To the world, Frank McKinney is well-known for his stunning, oceanfront, move-in-ready, speculative Palm Beach mansions — which sell anywhere from $2.2 million to $50 million.
But to McKinney, 58, his passion for artistry spills into the seven best-selling books he’s written and his work as a “philanthro-capitalist,” he says.
“I love all forms of art and while that talent didn’t reveal itself until I started creating three-dimensional designs on a sun-drenched canvas known as the Atlantic Ocean, it’s developed further than what I could’ve imagined,” the recently retired real-estate builder and developer says.
The artist and successful author sold his final tropical modern, Zen-like spec house in Palm Beach County in 2020, allowing him more time to focus on his new self-published book “Aspire! How to Create Your Own Reality and Alter Your DNA,” and his nonprofit the Caring House Project Foundation.
All the proceeds earned from the sale of his books, McKinney says, go toward his continued mission to provide sustainable living in Haiti, the primary goal of Caring House.
Created in 2002, the nonprofit brought McKinney back to life. “In the late ’90s, everything became very materialistic,” he says. “I was at the top of the world when it came to real estate but at the bottom when it came to my emotional and spiritual health.”
After about a year of volunteering at a Delray Beach soup kitchen, McKinney discovered his purpose to help those in need and began his nonprofit.
“Providing houses to the wealthy was no longer enough for me,” McKinney adds. “The moment I realized my spiritual highest calling, I went to a place where I knew we could make a difference and see real change.”
Since its inception, Caring House has built more than 30 self-sufficient Haiti villages, including homes, schools, clinics, churches and more. They’ve provided more than 13,000 families and children with renewable food, clean water and employment opportunities.
Around the same time McKinney began his philanthropist journey, he also started pursuing his love for writing. Already established as a real-estate artist, McKinney found himself touring the country sharing his lessons on life and success, and eventually, he says those turned into best-selling books.
“My ultimate goal is to, not only influence or motivate people, but rather for them to aspire to have more in life by creating their own reality, altering their DNA and forging a path to who they’re meant to be,” McKinney says.