Givewell Community Foundation Inc
GiveWell Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity established in 1997 and based in Lakeland, Florida. The organization operates as a community foundation serving Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties in Central Florida. The foundation holds more than 400 charitable funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits, providing philanthropic services across a wide variety of charitable causes.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$669.9M
+7.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$63.7M
-12.4% YoY
Grant Count
295
+0.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$216K
-13.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: To champion charitable giving to improve the quality of life in the areas we serve, both now and for future generations.
The foundation serves three primary constituencies: donors seeking to direct charitable giving, local nonprofit organizations receiving grants and support, and the broader community. Grant-making supports a broad spectrum of causes including the arts, youth, education, health, social services, and human services. The foundation's grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy and voluntarism, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes funds in accordance with donor desires and provides support for specific programs and assistance in managing individual endowment funds. The organization operates a donor-advised fund through which donors can direct the distribution or investment of funds.
Review Cycle
include the Impact Polk Grants program and the Empower grant cycle
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties in Central Florida. Primary grantmaking focuses on Florida, with some activity in North Carolina and Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $620,895,896–$669,862,803
- Total Revenue: $189,521,247
- Total Expenses: $74,699,303
- Total Liabilities: $59.5 million
- Number of Employees: 11
Tax Status: Tax-exempt since August 2000; EIN 59-3649871
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $669,862,803 | $620,895,896 | $445,107,820 |
| Revenue | $63,733,787 | $189,521,247 | $43,152,741 |
| Expenses | $65,970,905 | $74,699,303 | $57,755,202 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $22,372,446 | $29,583,071 | $11,909,668 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
234 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Givewell Community Foundation Inc
Community Clinic Grant Program
GIVEWELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Empower Hardee, Highlands & Polk
GIVEWELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Impact Polk
GIVEWELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CATHERINE NESLUND | PRESIDENT/CE | 40 | $196,547 |
| LORI MARTINI | VICE-PRESIDE | 40 | $116,941 |
| DORENA GEARY | CFO | 40 | $105,342 |
| BARNEY BARNETT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WESLEY BARNETT | VICE CHAIRMA | 1 | — |
| ANN BARNHART | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BO BOYTE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACQUELINE BYRD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHRISTINA CRISER-JACKSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BRUCE DAVIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KIMBERLY ELMHORST | CHAIRMAN | 1 | — |
| JAY GRAY | PAST CHAIRMA | 1 | — |
| JACK HOLLIS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JACK HARRELL III | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KRISTEN LABBE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATRINA LUNSFORD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DOUG MCPHERSON | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| JERRY MIXON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TOM OLDT | INVESTMENT C | 1 | — |
| JAMES PREVITE | AUDIT COMMIT | 1 | — |
| GARRETT ROBERTS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| SHANNON SAPP | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE SULTENFUSS SCHICHTEL | EX OFFICIO C | 1 | — |
| SANDY SHEETS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JILLIAN SPANGLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JASON RODDA | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has undertaken significant community assessment work in partnership with United Way of Central Florida. Over a two-year period, the organizations gathered feedback from nearly 4,000 residents through surveys in English, Spanish, and Creole, as well as focus groups, to assess community needs across Polk, Highlands, and Hardee counties. This effort resulted in the United Community Needs Assessment (UCNA) report, and the organizations subsequently launched an interactive online dashboard with up-to-date data on the communities served.
Local nonprofits receive nearly $160,000 in grants through GWCF's EmpowerThe foundation has been confirmed in compliance with Community Foundations National Standards.
GiveWell Community Foundation and United Way of Central Florida launch UnitedSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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