# GiveWell Community Foundation

GiveWell Community Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Lakeland, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Lakeland, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 1501 South Florida Avenue, Lakeland, FL 33803, United States
- **Founded:** 1997
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.givecf.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/givewell-community-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Launched in 1997 by Jack Grady, the GiveWell Community Foundation emerged as the first community foundation in Lakeland, Florida. Its creation offered a permanent charitable structure for local wealth. Today it administers over 400 funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits. Named supporting organizations include the Bell-Barnett Family Fund, the George W. Jenkins Fund tied to the late Publix founder, and several family funds such as the Glen and Em Barden Fund and the John A. Leighty Family Fund. The foundation's grantmaking concentrates entirely on Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties — a three-county footprint in Central Florida. It operates as a traditional community foundation, pooling donor-advised and designated funds rather than deploying a centralized investment portfolio according to a public strategy statement. Its collaboration with the United Way of Central Florida extends to the joint United Community Relief Fund and the United Community Needs Assessment, published in early 2025, which guides responsive grant cycles. While specific direct investments or public equity allocations are not disclosed, the foundation's instrument mix centers on donor-advised vehicles and fiscal sponsorships for local causes. GWCF maintains two offices: its main location on South Florida Avenue in Lakeland and a secondary office in Winter Haven. Governance sits with a board chaired by Kimberly Elmhorst; vice chair Wesley Barnett, descendant of Publix's founding family; and secretary Jason Rodda, CEO of Rodda Construction. The foundation confirms compliance with the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, a certification for philanthropic governance. GWCF's structural differentiator is its embeddedness in the corporate and philanthropic fabric of a single central Florida sub-region. Rather than expanding geographically or converting to a direct investment model, the foundation deepens its role as a fiduciary hub for local dynastic wealth. The board linkage to Publix Super Markets — through Barney and Wesley Barnett — ties the foundation's identity to the largest employee-owned grocery chain in the United States, while its longstanding partnership with the United Way of Central Florida creates a parallel needs-assessment infrastructure that few community foundations of its size replicate.

## Offices

- Winter Haven, FL, United States

## People

- Jack Grady — Founder
- Kimberly Elmhorst — Board Chair
- Wesley Barnett — Board Vice Chair
- Jason Rodda — Board Secretary
- Barney Barnett — Board Member

## Questions

### Who governs the GiveWell Community Foundation?

A board of directors chaired by Kimberly Elmhorst governs the foundation. Vice chair Wesley Barnett represents the third generation of the Publix Super Markets founding family, while secretary Jason Rodda leads Rodda Construction. The board includes additional local civic and business leaders.

### What is GWCF's relationship with Publix Super Markets?

Publix Super Markets sponsors GWCF events, and the George W. Jenkins Fund — named for Publix's founder — sits within the foundation's portfolio of charitable funds. Board members Barney and Wesley Barnett serve in senior governance roles, linking the foundation directly to the Barnett family and the company's philanthropic legacy.

### How does the GiveWell Community Foundation collaborate with the United Way of Central Florida?

The two organizations operate the United Community Relief Fund jointly, which disburses emergency assistance to local residents. They also co-produce the United Community Needs Assessment, a periodic report identifying key gaps in education, income, and health across the three-county service area.

### What geographic area does GWCF serve?

GWCF concentrates all grantmaking in Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties in Central Florida. It does not operate outside this three-county service region.

### How many charitable funds does GWCF administer?

The foundation holds over 400 charitable funds. These include donor-advised, designated, and fiscal sponsorship funds established by individuals, families, businesses, and other nonprofits.

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T02:43:31.692Z

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