Lennar Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $31,454,190 (2023)
Number of Grants: 66 awards (2023)
Average Grant Size: ~$476,000
Grant Range: $100,000 - $750,000+
Geographic Focus: Communities where Lennar employees live and work, with emphasis on Miami, FL; operates in 30 states and 75 markets nationwide
Application Method: Rolling basis, no deadlines

Contact Details

Lennar Foundation Inc.

Address: 700 New 107th Ave, Suite 400, Miami, FL 33172
Phone: 305-229-6400
Website: www.lennar.com/about/community

Overview

Established in 1989, the Lennar Foundation is the charitable arm of Lennar Corporation, one of the nation's leading homebuilders. The foundation was created to ensure the company's giving spirit had a permanent place in its blueprint. For more than 35 years, the foundation has served as a powerful extension of Lennar's values, supporting causes that include helping veterans transition to civilian life, offering job training to formerly incarcerated individuals in need of a second chance, funding life-saving medical research, and programs serving at-risk children. The foundation receives a contribution of $1,000 per home delivered by Lennar, which funds its "Focused Acts of Caring" and other grant programs. In 2024 alone, the foundation dedicated more than $80 million to helping individuals, families, and neighborhoods thrive. In recognition of its longstanding commitment to strengthening communities, the Lennar Foundation was honored with the 2025 Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award, the largest philanthropic award in the home building industry.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Lennar Foundation operates on a rolling application basis with no set deadlines. Recent grants demonstrate significant investment in community programs:

Break-N The Cycle Nonprofit Corporation: $750,000
Hope Builders Career Connection: $700,000
Teach for America: $100,000
Center for Housing Careers: $100,000

The foundation also makes major institutional gifts, including $50 million to establish the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center at City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, California, and $50 million to the University of Miami to build the Lennar Foundation Medical Center.

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on organizations and programs that assist people who are less fortunate, with giving distributed across several key areas:

Social & Human Services (46% of giving): Homeless rehabilitation, veteran services, programs for formerly incarcerated individuals
Education (34% of giving): Job training programs, educational access, workforce development
Community Development (5% of giving): Neighborhood revitalization, community strengthening initiatives
Medical Research: Life-saving medical research and healthcare access
At-Risk Children: Programs serving vulnerable youth
Elder Care: Services for senior populations

The foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that address the needs of communities where Lennar employees live and work, with particular emphasis on Miami, FL, and extending across 30 states and 75 markets nationwide where Lennar operates.

What They Don't Fund

Specific funding exclusions are not publicly documented. Organizations should contact the foundation directly for detailed grant guidelines and restrictions.

Governance and Leadership

Stuart A. Miller, Executive Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Lennar Corporation, serves as President of the Lennar Foundation. Miller has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to social responsibility and emphasizes the importance of giving back to the community. He co-chairs the Miami Dolphins Foundation, focusing on education, healthcare, youth athletic programs, and volunteer activities in Florida communities.

The foundation's leadership reflects Lennar Corporation's commitment to community involvement, with the giving philosophy deeply integrated into the company's culture and operations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applicants must complete an online application on the foundation website. The foundation operates on a rolling basis with no deadlines for submitting grant proposals. Organizations should visit www.lennar.com/about/community or contact the foundation directly at 305-229-6400 for access to the online application portal and specific instructions.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented. Given the rolling application structure, decision timeframes may vary. Applicants should contact the foundation directly for information about expected review periods for their specific application.

Success Rates

The foundation awarded 66 grants in 2023 from total giving of $31.5 million. Historical data shows:

2023: 66 awards
2022: 82 awards
2021: 81 awards
2020: 61 awards

Since 2020, the Lennar Foundation has awarded 290 individual grants totaling $92,714,434. Specific application-to-award success rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Information about reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly documented. Organizations should inquire directly with the foundation about reapplication procedures and any waiting periods.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and grant patterns, successful applications should demonstrate:

Alignment with Lennar's Community Footprint: The foundation explicitly supports "nonprofit organizations that address the needs of communities where company employees live and work." Organizations operating in the 30 states and 75 markets where Lennar builds homes, particularly in Miami, FL, appear to have strong alignment.

Focus on Helping the Less Fortunate: The foundation's stated mission centers on finding "organizations that assist people who are less fortunate," with special emphasis on programs designed to assist these populations. Applications should clearly articulate how programs serve vulnerable or underserved communities.

Strategic Program Areas: Recent grants demonstrate particular interest in:

Workforce development and job training programs (Hope Builders Career Connection - $700,000)
Breaking cycles of poverty and incarceration (Break-N The Cycle - $750,000)
Educational access and opportunity (Teach for America - $100,000)
Career pathways in specific industries (Center for Housing Careers - $100,000)

Sustainable Impact: The foundation's support for programs helping veterans transition to civilian life and offering second chances to formerly incarcerated individuals suggests interest in programs that create lasting change and pathways to self-sufficiency.

Capacity for Significant Partnership: With an average grant size of approximately $476,000 and examples ranging from $100,000 to $750,000 (excluding major institutional gifts), the foundation appears to make substantial investments in partner organizations. Applications should demonstrate organizational capacity to effectively deploy and steward significant funding.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Geographic alignment is critical: Prioritize applications if your organization serves communities in the 30 states and 75 markets where Lennar operates, especially Miami, FL
No deadline pressure: The rolling application process allows time to develop a strong proposal without racing against fixed deadlines
Substantial grant sizes: Prepare applications for significant funding ($100,000-$750,000 range), demonstrating capacity to manage and deploy larger grants effectively
Focus on transformation: Emphasize programs that create lasting change for vulnerable populations—job training, breaking cycles of poverty, second chances, and pathways to self-sufficiency resonate with the foundation's values
Think beyond annual operating: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make major capital investments (e.g., $50 million gifts for medical centers), suggesting openness to transformational projects beyond traditional program grants
Align with "Focused Acts of Caring": Frame your work within the foundation's language of caring for the less fortunate, with specific, measurable community impact
Rolling basis advantage: Contact the foundation before applying to ensure your organization and program align with current priorities and to clarify any application questions

References

Instrumentl - Lennar Foundation Inc 990 Report. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/lennar-foundation (Accessed December 2024)
Candid Foundation Directory - Lennar Foundation Inc Profile. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=LENN008 (Accessed December 2024)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Lennar Foundation Inc. Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/650171539 (Accessed December 2024)
Builder Online - "Lennar Foundation Honored With 2025 Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award." Available at: https://www.builderonline.com/builder-100/leadership/lennar-foundation-honored-with-2025-hearthstone-builder-humanitarian-award_o (Accessed December 2024)
PR Newswire - "Lennar Foundation Honored with 26th Annual Hearthstone Builder Humanitarian Award." Available at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lennar-foundation-honored-with-26th-annual-hearthstone-builder-humanitarian-award-302428959.html (Accessed December 2024)
Lennar Corporation - Leadership. Available at: https://www.lennar.com/about/leadership (Accessed December 2024)
FasterCapital - "Stuart A. Miller: The Philanthropic Heart Behind Real Estate Empire." Available at: https://fastercapital.com/content/Stuart-A--Miller--The-Philanthropic-Heart-Behind-Real-Estate-Empire.html (Accessed December 2024)
GrantStation - The Lennar Foundation. Available at: https://grantstation.com/grantmakers/lennar-foundation (Accessed December 2024)
Here-4-You Consulting - Lennar Foundation Inc Directory. Available at: https://npfunds.com/directory/lennar-foundation-inc-the/ (Accessed December 2024)