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Kathleen DuRoss Ford Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$0.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.0M

Kathleen DuRoss Ford Fund Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $148,000 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $62,149,005 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $26,000
  • Average Grant Size: $6,393
  • Number of Grants: 14 grants annually
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Palm Beach County, FL; select medical research institutions nationally
  • Application Type: Invitation only / No public application process

Contact Details

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4297
West Palm Beach, FL 33402

EIN: 65-0088771

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, though they may be open to introductory materials.

Overview

The Kathleen DuRoss Ford Fund Inc is a private family foundation established in December 1988 in West Palm Beach, Florida. With assets exceeding $62 million as of 2024, the fund focuses on supporting nonprofit organizations primarily in Palm Beach County, with selective national grants for medical research. The foundation makes modest but consistent annual distributions of approximately $148,000 through 14 grants, averaging around $6,400 per grant. The fund operates on a discretionary basis through its board of directors, focusing on health and medical research, children and youth services, education, and social services. This is a traditional family foundation that funds organizations through trustee discretion rather than open competitive applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The fund does not operate formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants in the following areas:

Medical Research & Healthcare ($5,000 - $10,000 per grant)

  • Support for major medical research institutions
  • General hospital support
  • Cancer research and specialized medical care

Local Community Support ($10,000 - $26,000 per grant)

  • Children and youth services
  • Education initiatives
  • Social services in Palm Beach County
  • Religious institutions with community programs

Priority Areas

Based on recent grants, the fund actively supports:

  • Medical Research: Cancer research, specialized hospitals, and medical centers (particularly institutions with national recognition)
  • Children and Youth: Programs serving young people in Palm Beach County
  • Education: Educational initiatives benefiting local communities
  • Health and Social Services: Organizations providing essential community services
  • Community Development: Housing development and community improvement projects

Geographic Preferences

  • Primary Focus: Palm Beach County, Florida (Pahokee, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach)
  • National Grants: Limited to prestigious medical research institutions (Boston, New York, Houston)
  • Other Florida: Jacksonville area
  • Out of State: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Texas (primarily medical research)

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's grant history suggests they typically do not fund:

  • Arts and culture organizations
  • Environmental programs
  • International projects
  • Political or advocacy organizations
  • For-profit entities

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

The foundation is governed by three unpaid directors who make all funding decisions:

  • Jeffery W Smith, Director
  • L. Frank Chopin, Director
  • John L. Shaw, Director

All directors serve without compensation, indicating this is a family foundation or closely held philanthropic trust. The board operates with full discretion in selecting grantees and determining grant amounts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

The Kathleen DuRoss Ford Fund operates on an invitation-only basis, with grants awarded at the discretion of the board of directors. The foundation explicitly notes that they "do not accept unsolicited requests," though some sources indicate they may be "open to introductory materials."

This means:

  • There is no application form or online portal
  • There are no published deadlines
  • Grants are awarded through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships
  • Most grants appear to go to organizations already known to the directors

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, they may consider introductory materials. Organizations seeking funding might consider:

Building Awareness Through Introductory Materials: The foundation has indicated openness to receiving introductory materials despite not accepting formal applications. A brief, professional letter introducing your organization and its work in areas aligned with their funding interests may be appropriate. Given the mailing address is P.O. Box 4297, West Palm Beach, FL 33402, written correspondence appears to be their preferred communication method.

Alignment with Current Grantees: Review the types of organizations they currently fund. The foundation supports well-established institutions (major hospitals for medical research) and local Palm Beach County organizations serving children, youth, education, and social services. Organizations fitting these profiles may have better success in gaining attention.

Local Palm Beach County Presence: The majority of community grants go to Palm Beach County organizations. Having an established presence and track record in this geographic area appears important for local grants, while national grants are reserved for prestigious medical research institutions.

Decision Timeline

  • Decision Process: Trustee discretion, no published timeline
  • Grant Frequency: Annual, with approximately 14 grants made per year
  • Notification: Not publicly documented

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not available since the foundation does not accept open applications. With only 14 grants awarded annually from a discretionary process, competition for funding among organizations known to the trustees is presumably high.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only nature of the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates by trustee discretion without a formal application process, traditional "success factors" do not apply. However, analysis of their grant patterns reveals:

Organizations Most Likely to Receive Funding:

  1. Established Medical Research Institutions - The foundation supports nationally recognized hospitals and medical centers (Brigham and Women's Hospital, Hospital for Special Surgery, MD Anderson) with grants typically in the $5,000-$10,000 range.

  2. Long-Standing Palm Beach County Organizations - Local grants tend to be larger ($10,000-$26,000) and go to established community institutions, particularly those serving children, youth, and families.

  3. Organizations with Personal Connections - As a family foundation with unpaid trustees making discretionary grants, personal knowledge of and connection to the organization appears to be a key factor.

Grant Pattern Analysis:

  • Medical research grants are smaller ($5,000-$10,000) but go to prestigious institutions
  • Local community grants are larger ($10,000-$26,000)
  • The single largest grant identified ($26,000) went to Palm Beach Jewish Center Inc for general support
  • General operating support and project support are both funded
  • Multi-year relationships appear common based on the consistent number of annual grants

Strategic Positioning:

Given the closed nature of this funder, organizations cannot simply "apply better." Instead, visibility and relationships with the board members or advisors would be the primary pathway to funding consideration.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates entirely through trustee discretion
  • Two Distinct Grant Categories: Small national grants ($5,000-$10,000) for medical research vs. larger local grants ($10,000-$26,000) for Palm Beach County organizations
  • Limited Annual Giving: Only 14 grants totaling $148,000 annually means very selective funding
  • Relationship-Driven: As a family foundation with unpaid trustees, grants appear to flow from personal connections and organizational knowledge
  • Established Organizations Preferred: Grant recipients include major national medical institutions and established local nonprofits
  • May Accept Introductory Materials: While unsolicited applications are not accepted, the foundation may be open to receiving informational materials about organizations
  • Geographic Concentration: Strong preference for Palm Beach County organizations outside of medical research grants
  • Stable Grant-Making Pattern: Consistent number of grants (12-14 annually) suggests predictable but limited capacity

References

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