasizing fiduciary stewardship and transparent operations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Competitive Grant Programs (Impact Polk):

  1. Applications submitted through GWCF's Nonprofit Portal
  2. Portal includes tutorials covering navigation, copy requests, and collaboration features
  3. Applicants must review program-specific guidelines before applying
  4. Online application system only—no paper applications accepted

Application Requirements:

  • Must be 501(c)(3) public charity recognized by IRS
  • Must serve relevant county (Polk for Impact Polk)
  • Provide current Board Member list demonstrating strong governance
  • Submit project-specific budget and narrative

For Empower Polk (Capacity-Building):

  • Invitation-only program
  • Available only to nonprofits with established agency funds at GWCF

For Donor-Advised Fund Grants:

  • No public application process
  • Grants awarded at discretion of individual fundholders

Decision Timeline

Impact Polk Timeline:

  • Application Period: October 6 – November 3 (annual)
  • Award Notifications: March – June (following year)
  • Total Timeline: Approximately 5-9 months from application deadline to notification

Notification method not specified in available materials.

Success Rates

Impact Polk Historical Success Rates:

  • 2024: 78.6% (110 awards from 140 applications requesting $2M+)
  • 2022: 61.9% (83 awards from 134 applications requesting $2M+)
  • 2021: 71.5% (88 awards from 123 applications requesting $1.9M)

Average success rate: approximately 70-79%, indicating competitive but attainable funding opportunities. Multiple organizations receive full or partial funding each cycle.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is publicly available. Organizations should contact Grants Manager Johnna Martinez (jmartinez@givecf.org) for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

Funder-Specific Guidance

Request Appropriately: GWCF explicitly advises, "Organizations are encouraged to seek only the dollars necessary." This indicates the foundation values realistic, needs-based budget requests over inflated asks.

Recent Funding Patterns:

  • Youth services consistently funded (Boys & Girls Clubs, youth arts programs, summer camps)
  • Food security initiatives receive strong support (Meals on Wheels, food banks, mobile pantries)
  • Mental health and grief services prioritized (Peace River Center, Good Shepherd Hospice)
  • Housing stability programs well-represented (Anchor House, Habitat for Humanity)
  • Educational equity emphasized (literacy programs, AmeriCorps initiatives, special needs support)

Grant Award Patterns

Typical Impact Polk Awards by Sector:

  • Large human services organizations: $10,000-$20,000
  • Food security programs: $5,000-$15,000
  • Youth education initiatives: $5,000-$10,000
  • Arts and culture programs: $5,000-$15,000
  • Capacity needs (literacy materials, equipment): $15,000-$24,000

Examples of Recently Funded Projects (2024-2025):

  • Boys & Girls Clubs Social Emotional Learning: $10,000
  • Meals on Wheels Angel Meal program: $15,000
  • 1st Veterans' Kids Care vision/literacy: $15,000
  • Central Florida Speech and Hearing children's book library: $17,000
  • Anchor House transition services: $20,000

Eligibility Essentials

  • Strong board governance required: Must provide current board member list
  • 501(c)(3) verification mandatory: Foundation confirms tax-exempt status
  • Geographic service requirement: Must serve Polk County (for Impact Polk)
  • Partial funding common: Many organizations receive partial rather than full requested amounts

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • High success rate: At 70-79%, Impact Polk has notably higher award rates than many competitive grant programs, making it an excellent opportunity for qualified Polk County nonprofits
  • Request realistically: The foundation explicitly encourages organizations to "seek only the dollars necessary"—inflated budgets likely disadvantage applicants
  • Demonstrate governance strength: Board member lists and governance structures are mandatory; weak governance may be disqualifying
  • Geographic alignment critical: For Impact Polk, organizations must serve Polk County; this is strictly enforced
  • Diverse funding priorities: The foundation funds across all community sectors—don't assume your cause area is too niche
  • Consider capacity-building pathway: Organizations seeking sustainability investments should explore establishing an agency fund at GWCF to access Empower Polk grants
  • Plan for long timeline: With 5-9 months from application to award, organizations should apply well in advance of funding needs

References

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