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Ocean Reef Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$13.5M
Decision Time
4mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.5 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Annually (following November 1 deadline)
  • Grant Range: Varies by program need
  • Geographic Focus: Ocean Reef Club and surrounding South Florida communities (Homestead, Florida City, and the Keys)

Contact Details

Overview

Established in 1994 by Ocean Reef Club members, the Ocean Reef Community Foundation has distributed nearly $147 million since its inception. With total assets of $110 million as of 2024, the foundation operates as a community foundation serving both the Ocean Reef Club community and surrounding areas in South Florida. The foundation fosters a culture of philanthropy among Ocean Reef members while supporting over 80 local non-profit organizations annually. Operating with a donor-advised fund model, the foundation manages various fund types including unrestricted, field of interest, designated, and donor-advised funds.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Community Grants Program: Annual grants to local nonprofits (applications due November 1)
  • All Charities Weekend: Major fundraising event that has distributed over $77.5 million since 2008
  • Emergency Relief Funds: Special funding for disasters (Hurricane Irma, COVID-19)
  • Donor-Advised Funds: Allow donors to direct distributions to specific charities

Priority Areas

  • Education
  • Youth Services
  • Health and Family Services
  • Community Development
  • Arts and Culture
  • Environmental Conservation

What They Don't Fund

Information not publicly available

Governance and Leadership

  • Chairman and CEO: William J. Nutt
  • President and COO: Richard Weinstein
  • Executive Director/Secretary: Yurianna Mikolay
  • Board: 22 independent board members (84% independent)

The foundation maintains strong governance with Charity Navigator's Four-Star Rating (100% score), demonstrating fiscal responsibility with a 92% program expense ratio and only $0.03 spent to raise each dollar.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts grant applications from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving the Ocean Reef community and surrounding areas. Applications are submitted annually with a November 1 deadline. Over 100 organizations typically apply, requesting over $3.2 million in total funding.

Decision Timeline

  • Application Deadline: November 1 annually
  • Review Period: November through February
  • Site Visits: Conducted by Grants Committee during review period
  • Final Decisions: After All Charities Weekend (typically February)
  • Notification: Following board approval

Success Rates

While specific success rates are not published, the foundation reports supporting over 80 nonprofit organizations annually from over 100 applications received.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can reapply annually. No waiting period indicated for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

The foundation's Grants Committee conducts a thorough review process involving "meeting, studying, visiting, vetting, questioning, evaluating" each potential recipient. Key factors include:

  • Demonstrated impact on the Ocean Reef community or surrounding South Florida areas
  • Clear alignment with foundation priority areas (education, health, youth services)
  • Evidence of organizational capacity and fiscal responsibility
  • Site visit readiness - the Grants Committee conducts on-site evaluations
  • Ability to articulate specific community needs and how funding addresses them

Recent successful grants include the College of the Florida Keys for a testing center, Florida Keys AHEC's Mobile Dental Unit serving school children, and SOS Food Pantry addressing increased community needs due to inflation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on demonstrating direct benefit to Ocean Reef Club members or surrounding South Florida communities
  • Submit applications by the November 1 deadline - no rolling applications accepted
  • Prepare for site visits as part of the evaluation process
  • Emphasize programs in education, youth, health, and family services
  • Consider that total requests typically exceed available funding by significant margins
  • The foundation values long-term community partnerships - over 80 organizations receive support annually
  • Leverage the foundation's membership in Florida Keys Funders Alliance for potential collaborative opportunities

References

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