The St. Joe Community Foundation
Enriching lives, supporting communities
The St. Joe Community Foundation’s (“Foundation”) mission is to enrich the quality of life for the people who live, work, and play in Northwest Florida. Created in 1999, the Foundation provides grants to other 501(C)(3) entities for the areas of education, environmental stewardship, healthcare, and cultural arts.
WHY WAS THE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHED?
The Foundation was born from the desire to enrich the quality of life for the people of Northwest Florida. Established as a 501(C)(3) private foundation, the Foundation is dedicated to creating a legacy of value for the community in this wonderful area that we all call “home.” The Foundation considers the land and landscape of Northwest Florida to be a treasure that deserves thoughtful stewardship.
WHAT DOES THE FOUNDATION FUND?
The Foundation provides grants to organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that are focused on helping Northwest Florida move forward in the areas of education, environmental stewardship, healthcare, and cultural arts. We consider our grants investments, not charity or obligations. As such, the Foundation seeks projects in Northwest Florida, with a focus on Bay and Walton counties, that promise long-term returns on the quality of life in our region.
We seeks for programs that: work toward fundamental improvements in quality of life; include a plan for measuring success and financial accountability; are structured for sustainable impact; demonstrate a track record of success, or reasonable probability for success and economic sustainability; and leverage support in concert with others to better address the area’s greatest challenges.
AT THE The St. Joe Community Foundation WE BELIEVE IN:
SUPPORTING CULTURAL ARTS
Projects and initiatives essential to cultivating, developing, educating, and improving cultural experiences.
STRENGTHENING EDUCATION
Projects and initiatives that improve the educational process or access to education.
IMPROVING HEALTH CARE
Projects and initiatives that positively impact physical, mental health and overall wellness.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Projects and initiatives that protect, preserve, and restore the area’s natural resources.
HOW IS THE FOUNDATION FUNDED?
The Foundation is funded exclusively by a transfer fee of one half of 1 percent on the sale price of real estate in certain residential communities The St. Joe Company develops. The St. Joe Company contributes this fee the first time a property is sold, and buyers remit payment with each resale.
WHO REPRESENTS THE The St. Joe Community Foundation?
April Wilkes has served as the executive director of the Foundation since 2018. She takes great pride in representing the Foundation’s mission and daily operations.
The Board of Trustees oversees the management of the Foundation and is comprised of Jorge Gonzalez, Rhea Goff, and Elizabeth Walters — none of whom receive compensation from the Foundation. The St. Joe Community Foundation is a separate entity from The St. Joe Company and has a separate Board of Trustees.
HOW TO APPLY FOR A GRANT
Applications for funding can be found on the website and submitted via email. Funding requests are reviewed according to the Foundation’s guidelines, and then reviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Grants generally range from $1,000 to $50,000, although larger grants may be available based on determination of need, availability of funds and other considerations.