Havenick Family Foundation Inc.

## Approach Strategy

The Havenick Family Foundation is a preselected-only funder — they explicitly state they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." This means a direct cold application will not work. However, there are viable indirect pathways:

### Recommended Approach

1. Relationship-First Strategy: The Havenick family is deeply embedded in Miami's civic and philanthropic community. Barbara Havenick leads the foundation and is the primary gatekeeper. Building a relationship through shared community spaces is essential — particularly through Greater Miami Jewish Federation events, University of Miami functions, or Give Miami Day participation.

2. Leverage Institutional Connections: The foundation's giving is heavily concentrated in institutions the family personally attends or is affiliated with (Gulliver Prep, Ransom Everglades, Temple Beth Am, UM). If your organization has board members or leadership connected to these institutions, a warm introduction is the strongest path.

3. Community Foundation Bridge: The Havenick family participates in Give Miami Day through The Miami Foundation. Visibility through Give Miami Day and The Miami Foundation's network can create organic touchpoints.

4. Align with Core Interests: Education (especially higher ed and elite prep schools), Jewish community life, healthcare (particularly cancer research at Sylvester and Lahey Hospital), and children's welfare. Any pitch must align tightly with these demonstrated priorities.

5. Timing: The foundation appears to make grant decisions annually, with consistent disbursement patterns across 2022-2024. There is no public application cycle — decisions are likely made at family board meetings.

## Funding Patterns

### Concentration Analysis The Havenick Family Foundation exhibits extreme concentration in its grantmaking. In 2024, the University of Miami alone received approximately $851,542 across three designations (Athletics, Advancement, and Sylvester Cancer Center), representing roughly 75% of total grants. The top 5 recipients account for over 90% of disbursements.

### Giving Tiers (Based on 2024 Data) - Tier 1 ($100K+): University of Miami entities, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Gulliver Preparatory School, Temple Beth Am — these are the family's core institutional commitments - Tier 2 ($25K-$99K): Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Ransom Everglades School, University of Texas at Austin, University of Pennsylvania — secondary but recurring - Tier 3 ($1K-$24K): Community organizations, Give Miami Day, Lehrman Community Day School, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce — smaller discretionary gifts

The foundation is gradually diversifying — growing the number of recipients while keeping total disbursements stable. The average grant size is declining as more organizations receive smaller gifts alongside the core UM commitment.

### Geographic Distribution - Miami-Dade County: ~74% of grants (14 of 19 in 2024) - Other Florida: ~5% - Out-of-State: ~21% (Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Texas, New York)

### Sector Allocation - Education: ~65% (University of Miami dominates, plus prep schools) - Jewish Community: ~15% (Federation, Temple Beth Am, Chabad) - Healthcare: ~10% (Lahey, Nicklaus, Sylvester) - Arts/Culture/Community: ~10% (Miami City Ballet, Arsht Center, Zoo Miami)

## Peer Comparison

The Havenick Family Foundation operates in a crowded South Florida philanthropic landscape. Below is a comparison with similarly-sized Miami-area family foundations:

### Key Observations 1. Payout Rate: The Havenick Foundation's ~5.5% payout rate exceeds the IRS-required 5% minimum, indicating active grantmaking rather than asset hoarding. 2. Concentration Risk: Most peer foundations distribute across 20-40 recipients. The Havenick Foundation's heavy concentration in University of Miami (75%+) is unusual and suggests deep personal ties rather than strategic philanthropy. 3. Accessibility: Like most family foundations in this asset range, the Havenick Foundation is preselected-only. The Dunspaugh-Dalton and Peacock Foundations are notable exceptions that accept applications. 4. Growth Trajectory: Established in 2018, the Havenick Foundation is relatively young. Its asset base was likely seeded from the family's $96M Magic City Casino sale proceeds. The foundation may continue to grow as additional gaming assets are monetized.

## Recent Activity & News

### 2024 Grantmaking The foundation made 19 grants totaling approximately $1.14 million in 2024, continuing its upward trend in the number of recipients (from 13 in 2022 to 19 in 2024). Major 2024 grants included: - University of Miami Athletics: $504,500 - University of Miami Advancement: $275,000 - Gulliver Preparatory School: $116,927 - Temple Beth Am: $100,000 - Lahey Hospital and Medical Center: $100,000 (two grants of $50,000) - University of Miami Sylvester Development: $50,000

### Magic City Casino Sale (2023) The most significant recent event for the Havenick family was the $96 million sale of Magic City Casino to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians (PCI Gaming Authority) in February 2023. The family had owned the property — originally Flagler Dog Track — since 1951. This sale was part of a larger $600 million transaction. The liquidity event likely strengthened the foundation's endowment and may lead to increased grantmaking in coming years.

### Ongoing Gaming Operations The Havenick family entity West Flagler still operates Casino Miami near Miami International Airport and retains a gambling permit for a summer jai alai fronton and poker room at 3030 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami's Edgewater neighborhood. Revenue from these operations continues to support the foundation's investment portfolio.

### Community Engagement The family continues active participation in Miami civic life through the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce ($10,000 grant in 2024) and Give Miami Day ($33,411 in 2024), signaling ongoing commitment to the broader Miami community beyond their core institutional relationships.

### Financial Health With $20.9M in assets, zero liabilities, and revenue primarily from dividends ($873,565 in 2024), the foundation is financially stable. The 5.5% payout rate suggests a sustainable long-term grantmaking trajectory.

## Application Tips

### Critical: This is a Preselected-Only Foundation The Havenick Family Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Any direct grant request sent without a prior relationship will be ignored. Do not waste time on a formal application — focus on relationship building instead.

### What Works 1. University of Miami Connection: If you have any institutional affiliation with UM — alumni status, research collaboration, faculty connection — this is the strongest lever. UM receives 75%+ of all grants. 2. Jewish Community Network: Active participation in Greater Miami Jewish Federation events, Temple Beth Am community, or other South Florida Jewish organizations creates natural overlap. 3. Elite Prep School Networks: Gulliver Prep and Ransom Everglades parent/alumni networks intersect with the Havenick family's social circles. 4. Give Miami Day: Participating in Give Miami Day through The Miami Foundation puts your organization on a platform the Havenicks actively support ($33K in 2024). 5. Healthcare Angle: The family's recurring support for Lahey Hospital (Burlington, MA) and Nicklaus Children's Hospital suggests personal health connections. Healthcare organizations with pediatric or cancer research missions align well.

### What Doesn't Work - Cold emails or letters of inquiry - Generic grant applications - Organizations outside the foundation's demonstrated focus areas - Requests that don't connect to the family's personal interests or institutional affiliations - Organizations without a South Florida presence (out-of-state grants are rare and tied to personal connections like UPenn and UT Austin)

### Grant Size Expectations - New relationships: $5,000-$25,000 (Tier 3 discretionary) - Established relationships: $25,000-$100,000 (Tier 2) - Institutional commitments: $100,000+ (Tier 1, reserved for long-term partners) - Do not ask for more than $25,000 on a first grant — the foundation's median grant is $5,200