The St Joe Community Foundation
The St. Joe Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation established in 1999 and based in Panama City Beach, Florida. The foundation is a separate entity from The St. Joe Company, a major land developer in the region, though it is funded exclusively through transfer fees collected on the sale of residential real estate in certain communities developed by The St. Joe Company. These fees apply to both initial property sales and resales.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.8M
-16.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$5.5M
+4.7% YoY
Grant Count
132
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
+4.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The St Joe Community Foundation reported a distributable amount of $188K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to enrich the quality of life for the people who live, work, and play in Northwest Florida. The foundation provides grants to other 501(c)(3) entities focused on four primary pillars:
- Education: Projects and initiatives to improve the educational process or access to education in the community
- Environmental Stewardship: Projects and initiatives that protect, preserve, and restore the communities' natural resources
- Healthcare: Projects and initiatives that positively impact physical health, mental health, and overall wellness in the community
- Cultural Arts: Projects and initiatives essential to cultivating, developing, educating, and improving cultural experiences in the community
Grantmaking
Organizations must be recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The foundation does not fund organizations whose purpose for the grant is political or religious activities. Organizations should be based in Bay or Walton County or may be recognized as a County Chapter of a state or national charity serving residents of Bay or Walton County.
Grant Range
s and Statistics:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses on Bay and Walton counties in Northwest Florida, though it also supports organizations in Alabama, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The foundation has a particular emphasis on Bay and Walton counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2023 Financial Summary:
- Total Assets: $4,486,831
- Total Revenue: $5,131,713
- Total Expenses: $5,475,706
- Total Giving: $5,207,209
- Giving Rate: 111.8%
Historical Impact:
- Since its founding in 1999, the foundation has awarded over $52.090 million in grants to almost 500 nonprofit organizations in Bay or Walton counties
- The foundation has funded more than 100 nonprofits throughout its history
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,752,087 | $4,486,831 | $4,830,824 |
| Revenue | $4,922,756 | $5,131,713 | $5,092,393 |
| Expenses | $5,657,500 | $5,475,706 | $5,326,950 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $5,451,508 | $5,207,209 | $5,127,815 |
| Net Investment Income | $172,041 | $214,737 | $16,281 |
| Distributable Amount | $188,076 | $217,657 | $268,755 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The St Joe Community Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bay Education Foundation ($932,499), Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation ($127,920), Boys & Girls Club of Bay County ($103,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 30A 10K INC FREEPORT, FL | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $10,000 |
| 850 CREW CAR CLUB INC PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $5,000 |
| A BED FOR ME FOUNDATION VALPARISIO, FL | HEALTH | $24,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS PENSACOLA, FL | HEALTH | $10,000 |
| AMIKIDS PANAMA CITY MARINE INSTITUT PANAMA CITY, FL | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
| ANGEL HOUSE BEREAVEMENT CENTER PANAMA CITY, FL | HEALTH | $50,000 |
| ANIMA ARTS PANAMA CITY, FL | CULTURAL ARTS | $20,000 |
| ASCENSION SACRED HEART FOUNDATION SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL | HEALTH | $127,920 |
| B'YOND THE WALLS YOUNG ADULT MINIST LYNN HAVEN, FL | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $5,000 |
| BACKPACK BLESSINGS PCB PANAMA CITY BEACH, FL | EDUCATION | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jorge Gonzalez: President (unpaid)
- Rhea Goff: Vice President (unpaid)
- Elizabeth Walters: Secretary (unpaid)
- April Wilkes: Executive Director (unpaid)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JORGE GONZALEZ | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| RHEA GOFF | VICE PRESIDE | — | — |
| ELIZABETH WALTERS | SECRETARY | — | — |
| APRIL WILKES | EXECUTIVE DI | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The St. Joe Community Foundation reached a significant milestone in 2025, exceeding $50 million in total grants awarded since its establishment in 1999. According to Executive Director April Wilkes, "Reaching this incredible milestone after celebrating our 25th anniversary this past year is a powerful reminder that it's not just about dollars awarded but the lasting, community-driven transformation our grant recipients are leading in Bay County and Walton counties."
Incredible milestone'': St. Joe Community Foundation passes $50 millionThe foundation operates a scholarship program called "No Ordinary JOE," which has awarded over $300,000 to 155 students as of 2024.
St. Joe Community Foundation announces winners of 'No Ordinary Joe' scholarshipsNotable recent grant recipients include the Bay Education Foundation ($929,941 in 2023) and the Walton Education Foundation ($291,571 in 2023).
Incredible milestone'': St. Joe Community Foundation passes $50 millionSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The St Joe Community Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to enrich the quality of life for the people who live, work, and play in Northwest Florida. The foundation provides grants to other 501(c)(3) entities focused on four primary pillars: • **Education**: Projects and initiatives to improve the educational process or access to education in the community • **Environmental Stewardship**: Projects and initiatives that protect, preserve, and restore the communities' natural resources • **Healthcare**: Projects and initiative…
How do I apply for a grant from The St Joe Community Foundation?
**Grant Ranges and Statistics:** • Grants generally range from $1,000 to $50,000, although larger grants may be available based on determination of need and available funding • Median grant amount: $42,094 • Grant range documented: -$14,640 to $929,941 • Total grants awarded in 2023: 290 grants totaling $5,207,209 **Grant Programs by Focus Area:** • Community Outreach: $24,861 average, 119 recipients (last awarded 2023) • Education: $57,882 average, 58 recipients (last awarded 2023) • Health: $…
Where does The St Joe Community Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily focuses on Bay and Walton counties in Northwest Florida, though it also supports organizations in Alabama, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The foundation has a particular emphasis on Bay and Walton counties.
What size grants does The St Joe Community Foundation award?
In 2024, The St Joe Community Foundation awarded 132 grants totaling $5.5M — an average of about $41K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The St Joe Community Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The St Joe Community Foundation reported a distributable amount of $188K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The St Joe Community Foundation's EIN?
The St Joe Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-3576402. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The St Joe Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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