Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc
The Cathleen McFarlane Foundation is a private foundation based in West Palm Beach, Florida, established in 1997 by Cathleen McFarlane Ross. The foundation supports qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations focused on addressing homelessness, substance abuse, and animal welfare in the South Florida community.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$33.8M
+1.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+2.4% YoY
Grant Count
42
+13.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-9.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: "To make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, especially those suffering from homelessness and addiction"
The foundation provides philanthropic support to nonprofits that focus on:
- Assistance and Prevention of Homelessness — Supporting organizations that prevent homelessness and offer supportive services to those in need
- Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse — Funding organizations that help people suffering from substance abuse or addiction
- Animal Welfare — Supporting organizations that help animals in need
The foundation aims to support community-based nonprofits making measurable impact on marginalized homeless and/or addicted populations who might not receive services or have difficulty accessing them. The purpose of funding is prevention, service delivery, and/or rehabilitation. Grants for small, innovative, or new programs are welcomed.
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Florida, with particular emphasis on the Palm Beach County area. The foundation has also provided emergency relief funding for disaster response outside the region.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending April 2025:
- Total Assets: $33,795,917
- Total Giving: $1,759,217
- Total Revenues: $2,767,126
- Total Expenses: $2,384,224
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $33,795,917 | $33,226,190 | $30,713,431 |
| Revenue | $2,767,126 | $4,931,157 | $8,259,412 |
| Expenses | $2,384,224 | $2,355,460 | $1,936,027 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,004,226 | $1,939,891 | $1,635,579 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,456,885 | $4,619,480 | $8,013,625 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,842,780 | $1,736,013 | $1,441,502 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
196 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Project Lift ($199,000), Hanley Foundation ($192,500), Place of Hope ($130,016).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN DELRAY BEACH, FL | FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM | $50,000 |
| ADOPT-A-FAMILY LAKE WORTH, FL | HOUSING STABILIAZATION PROGRAM | $75,000 |
| BELLA'S ANGELS WELLINGTON, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| BEST BUDDIES WEST PALM BEACH, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| CANCER ALLIANCE OF HOPE AND HELP PALM BEACH, FL | PATIENT NAVIGATION | $29,500 |
| CARP WEST PALM BEACH, FL | UNRESTICTED | $5,000 |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF PALM BEACH PALM BCH GARDENS, FL | OUTREACH | $52,000 |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PALM BEACH PALM BCH GARDENS, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $12,500 |
| CENTER FOR CHILD COUNSELING INC PALM BCH GARDENS, FL | CHILD & FAMILY CENTER | $98,876 |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION WEST PALM BEACH, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Sunni Johnson — Executive Director
- Denis P Coleman — Trustee
- Christy L Peterson — Trustee
- John Fulton — Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENIS P COLEMAN | PRES/DIR | 1 | — |
| CHRISTY L PETERSON | SEC/TRS/DIR | 1 | — |
| JOHN FULTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRIDGET CATHLEEN HEALEY | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFF SMITH | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In March 2025, the Cathleen McFarlane Foundation awarded a $52,000 grant to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Palm Beach to support their Hunger, Homeless, Outreach Program, providing rent and mortgage assistance to prevent homelessness in the community.
Catholic Charities Expresses Deep Gratitude to the Cathleen McFarlane FoundationIn July 2025, the foundation provided a $50,000 matching gift to launch the Texas Flooding Fund through the Town of Palm Beach United Way in response to deadly flooding along the Guadalupe River in central Texas.
Montana Community Foundation | Empowering Communities through the\u2026Contact Information
Address: 700 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 110 West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-246-4370
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc fund?
**Mission Statement:** "To make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, especially those suffering from homelessness and addiction" The foundation provides philanthropic support to nonprofits that focus on: • **Assistance and Prevention of Homelessness** — Supporting organizations that prevent homelessness and offer supportive services to those in need • **Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse** — Funding organizations that help people suffering from substance abuse or addiction
How do I apply for a grant from Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $1,000–$199,000 • The foundation made 39 grants in the most recent fiscal year • Funding requests must be specific, measurable, and fall within funding objectives and guidelines • The Trustees generally will not fund endowments or capital campaigns for buildings and physical facilities • Reports are expected on the effectiveness, success, or impact of funded projects or programs **Application & Review Process:** • All organizations requesting gr…
Where does Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in South Florida, with particular emphasis on the Palm Beach County area. The foundation has also provided emergency relief funding for disaster response outside the region.
What size grants does Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc award?
In 2025, Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc awarded 42 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc's EIN?
Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 65-0856300. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Virgil P Warren Fdn Tr Ua
ORLANDO, FL
Assets
$4.2M
Grants
14
Total Given
$96K
Palm Valley Academy Parent-teacher
PONTE VEDRA, FL
Assets
$261K
Grants
1
Total Given
$78K
The Fritch Foundation
FT LAUDERDALE, FL
Assets
—
Grants
17
Total Given
$167K
Leiman Asterisk Foundation Inc
DELRAY BEACH, FL
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
2
Total Given
$62K
Rachel Memorial Foundation
SANTA RSA BCH, FL
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$10K
My Brother'ssister's Keeper Charitable
ROYAL PALM BEACH, FL
Assets
$462K
Grants
1
Total Given
$50K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Cathleen Mcfarlane Foundation Inc to a real strategy.