The mission of The Jim Moran Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the youth and families of Florida through the support of innovative programs and opportunities that meet the ever-changing needs of the community.

Journey with us from where we are today to how it all began:

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The Jim Moran Foundation Archives was established with the mission to preserve and share the story of Jim Moran, the organizations he created, his vision, his philosophies and his philanthropic contributions, through the identification, collection and cataloguing of memorabilia and other property (both physical and intellectual) of historical significance. Furthermore, we will create an environment that will provide for the proper display and protection of items related to the lifetime achievements of this extraordinary man.

“Creating a Foundation is a lifelong goal. It is very exciting for Jan and me to be certain that the charitable giving we believe in so strongly will continue beyond our lifetime through the Foundation.”

— Jim Moran

2000

The Jim Moran Foundation is Established

The Foundation awarded our first three grants in education of $5,000 each.

2001

The Work Begins

The Foundation’s first grant for youth in foster and relative care of $75,000 provided guidance, understanding and support on their path toward self-sufficiency.

"Thank you for assisting our youth in their tireless journey to achieve their dreams."

— Kirk Brown, LIFE Program Director

2005

Supporting Youth Working Toward Independence

Before our founder’s passing in 2007, he encouraged The Foundation to remember that as we fulfill our mission to improve the quality of life for children and families that a family can mean one senior or a family of many.

2007

Empowering Seniors

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Growing up during the Great Depression, our founder never forgot where he came from and expected his foundation to be responsive to immediate needs in the community. Following the country’s economic downturn, The Foundation partnered with local nonprofits to provide healthy food and housing assistance for struggling families.

2009

Responding to Immediate Needs

“Your history of generous support has significantly boosted our ability to address the specialized needs of individuals and families living on our streets — and provide them with the opportunity to reclaim their dignity and rebuild their lives.”

— Frances M. Esposito, Chief Executive Officer, Broward Partnership

“Helping to open doors of opportunity for a brighter future is what The Jim Moran Foundation is all about.”

— Jim Moran

2013

Strengthening Families

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In less than four years, the Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship became Florida State University’s (FSU) newest college and the nation's first stand-alone entrepreneurship college at a public university. The transformational gift was a continuation of a relationship that began in 1995 when Jim and Jan Moran and JM Family Enterprises established the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at the FSU College of Business with an initial donation of $1 million. With funding provided through JMI and in partnership with FSU, The Jim Moran Foundation annually selects up to two African American high school seniors from North and South Florida as Jim Moran Scholars. Created in 1996, this needs-based scholarship gives hardworking students an opportunity to succeed through education regardless of their financial barriers.
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2015

Transformational Gift to Florida State University

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During our founder’s lifetime, he helped strengthen and empower hundreds of nonprofit organizations. In 2018, The Jim Moran Foundation celebrated what would have been Jim’s 100th birthday by committing more than $10 million in recognition of his belief that, “Working together we can make a difference in our community, one child at a time.”

2018

Improving Our Communities

As of The Foundation’s 20th Anniversary, our grantmaking totaled $135 million in education, elder care, family strengthening and pathways to independence by partnering with hardworking nonprofits.

Beyond our support for direct service programs, The Foundation awarded more than $21 million in special grants to mark our two decades of meeting the ever-changing needs of the community.

2020

Commemorating 20 Years

“You all were first to send us much needed support in the very beginning of this COVID-19 nightmare. I can’t express enough how much those funds helped us.”

— Dennis Haas, President/CEO, Arc Broward

In addition to The Foundation’s traditional grantmaking, we proactively provided more than $7 million in emergency grants to approximately 100 nonprofits in response to COVID-19 — with $5 million being awarded during the onset of the unprecedented pandemic in 2020.

2021

Support Throughout COVID-19

Completion of The Foundation’s new headquarters in Fort Lauderdale is expected in fall/winter 2025.

“With property available adjacent to Holy Cross Hospital’s Jim Moran Heart and Vascular Center — a connection that was so significant in my husband’s life — we knew this would be the right place for The Jim Moran Foundation to build its new headquarters. Jim considered Broward County his home. I know he would be so very happy that his giving back will have a positive impact in this community for generations to come.”

— Jan Moran

2023

New Home on the Horizon

“The future belongs to those who prepare for it.”

— Jim Moran

The Jim Moran Foundation began its 25th year having already invested nearly $280 million with an additional $49 million in grant commitments for education, elder care, family strengthening and pathways to independence in North and South Florida. We look forward to continuing our founder’s legacy of compassion and generosity with the help of our hardworking nonprofit partners for generations to come — just as he would expect of us.

"We are so very grateful to be able to honor Jim by being here to make a lasting difference today, tomorrow and well into the future.”

— Jan Moran, chairman and president

2025

25 Years and Counting

“Giving back to the communities where we live and work is not only a privilege but a responsibility — a responsibility to take care of one another and respect one another. When you look beyond yourself to meet someone else’s needs, that’s where philanthropy starts and really feeling good about life begins.”