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Community Foundation Martin St Lucie Inc

Annual Giving
$4.8M
Grant Range
$0K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,761,226 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $58.5 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by program; quarterly review cycle for most programs
  • Grant Range: $250 - $100,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Martin County and St. Lucie County, Florida (primary); supports causes nationally and globally

Contact Details

Address: 851 SE Monterey Commons Blvd, Stuart, FL 34996

Phone: 772-288-3795

Website: thecommunityfoundationmartinstlucie.org

Email: Available through website contact form

Overview

The Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie Inc. was established in 1988 and has been serving individuals, families, and businesses in achieving their philanthropic goals for over 35 years. With total assets of $58.5 million and annual grantmaking of approximately $4.8 million (2024), the foundation operates as a community foundation managing various types of charitable funds including donor-advised funds, field-of-interest funds, and designated funds. The foundation distributed 115 grants in 2024, supporting hundreds of charitable organizations with missions ranging from child welfare, health, education, and elder care to the environment and public art. In 2016, the foundation became the steward of the Frances Langford Foundation's remaining funds valued at $7.7 million, significantly expanding its capacity to support arts, culture, and environmental causes in the region. The foundation holds a Three-Star rating (88%) from Charity Navigator, demonstrating strong financial health and accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Impact100 Martin: $100,000 grants

  • Annual transformational grants funded by member contributions ($1,100 per member)
  • Focus areas: Arts & Culture, Education, Family, Health & Wellness, Environment, and Preservation & Recreation
  • Letter of Intent phase opens late August annually
  • Four grants awarded in 2024 totaling $422,000

Impact 100 St. Lucie: $100,000+ grants

  • Similar model to Impact100 Martin, serving St. Lucie County
  • Grant process typically opens July
  • 2024 recipient: Better Together (family reunification program)

Frances Langford Fund for Martin County: $25,000 - $50,000

  • Annual grants announced in early fall
  • Two application tracks: (1) Arts, Culture and/or Environment; (2) All Other Fields of Interest
  • Supports organizations in Martin County
  • Grants awarded in current fiscal year

Premier Realty Group Charitable Fund: $250 - $2,500

  • Applications accepted quarterly (due first week of January, April, July, October)
  • Serves Martin County and/or St. Lucie County
  • One application per organization per quarter
  • Preference for projects with identified matching funds and scalable outcomes
  • Cannot be used for supplanting existing expenses or capital purchases

TCF Environmental Action Fund: Varies (grants of $25,000 documented)

  • Created in 2019 by Bud Jordan and Tom Buhr
  • Focus on water quality and environmental health on the Treasure Coast
  • Supports research providing actionable data and environmental education
  • Recipients include Ocean Research & Conservation Association, The Everglades Foundation, and Loxa-Lucie Headwaters Initiative

The Men's Giving Club: Amount varies

  • Pooled contributions for collective impact grants
  • Focus on health care, vocational training, and other community needs
  • 2023 recipient: HANDS of SLC

Treasure Coast Giving Circle: $10,000 - $50,000

  • Serves Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee Counties
  • Pooled member contributions for strategic impact grants

Priority Areas

Grant awards may be made at the discretion of the Board from established Field of Interest and/or Unrestricted Funds. The foundation's Grants Committee policy statement is: "To partner with the not-for-profit sector by investing in innovative, diverse, and inclusive programs that have a measurable impact on the community."

Primary areas of support include:

  • Arts and culture
  • Education and youth development
  • Health and wellness
  • Environment and water quality
  • Family services
  • Elder care
  • Economic opportunity and vocational training
  • Disaster relief and emergency response

What They Don't Fund

  • Units of government (not eligible)
  • Private and community foundations (not eligible)
  • Supplanting/offsetting existing ongoing expenses (prohibited for most programs)
  • Capital expenses including property purchase and new buildings (prohibited for Premier Realty Group fund)
  • Organizations not in good standing with IRS 501(c)(3) status
  • Organizations in existence less than 3 years (for some programs)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Ellyn Stevenson, Board Chair

  • Former Health Care Executive and Medical Social Worker
  • Expertise in Asset Management and Real Estate Development

Theora G. Webb, Board Vice Chair

  • Former Director of Public Affairs
  • Specializes in Strategic Philanthropy, Communications, and Community Relations

Kelly Buist, Board Vice Chair

  • Managing Director at Northern Trust, Attorney
  • Expertise in Private Banking and Fiduciary Services

Nancy B. Crowder-McCoy, Board Treasurer

  • CPA at Carr, Riggs, & Ingram
  • Specializes in Business Planning and Tax Planning

Brian E. Foss, Board Secretary

  • Strategic Consultant for Nonprofits
  • Expertise in Nonprofit Governance and Management Consulting

Kenneth A. Norman, Immediate Past Chair

  • Attorney at McCarthy, Summers, Wood, Norman, Melby & Schultz
  • Focus on Legal Counsel and Community Advocacy

Additional Board Members:

  • John Doody - Former CEO of Insurance Agency
  • Linda Houston - Former Executive at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
  • Michael A. Kelly - Private Investor at ArbCap

Executive Leadership

Elizabeth Barbella, President & CEO

Barbella became CEO of The Foundation in July 2015, having previously served as CEO of the House of Hope. Prior to that role, she was the Director of Policy and Operations at the Children's Services Council of Martin County for 14 years, where she drove investment in transformational social and health and human service programs. She has worked with hundreds of nonprofits in organizational capacity building and sustainability.

Key Quote: "They become inspired and galvanized by compelling projects that could move the needle toward a better community, whether locally or globally, and they understand that philanthropy is the way to drive the change they seek."

On environmental priorities, Barbella stated: "Our ongoing water quality and environmental issues need to be at the forefront of our community's decision-making."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications through multiple grant programs with varying processes:

For Quarterly Grant Programs (Premier Realty Group Charitable Fund and others):

  • Applications accepted quarterly
  • Deadlines: First week of January, April, July, and October
  • Submit through online grant portal
  • Organizations must be 501(c)(3) and in existence for 3 years (for most programs)
  • Serve Martin County and/or St. Lucie County

For Impact100 Programs:

  • Three-phase application process:
    1. Letter of Intent (LOI) - Opens late August for Martin, July for St. Lucie
    2. Full Grant Application - Selected organizations invited to submit complete applications with video
    3. Finalist Presentations - Finalists present to full membership for voting
  • Must request exactly $100,000
  • Project can be phased up to three years for completion
  • Must outline quantifiable, measurable outcomes

For Frances Langford Fund:

  • Annual grant cycle
  • Grant priorities announced in early fall
  • Organizations may submit only one application
  • Choose between two tracks: (1) Arts & Culture/Environment or (2) All Other Fields of Interest
  • Applications due approximately one month after announcement
  • Site visits conducted via Zoom
  • Award recipients announced before year end

General Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be incorporated and approved by IRS as 501(c)(3)
  • Must be in existence for 3 years (for most programs)
  • Must offer program/project/service in Martin County and/or St. Lucie County
  • Units of government and private/community foundations are not eligible

Decision Timeline

Review Process: Applications are reviewed by the Grants Committee, comprised of community leaders and chaired by a Foundation board member. After a rigorous review process and site visits, the Grants Committee makes formal recommendations to the Foundation's Board of Directors.

Typical Timeframes:

  • Quarterly programs: Review occurs following quarterly deadline; specific timeline not publicly disclosed
  • Impact100 programs: Decision announced at annual Grant Awards Celebration (typically several months after LOI submission)
  • Frances Langford Fund: Approximately 2 months from application to award announcement

Notification Methods: Not specifically detailed; contact foundation for specific program notification procedures

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose overall application success rates. In 2024, the foundation distributed 115 grants totaling $4.76 million. For Impact100 Martin specifically, the program awarded 4 grants from the finalist pool, suggesting a competitive process.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish explicit reapplication restrictions. Organizations may apply to one grant program per quarter for the Premier Realty Group fund (one application per organization per quarter). For other programs, contact the foundation directly to discuss reapplication timing and strategy.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's published priorities and grant committee policy, successful applications demonstrate:

Measurable Impact and Innovation: The Grants Committee specifically seeks to "invest in innovative, diverse, and inclusive programs that have a measurable impact on the community." Applications must outline quantifiable, measurable outcomes and demonstrate cost effectiveness.

Collective Impact and Sustainability: Applications should highlight collective impact possibilities where outcomes will benefit multiple organizations, a broader population, or the community at large. The foundation looks for organizational sustainability and the ability to leverage relationships and resources to "make, amplify, and/or magnify change."

Viability and Good Standing: Elizabeth Barbella emphasizes that the foundation's concierge services focus on "ensuring that grant support is given to viable, sustainable and innovative programs that improve the quality of life for those they serve and for the greater common good."

Verifiable Need: All applications must demonstrate verifiable need for the project or program. The foundation evaluates proposed programs/projects for cost effectiveness and impact.

Strategic Alignment with Donor Intent: Since the foundation operates many donor-advised and field-of-interest funds, understanding the specific priorities of each grant program is essential. "Donor vision and wishes are at the heart of every grant made."

Matching Funds and Scalability (for certain programs): The Premier Realty Group Charitable Fund specifically prefers applications that have identified viable or committed matching funds, demonstrate feasible sustainable outcomes, and show opportunity for future scalability.

Community Need and Strategic Priorities: Funds are distributed based on community need and impact. Applications addressing pressing community issues—such as the environmental and water quality challenges Barbella highlighted—may receive favorable consideration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Multiple entry points: With grant ranges from $250 to $100,000+, the foundation offers funding opportunities for organizations of various sizes and project scopes
  • Quarterly opportunities: Most programs accept applications quarterly, providing four chances per year to secure funding
  • Emphasis on collective impact: Applications should articulate how the project will benefit multiple organizations, broader populations, or the community at large rather than serving narrow interests
  • Measurability is critical: All applications must include quantifiable, measurable outcomes—vague aspirational goals will not be competitive
  • Water quality is a strategic priority: Environmental projects, particularly those addressing water quality issues on the Treasure Coast, align with stated leadership priorities and dedicated funding streams
  • Relationship-based grantmaking: As a community foundation managing donor-advised and field-of-interest funds, many grants reflect specific donor priorities; building relationships with foundation staff can provide insight into emerging opportunities
  • Three-year track record required: Most programs require organizations to have been operational for at least three years, demonstrating stability and sustainability
  • Geographic specificity matters: Clearly demonstrate how your project serves Martin County and/or St. Lucie County residents to meet geographic eligibility requirements

References

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