Winston Family Foundation
The Winston Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1986 and based in Jacksonville, Florida. With over $111 million in assets, the foundation is dedicated to investing in human flourishing through the interconnected health of people, wildlife, and the environment. Founded to honor the values and legacy of Jim and Mary Winston, the foundation operates under professional leadership while maintaining family governance through Winston family trustees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$111.0M
-0.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$26.7M
+398.1% YoY
Grant Count
50
+31.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$534K
+278.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Winston Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's approach is guided by the One Health framework, which recognizes that the health of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems are interconnected and interdependent. A recent strategic focus has centered on addressing what the foundation identifies as the "indoor childhood crisis"—the urgent public health consequences of children spending excessive time on screens and minimal time in nature.
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple focus areas including education, human services, and philanthropy. Primary programs include:
Project One Health Jacksonville: Invests to improve the health of children and the environment in Jacksonville's urban core neighborhoods, with focus on connecting residents to the Emerald Trail (30 miles of planned trails, greenways, and parks encircling the urban core).
Project One Health North Carolina: Addresses the disconnect between young people and nature in North Carolina by engaging children in outdoor experiences along the Neuse River to improve physical and mental well-being and nurture deeper connections to the environment and healthier ecosystems.
Grantmaking
The foundation uses an invitation-only/preselected organizations application method, indicating that prospective grantees are typically identified by the foundation rather than through open calls for proposals.
Grant Range
$141,119 (2023)
Average Grant
$141,119 (2023)
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Winston Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports initiatives in:
- Primary focus: Jacksonville, Florida and North Carolina
- Secondary focus: Georgia, New York, Washington D.C., and Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $110,963,072
- Total revenue: $28,260,386
- Total expenses: $28,290,469
- Total giving: $3,315,634
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total assets: $111,272,308
- Total revenue: $3,656,961
- Total expenses: $7,225,245
- Annual giving: $5,362,516
Giving Rate: 6.0%
The foundation is supported by the James H Winston Revocable Trust.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $110,963,072 | $111,272,308 | $114,757,462 |
| Revenue | $28,260,386 | $3,656,961 | $2,339,401 |
| Expenses | $28,290,469 | $7,225,245 | $7,350,364 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,335,820 | $6,776,158 | $6,817,015 |
| Net Investment Income | $27,862,403 | $2,354,244 | $1,390,572 |
| Distributable Amount | $5,226,651 | $6,573,766 | $6,751,106 |
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
163 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Winston Family Initiative in Tech & Adolescent Brain Development Inc ($23,395,542), Children and Nature Network ($870,000), The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ($600,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cathedral Arts Project Jacksonville, FL | To provide unrestricted general operating support to fulfill their mission | $2,500 |
| Children and Nature Network Roseville, MN | To provide a restricted program or project grant for the Project One Health Jacksonville initiative | $870,000 |
| Children's Home Society of Florida Jacksonville, FL | To provide unrestricted general operating support to fulfill their mission | $2,500 |
| Cummer Museum Foundation Inc Jacksonville, FL | To provide unrestricted general operating support to fulfill their mission | $5,000 |
| Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Foundation Jacksonville, FL | To provide unrestricted general operating support to fulfill their mission | $2,500 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | To provide a restricted program or project grant for the Duke Childrens Fund | $7,500 |
| Environmental Grantmakers Association New York, NY | To provide a restricted project grant for Environmental Grantmakers Assoc. | $4,400 |
| Episcopal School of Jacksonville Inc Jacksonville, FL | To provide a restricted program or project grant for the Science and Student Life Center | $250,000 |
| Episcopal School of Jacksonville Inc Jacksonville, FL | To provide a restricted program or project grant for the Haskell Center for Science and Student Life | $25,000 |
| Exponent Washington, DC | To provide a restricted program or project grant for 2024 Exponent Signature Plus Membership | $3,880 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is managed by a board of trustees:
- James H Winston Jr – Trustee (10 hrs/week, $30,000 compensation)
- Mary M Winston – Trustee (10 hrs/week, $30,150 compensation)
- Charles Winston – Trustee (10 hrs/week)
- Franklin Beard – Trustee (10 hrs/week)
- Robert W Winston – Trustee (10 hrs/week, $3,000 compensation)
In September 2022, the foundation appointed Sylia Obagi as its founding Chief Executive Officer, marking a strategic evolution in operations and the transition to professional leadership.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| James H Winston Jr | Trustee | 10 | — |
| Mary M Winston | Trustee | 10 | $29,900 |
| Charles Winston | Trustee | 10 | — |
| Franklin Beard | Trustee | 10 | $30,000 |
| Robert WWinston | Trustee | 10 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 40 E Adams Street, Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32202-3354
Phone: 904-358-7269
Tax-Exempt Status: January 1, 1987
EIN: 59-2678732
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Winston Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's approach is guided by the One Health framework, which recognizes that the health of humans, wildlife, and ecosystems are interconnected and interdependent. A recent strategic focus has centered on addressing what the foundation identifies as the "indoor childhood crisis"—the urgent public health consequences of children spending excessive time on screens and minimal time in nature. The foundation supports initiatives across multiple focus areas including education, human servic…
How do I apply for a grant from Winston Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: $5.4 million (2023) • Total giving: $3.3 million (2024) • Number of grants: 38 grants awarded in 2023; 85 grants awarded in most recent year • Average grant size: $141,119 (2023) • Grant range: $500 to $2,500,000 • Median grant amount: $20,000 **Application Process:** The foundation uses an invitation-only/preselected organizations application method, indicating that prospective grantees are typically identified by the foundation rather than through open cal…
Where does Winston Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports initiatives in: • **Primary focus**: Jacksonville, Florida and North Carolina • **Secondary focus**: Georgia, New York, Washington D.C., and Virginia
What size grants does Winston Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Winston Family Foundation awarded 50 grants totaling $26.7M — an average of about $534K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Winston Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Winston Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Winston Family Foundation's EIN?
Winston Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-2678732. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Winston Family Foundation'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 Winston Family Foundation 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 Winston Family Foundation to a real strategy.