The Lillian & Luis Fernandez Family Foundation concentrates its giving on animal conservation through major support for local zoos and habitat projects, while also funding cultural institutions and higher-education alumni/student support. Grants are large and targeted, often made repeatedly to the same organizations, with a mix of local Palm Beach-area focus and a willingness to support national/international arts institutions.
A $500,000 grant to The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc for the Jaguar Maya Forest Trails Expansion stands out as the foundation’s largest recent commitment, and it points to the center of Lillian & Luis Fernandez Family Foundation Inc’s giving: animal conservation tied to specific habitat and fieldwork projects. The foundation pairs that work with repeated support for Palm Beach zoological institutions, including Palm Beach Zoo and The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc, suggesting a sustained interest in zoo-based conservation rather than one-off gifts. It also shows a consistent willingness to back education-linked institutions, with grants to colleges and schools for alumni funds and student support, alongside support for museums and cultural programming. The recent record includes restricted grants for named projects, capital and operations, and event-linked fundraising, which indicates a targeted style of philanthropy. Across the sample, the foundation’s giving reaches beyond local conservation into academic, cultural, and health-related causes, but the clearest pattern is support for wildlife, habitat, and the institutions that deliver that work.
Wildlife conservation is the foundation’s clearest theme. In 2025, it gave $205,000 to The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc for conservation programming and field work, and another $100,000 to the same organization for conservation programming and field work. Earlier, it supported Palm Beach Zoo with $125,000 for Malayan Tiger Habitat Expansion, showing interest in species-specific habitat work. The foundation also backs education-related institutions. Trinity College received $100,000 for alumni fund / student support in 2023, then another $25,000 for alumni fund in 2025. Cultural institutions appear as well: the Metropolitan Museum of Art received $60,000 for International Council and $50,000 for construction, maintenance, operations, and programming of the museum's Modern Wing. Health and public-service giving includes $50,000 to Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute for diabetes institute support and grants to Partnership to End Addiction.
Typical gifts are sizeable: the distribution sits at $15,000 at the 25th percentile, a $25,000 median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. The foundation’s recent record includes repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, especially Palm Beach Zoo, The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc, Trinity College, and Partnership to End Addiction. That recurrence suggests an ongoing relationship model rather than isolated awards. The grants are largely restricted to specific purposes such as habitat expansion, conservation fieldwork, alumni funds, operations, and event support. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$1.2M
$14.7M
$6M
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $15K and $100K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants with multiple gifts to a few core grantees; mix of local-focused conservation funding and selective support for prominent national cultural/educational institutions.
Notable grantees: The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches (Palm Beach Zoo), Palm Beach Zoo, Trinity College, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, West Alm Golf Community Trust
Grantmaking is nationally scoped, but Florida is the main destination by count, with 46% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. West Palm Beach appears frequently, including grants to The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc, Palm Beach Zoo, and Norton Museum of Art. Other Florida recipients include Jupiter, Palm Beach, and Palmetto Bay. Outside Florida, the foundation has supported organizations in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Kentucky, and Georgia. All recent grants in the provided record went to US recipients.
The most visible pattern is wildlife conservation and habitat work, especially through zoological institutions in West Palm Beach. The recent record also includes higher-education alumni and student support, museum programming and operations, diabetes institute support, and grants tied to addiction prevention and treatment.
The recent grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $15,000, a median of $25,000, and a 75th percentile of $100,000. Recent awards range from smaller alumni-fund gifts to six-figure conservation grants.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated support for The Zoological Society of the Palm Beaches Inc, Palm Beach Zoo, Trinity College, and Partnership to End Addiction across 2023 and 2025. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships with selected grantees.
Florida receives the most grants by count, with 46% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. West Palm Beach is especially prominent, along with other Florida locations such as Jupiter, Palm Beach, and Palmetto Bay.
The recent grants are mostly restricted to named purposes. Examples include habitat expansion, conservation programming and field work, alumni fund and student support, museum operations and programming, diabetes institute support, and event-linked fundraising support.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $500,000 | 2025 | THE JAGUAR MAYA FOREST TRAILS EXPANSION |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $205,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING AND FIELD WORK |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | CONSERVATION OF PROGRAMMING AND FIELD WORK |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL |
| WENDY NOVAK DIABETES INSTITUTE | LOUISVILLE, KY | $50,000 | 2025 | DIABETES INSTITUTE SUPPORT |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| PRESERVATION FOUNDATION OF PALM BEACH | PALM BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2025 | PHIPPS OCEAN PARK RESTORATION |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS, AND PROGRAMMING OF THE MUSEUM'S MODERN WING |
| DEERFIELD ACADEMY | DEERFIELD, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | ALUMNI FUND |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF THE PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION\ |
| TRINITY COLLEGE | HARTFORD, CT | $25,000 | 2025 | ALUMNI FUND |
| LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $20,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| MASTERS TOURNAMENT FOUNDATION INC | AUGUSTA, GA | $20,000 | 2025 | TRUIST EMPLOYEE RELIEF FUND |
| WEST PALM GOLF COMMUNITY TRUST | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GOLF FUNDRAISER |
| MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $10,000 | 2025 | ALUMNI FUND |
| WESTMINSTER SCHOOL | VILLAGE OF PALMETTO BA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | ALUMNI FUND |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $197,500 | 2024 | JAGUAR INSTITUTE |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2024 | 2023 JOURNEY TO AFRICA GALA |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2024 | INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL |
| THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | CONSTRUCITON OF MUSEUM'S NEW MODERN WING |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $50,000 | 2024 | 2023 JOURNEY TO AFRICA GALA |
| TRINITY COLLEGE | HARTFORD, CT | $50,000 | 2024 | ALUMNI FUND/STUDENT SUPPORT |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF THE PALM BEACHES INC | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $48,000 | 2024 | JAGUAR FOREST TRAIL PROJECT |
| NORTON MUSEUM OF ART | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL, CURATORIAL, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $20,000 | 2024 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| DEERFIELD ACADEMY | DEERFIELD, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $10,000 | 2024 | ALUMNI FUND/STUDENT SUPPORT |
| WESTMINSTER SCHOOL | SIMSBURY, CT | $10,000 | 2024 | STUDENT SUPPORT |
| WEST ALM GOLF COMMUNITY TRUST | JUPITER, FL | $250,000 | 2023 | CENTENNIAL FUND |
| PALM BEACH ZOO | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $125,000 | 2023 | MALAYAN TIGER HABITAT EXPANSION |
| PALM BEACH ZOO | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $100,000 | 2023 | 2023 JOURNEY INTO AFRICA GALA |
| TRINITY COLLEGE | WOODBRIDGE, NJ | $100,000 | 2023 | ALUMNI FUND / STUDENT SUPPORT |
| TRINITY COLLEGE | WOODBRIDGE, NJ | $100,000 | 2023 | ALUMNI FUND / STUDENT SUPPORT |
| PALM BEACH ZOO | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2023 | 2022 TROPICAL SAFARI GALA |
| PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION |
| PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2023 | PARTNERSHIP TO END ADDICTION |
| DEERFIELD ACADEMY | DEERFIELD, MA | $10,000 | 2023 | ALUMNI FUND / STUDENT SUPPORT |
| MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE | MIDDLEBURY, VT | $10,000 | 2023 | ALUMNI FUND / STUDENT SUPPORT |
| PALM BEACH ZOO | WEST PALM BEACH, FL | $9,865 | 2023 | DO AT THE ZOO FUND |
THE JAGUAR MAYA FOREST TRAILS EXPANSION
CONSERVATION PROGRAMMING AND FIELD WORK
CONSERVATION OF PROGRAMMING AND FIELD WORK
WENDY NOVAK DIABETES INSTITUTE
$50,000DIABETES INSTITUTE SUPPORT
FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS
CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS, AND PROGRAMMING OF THE MUSEUM'S MODERN WING
DEERFIELD ACADEMY
$25,000ALUMNI FUND
FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS
TRINITY COLLEGE
$25,000ALUMNI FUND
LAWRENCEVILLE SCHOOL
$20,000STUDENT SUPPORT
MASTERS TOURNAMENT FOUNDATION INC
$20,000TRUIST EMPLOYEE RELIEF FUND
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
$10,000ALUMNI FUND
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL
$10,000ALUMNI FUND
2023 JOURNEY TO AFRICA GALA
2023 JOURNEY TO AFRICA GALA
TRINITY COLLEGE
$50,000ALUMNI FUND/STUDENT SUPPORT
JAGUAR FOREST TRAIL PROJECT
FUNDING FOR EDUCATIONAL, CURATORIAL, AND PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAMS
WEST ALM GOLF COMMUNITY TRUST
$250,000CENTENNIAL FUND
PALM BEACH ZOO
$100,0002023 JOURNEY INTO AFRICA GALA
TRINITY COLLEGE
$100,000ALUMNI FUND / STUDENT SUPPORT
TRINITY COLLEGE
$100,000ALUMNI FUND / STUDENT SUPPORT
PALM BEACH ZOO
$25,0002022 TROPICAL SAFARI GALA
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE
$10,000ALUMNI FUND / STUDENT SUPPORT