Mission & History | Board and Staff | Publications

Our Mission for Florida

1. Foster cooperation and collaboration among business, government and nonprofit organizations.
   
2. Advance sound public policy that includes nonprofit sector perspectives.
   
3. Promote and develop philanthropy in Florida.

Our Vision for Florida

The vision of Florida Philanthropic Network is for Florida to be successful in modeling and facilitating cooperation and collaboration among all sectors - business, government and nonprofit, to promote the best interest of all Floridians.

Who We Are
Florida Philanthropic Network is a statewide association of grantmakers working to build philanthropy to build a better Florida.  FPN's members are private independent, corporate and family foundations, community foundations and corporate giving programs - from Miami to Jacksonville; Naples to Panama City - who hold over $6 billion in assets (excluding members located outside Florida) and invest over $400 million annually to improve the quality of life for our citizens.  Our members share a commitment to promoting philanthropy, fostering collaboration and advancing public policy by Florida, in Florida.

What We Do
Florida Philanthropic Network connects Florida grantmakers to one another through educational programs, networking, regional convenings, online opportunities and much more.  We provide news, information and resources to the philanthropy community in Florida, advocate on behalf of philanthropy locally and nationally, and commission objective research on the nonprofit and philanthropy sector to disseminate to public, private and nonprofit sectors. 

Why We Do It
Complex problems demand dynamic solutions.  Florida Philanthropic Network believes that systemic change will occur through collaboration, cooperation, education, research and sound public policy.  If we combine forces, we will build a unified voice for the nonprofit sector in Florida that will advance this theory of change to improve the quality of life for all Floridians.

Florida Philanthropic Network is a member of the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, a network of regional associations of grantmakers across the country.

Our History

In 2001, seven Florida foundation leaders - Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Dade Community Foundation, Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation, Health Foundation of South Florida, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation - shared a vision of, and commitment to, the importance of cooperative, collaborative relationships between business, government and nonprofits. Their leadership led to a vision of a united Florida with foundations, government and business leaders devoted to cooperation and collaboration that would more effectively leverage contributions of each sector. The Network founders believed that innovative leadership and a unified voice were necessary to effectively promote philanthropy, foster collaboration and advance public policy.

FPN News

August 2, 2010
FPN President David Biemesderfer Named to National Philanthropy Board

July 9, 2010
FPN President David Biemesderfer Appointed to Florida Chamber Foundation Caucus

April 16, 2010
David Biemesderfer Named President & CEO of Florida Philanthropic Network

March 3, 2010
Three Florida Philanthropy Leaders Join Florida Philanthropic Network Board

February 24, 2010
FPN Meets With Haitian Ambassador

February 16, 2010
Florida Giving Grew Through 2007, But Declined in 2008-2009 and Likely to Stabilize in 2010, New FPN Report Shows

September 24, 2009
Nikia Kaiza Named Inaugural FPN-Anchin Center Research Fellow

July 17, 2009
FPN, Florida Attorney General Co-Sponsor Gang Prevention Convening

June 15, 2009
FPN's Katie Ensign Appointed to Florida Advisory Committee on Economic Security

March 26, 2009
Florida Grantmakers Discuss Key Issues on Capitol Hill

January 30, 2009
FPN and Community Foundations of Florida Merge

January 24, 2009
At 2009 FPN Summit, Government & Philanthropy Leaders Urge Stronger Partnership