This article appeared in Palm Beach Society Magazine on December 16, 2022.
PHILANTHROPIST MACKENZIE SCOTT’S “NO STRINGS ATTACHED” STYLE OF GIVING INSPIRES SUPPORT FOR THE COMMUNITY IMPACT FUND AT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES
For 50 years, the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties has been working to close the gaps on our area’s pressing issues to help our entire region rise. Thanks to recently rising costs, the financial challenges facing its network of more than 3,400 fully vetted nonprofit partners have grown exponentially.
Often, their needs outweigh the foundation’s available resources. For example, over $3 million in grant requests went unfunded during the Community Foundation’s 2022 competitive grantmaking cycle. In response, the foundation is welcoming gifts to the Community Impact Fund, opening a door for donors who want to scale their support here and now.
“The Community Foundation’s value is that after 50 years of doing this work, we understand the community’s issues and we know the nonprofits capable of solving them,” says Danita R. DeHaney, President and CEO. “Our challenge is that the vast majority of our donations are earmarked — an increase in ‘unrestricted’ giving would be transformative for our nonprofit partners, and our communities.”
‘Unrestricted’ giving means the Community Foundation has the discretion to distribute the dollars as it sees fit. It’s the same trust-based philosophy that national philanthropist Mackenzie Scott uses in her own decision-making, which is rooted in a set of values that help advance equity, shift power, and build mutually accountable relationships. Recently, Scott gave over $5 million in unrestricted support to the Urban League of Palm Beach County.
“Our grantees have great knowledge about where the dollars should be spent because they are closest to the problems and often have a lived experience to back those decisions up,” says Julie Fisher Cummings, Chair of the Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. “That’s why this national unrestricted trend is so exciting locally — our very own Community Foundation has the infrastructure and institutional knowledge in place to direct those dollars with equity, expertise, and integrity.”
Make a gift to the Community Impact Fund and learn about the Community Foundation’s competitive grantmaking cycle at cfpbmc.fudwaca.com.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is located at 700 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 200, West Palm Beach. For more information call 561.659.6800 or email info@cfpbmc.org.
