The Foundation is inspiring and developing charitable investments, philanthropic partnerships, and corporate sponsorships preserving our city’s history; enriching our parks, trails, and arts; and honoring our military, Veterans, and Gold Star Families.

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History: The DeBary Foundation was established in March 2025 by the DeBary City Council, which approved the Foundation’s initial bylaws and appointed Jim Old as the inaugural Chairman of the Board. Following a public call for board applicants, the Council selected six inaugural Directors. All board members are required to be either a city resident, a DeBary small business owner, or a regional representative with interest/territory covering the city. In June, the full Board convened where they formally adopted ten resolutions including the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, officer appointment and Director terms. This meeting officially constituted both the Foundation and its governing body.

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During this meeting, the Foundation officially transitioned to a fully independent nonprofit organization. The Foundation is a designated IRS 501(c)3 organization, effective 26 Jun 2025, and is registered with FL SunBiz and the FL Department of Agriculture as a registered fundraising organization.

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Foundation Board and Team: The Foundation board consists of 4 officers (Chair, VChair, Treas, Sec) and 3 additional Directors. All were initially appointed by City Council and are serving staggered 2 or 3-year terms. All Directors may only serve two consecutive terms before they must rotate off the board to prevent stagnation and mitigate the potential for Group Think. The Foundation Team also includes a Strategic Advisor who provides guidance for corporate partnership; a Foundation Artist who designed our initial logo and advises the Chairman as required on art topics; and a Social Media Manager, currently filled by a Stetson University Digital Medial Studies student for a one-year internship. Additional professional pro-bono support is provided by our CPA, our bookkeeper, and our Strategic Planning Advisor. Finally, a team of community volunteers are currently participating in the Board’s Strategic Plan development. All Board and Team members are volunteers with extensive experience in civic programs, non-profits, and community engagement.