The Miami Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $79.0 million (2023)
• Total Assets: $525.0 million (2023)
• Success Rate: Approximately 14% (recent cycle awarded 127 organisations from ~900 applications)
• Decision Time: Approximately 4-6 months from application deadline
• Grant Range: $40,000 - $70,000 (two-year awards)
• Geographic Focus: Miami-Dade County, Florida

Contact Details

Address: 40 NW 3rd Street, Suite 305, Miami, FL 33128

Website: https://miamifoundation.org

Contact: Contact form available on website; Programme and Grantmaking Team handles grant-related inquiries

Overview

Established in 1967 as the Dade Community Foundation, The Miami Foundation is Greater Miami's premier community foundation with over $525 million in assets. For nearly 60 years, the foundation has served as a bridge between philanthropists and community needs, investing over $772 million to strengthen Greater Miami. Under the leadership of President and CEO Rebecca Fishman Lipsey (appointed June 2020), the foundation has grown by 50% and infused a commitment to equity and collective impact into every initiative. The foundation manages more than 1,000 charitable funds and has served 35,000 donors. The foundation operates on a bi-annual grant cycle, reflecting their commitment to trust-based philanthropy with unrestricted, multi-year general operating support. The foundation has received recognition for its innovative participatory grantmaking approach, partnering with over 100 Community Advisors to review proposals and ensure community voices are centred in funding decisions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Grants Programme: $40,000 - $70,000 (two-year general operating support)

• Award amounts determined by organisation's annual operating budget
• Bi-annual application cycle (applications accepted every two years)
• Recent cycle awarded $7 million to 127 organisations
• All grants are unrestricted, mission-building general operating support

Safe Communities Programme: Partnership with The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Miami-Dade County, State Attorney's Office, and Taft Foundation

• Supports organisations assisting victims of crime, reducing crime in communities, and helping offenders rehabilitate

Scholarship Programmes: Various scholarships and fellowships for Miami-Dade County residents

• Separate application process from Community Grants
• Application deadline typically March 15, with notifications in April

Donor-Advised Funds: The foundation operates donor-advised funds through which donors can direct distributions

Priority Areas

The foundation funds organisations working in six core categories:

1. Access to Health and Wellness: Connecting people to quality health resources and education, reducing health disparities, and tackling social determinants of health

2. Economic Stability: Promoting self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship, financial independence, and personal stability to help residents meet affordability challenges

3. Inclusion: Expanding opportunities for people with disabilities across all aspects of community life

4. Inspiring Arts and Culture: Championing community diversity, expanding access to arts and culture experiences, and increasing opportunities for artistic expression

5. Safer Communities: Crime prevention and deterrence, reducing substance abuse and addiction, combating human trafficking, supporting survivors of violence, and youth development programmes that promote safety

6. Thriving Youth and Families: High-quality education, personal development, and ensuring safety and stability for families from early childhood to elder-aged

Cross-cutting emphasis: The foundation conducts much of its grantmaking through a racial equity lens and prioritises organisations serving marginalised communities.

What They Don't Fund

Per IRS regulations, grant funds may not be used for:

• Lobbying activities
• Partisan political activities
• Grants to individuals for travel, study, or similar purposes
• Subgrants to other organisations
• Any activity outside approved charitable and educational purposes

Additional restrictions:

• Collaborative proposals are not considered (funding is intended to invest in individual organisations' sustainability)
• Work must directly serve Miami-Dade County residents
• Organisations with current grants must be in compliance to apply for new funding
• Each applicant may submit only one application to one category (except colleges, universities, and local government entities may submit up to three from different departments)

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Rebecca Fishman Lipsey (appointed June 2020)

Rebecca has infused a commitment to equity and collective impact into every initiative at the foundation. In her words: "In leading the foundation, my responsibility is to identify issues that matter in Miami—and to bring together resources and power to help solve those issues." Under her leadership, the foundation has grown by 50% with a strong emphasis on equity in every grant programme. She is currently focused on building a physical home base for nonprofit strength and community solutions.

Board of Trustees: The board comprises diverse community volunteers who provide stewardship and establish/govern all policies regarding operations, investments, and grants.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the foundation's grants portal at grants.miamifoundation.org using the Submittable platform.

Application requirements:

• Active 501(c)(3) status as a public charity OR established fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status
• Government entities and religious organisations that are nonprofit equivalents are also eligible
• Must have operations in Miami-Dade County and serve Miami-Dade County residents
• One application per organisation, per cycle (exceptions for colleges, universities, and government entities)

Application cycle:

• Bi-annual (every two years)
• Application windows typically open in January with deadlines in late February (approximately 2-month window)

Decision Timeline

Community Grants Programme:

• Applications due: Late February (2-month window)
• Review process: 100+ Community Advisors review all eligible proposals over 48 hours of meetings
• Decision notification: Approximately 4-6 months after deadline
• Grant awards begin: Following notification

Success Rates

The Community Grants programme is highly competitive:

• Recent cycle: ~900 proposals submitted; 127 organisations funded (approximately 14% success rate)
• Previous cycle: 697 proposals submitted; 95 organisations funded (approximately 14% success rate)

The foundation notes that the volume of applications has increased significantly, reflecting growing community need and awareness of the programme.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation operates on a bi-annual grant cycle, meaning organisations funded in one cycle would naturally be eligible to apply in the next cycle two years later. Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented, but the bi-annual structure suggests unsuccessful applicants may apply in subsequent cycles. Organisations should contact the foundation directly for clarification on reapplication timing and guidance.

Application Success Factors

The Miami Foundation emphasises trust-based philanthropy and community-led decision-making. Key success factors include:

Alignment with funding categories: Organisations must demonstrate clear work in one of the six priority areas. The foundation states proposals are reviewed to ensure alignment with category priorities and mission.

Community impact and equity focus: The foundation conducts much of its grantmaking through a racial equity lens. Applications should demonstrate how work serves marginalised communities and addresses disparities in Miami-Dade County.

Geographic focus: Proposals must show direct service to Miami-Dade County residents. The foundation's commitment is specifically to Greater Miami.

Organisational readiness for general operating support: Since grants are unrestricted, mission-building support, organisations should demonstrate how flexible funding will strengthen sustainability, impact, and growth. The foundation trusts organisations to determine best use of funds.

Community voice and perspective: With over 100 Community Advisors reviewing proposals, applications that resonate with community members' lived experiences and professional expertise are more likely to succeed. Advisors bring "rich perspectives from people with personal and professional experiences related to each funding category."

Operating budget alignment: Award amounts are determined by annual operating budget ($40,000-$70,000 range for two years). Organisations should be prepared to provide budget information demonstrating operational scale.

Compliance and good standing: Organisations with existing foundation grants must be in compliance to apply. This suggests the foundation values strong grantee relationships and accountability.

Quality over complexity: The foundation has moved away from detailed project budgets in favour of streamlined proposals focusing on mission and impact. This reflects their trust-based approach—simpler, clearer applications that focus on the "why" may be more effective than overly complex proposals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Timing is everything: Applications open once every two years. Plan well in advance and monitor the foundation's website for announcement of the next application cycle.

• Unrestricted support is the model: The foundation provides general operating support, not project grants. Frame your application around organisational mission and sustainability rather than specific projects.

• Equity lens is critical: Rebecca Fishman Lipsey has stated the foundation conducts grantmaking through a racial equity lens. Demonstrate how your work addresses disparities and serves marginalised communities.

• Community Advisors matter: Over 100 community members with lived and professional experience review proposals. Write for this audience—use accessible language and demonstrate authentic community connection.

• Geographic focus is non-negotiable: Must serve Miami-Dade County residents directly. Regional or statewide organisations should clearly articulate Miami-Dade impact.

• Competition is intense: With a 14% success rate, applications must be compelling and clearly differentiated. Recent cycles have received up to 900 applications—quality and clarity are essential.

• One category only: Choose your funding category carefully—you can only apply to one. Review category descriptions thoroughly and select the strongest fit for your organisation's primary mission.

References

• The Miami Foundation Community Grants Programme. https://miamifoundation.org/community-grants/
• The Miami Foundation GuideStar Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/65-0350357
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: The Miami Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/650350357
• Inside The Miami Foundation's trust-based, community-led Community Grants programme. https://miamifoundation.org/blog/inside-the-miami-foundations-trust-based-community-led-community-grants-program/
• The Miami Foundation Announces Rebecca Fishman Lipsey as President and CEO. https://miamifoundation.org/news/the-miami-foundation-announces-rebecca-fishman-lipsey-as-president-and-ceo/
• Rebecca Fishman Lipsey on shaping community impact. https://miamifoundation.org/news/rfl-sfbg-2024-south-florida-ultimate-ceo-awards-honorees/
• The Miami Foundation Board of Trustees. https://miamifoundation.org/board/
• The Miami Foundation Contact Us. https://miamifoundation.org/who-we-are/contact-us/
• The Miami Foundation | Inside Philanthropy. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/florida-grants/the-miami-foundation