Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Martin Family Foundation (WFF)

The Martin Family Foundation is a family-led philanthropic foundation that traces its roots to the Florence Martin Memorial Foundation, created in 1991 to honor Florence MacFarlane Martin. Renamed to also recognize Edward Thomas Martin and E. Thomas Martin, the foundation combines financial grants with active volunteering to support organizations whose missions reflect the family’s values of hope, service and entrepreneurship.

The foundation provides grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations working in several core areas: education, environmental and wildlife conservation, and mental and physical health. Particular emphasis is placed on empowering women and children, supporting historically marginalized groups, and improving quality of life in underserved communities. Its support extends to initiatives in the family’s own communities as well as international projects.

Through its “Submit a grant proposal” process, the foundation typically funds registered nonprofits that can clearly articulate their mission, scope of work and proposed project. Applicants are asked to provide a detailed project description, timeline, requested amount, evaluation plan and a project budget, along with information on their overall organizational budget, funding mix and recent financial statements. Certain requirements apply specifically to restricted project grants, signalling that the foundation can offer both general and project-specific support.

The Martin Family Foundation explicitly notes that it does not accept unsolicited grant requests, indicating that funding decisions are generally made by invitation or through established relationships. Organizations are expected to provide evidence of their charitable status, such as a 501(c)(3) designation letter. Testimonials on the site highlight long-term scholarship support and transformative opportunities created for beneficiaries, underscoring a commitment to sustained partnership and measurable impact.

Guided by the legacy of family members and values such as empathy, peace-building, positive impact, continuous learning and spiritual reflection, the foundation supports schools, community organizations and international programs. Its grants help expand access to education, protect natural habitats and wildlife, and improve mental and physical well-being for vulnerable populations, especially women and children, while family members also engage directly through travel and volunteer service.