Winston Family Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Jacksonville, FL EIN: 59-2678732

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.

Key facts about Winston Family Foundation

EIN
59-2678732
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$26,711,176
Grants made (2024)
50
Average grant
$534,224
Median grant
$13,750
Total assets
$110,963,072
Primary geography
Florida (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
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. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Winston Family Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Winston Family Foundation's 50 itemized 2024 grants were Florida (94%). The most frequent recipient cities were Jacksonville, FL (29 grants), Raleigh, NC (5 grants), Durham, NC (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants). 48% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

How Winston Family Foundation gives

  • 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 360% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 140% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Next steps with Winston Family Foundation

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

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

Grant Range

$141,119 (2023)

Average Grant

$141,119 (2023)

Grant Types

**

How to Apply

**

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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

9states

Share of all 50 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

JacksonvilleRaleighDurhamAtlantaChapel HillWashingtonLynchburgNew YorkMiami BeachAshevilleAshvilleAugustaCarrboroGarnerIsleboroJacksonville BeachLyncburgNantucketRosevilleSmithfield

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.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$8M$16M$23M$31M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$7M$13M$20M$27M25 grants20201 grants202149 grants202238 grants202350 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Winston Family Initiative in Tech & Adolescent Brain Development Inc: $23.4MWinston Family Initiative inTech & Adolescent Brain…$23.4MThe Community Foundation for Northeast Florida: $1.2M across 8 grantsThe Community Foundation forNortheast Florida$1.2M · 8 grantsChildren and Nature Network: $870KChildren and Nature Network$870KEpiscopal School of Jacksonville Inc: $275K across 2 grantsEpiscopal School ofJacksonville Inc$275K · 2 grantsThe Nantucket Project Academy: $250KThe Nantucket Project Academy$250KTriangle Land Conservancy Inc: $105KTriangle Land Conservancy Inc$105KRavenscroft School: $100KRavenscroft School$100KSt Mark's Episcopal Church: $88K across 2 grantsSt Mark's Episcopal Church$88K · 2 grantsNorth Carolina Community Foundation Inc: $71K across 3 grantsNorth Carolina CommunityFoundation Inc$71K · 3 grantsFriends of Johnston County Parks Inc: $50KFriends of Johnston CountyParks Inc$50K

Grant Size Distribution

163 grants across all recorded years

108<$50K22$50–100K20$100–250K4$250–500K2$500K–1M5$1–5M2$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Winston Family Initiative in Tech & Adolescent Brain Development Inc ($23,395,542), The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida ($1,170,712 across 8 grants), Children and Nature Network ($870,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
Winston Family Initiative in Tech & Adolescent Brain Development Inc Miami Beach, FLTo effectuate a severance of a portion of the Foundations assets as described in item 3 of the General Explanation returned herewith.$23,395,542
Children and Nature Network Roseville, MNTo provide a restricted program or project grant for the Project One Health Jacksonville initiative$870,000
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FLTo provide a restricted program grant for Project One Health Jacksonville Fund$600,000
Episcopal School of Jacksonville Inc Jacksonville, FLTo provide a restricted program or project grant for the Science and Student Life Center$250,000
The Nantucket Project Academy Durham, NCTo provide unrestricted general operating support to fulfill their mission$250,000
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FLTo provide a restricted program or project grant for Project One Health Jacksonville Fund Donor Advised Fund$216,000
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FLDAF Replenishment Grant for Project One Health Jacksonville Fund$114,712
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Jacksonville, FLTo provide a restricted program or project grant for the One Health Initiative$105,000
Triangle Land Conservancy Inc Durham, NCTo provide unrestricted general operating support to fulfill their mission$105,000
Ravenscroft School Raleigh, NCTo provide a restricted program or project grant for Dare To Dream$100,000

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

Franklin Beard — Trustee: $30KFranklin BeardTrustee$30KMary M Winston — Trustee: $30KMary M WinstonTrustee$30K

From 2024 IRS filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
James H Winston JrTrustee10—
Mary M WinstonTrustee10$29,900
Charles WinstonTrustee10—
Franklin BeardTrustee10$30,000
Robert WWinstonTrustee10—

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?

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. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

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.

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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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