Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $200,000 supporting Animal Welfare
Grants support nonprofit organizations that serve animals and promote their humane care in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties
SARASOTA, FL – The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 12 local nonprofit organizations through its annual Animal Welfare competitive grant cycle to promote the humane care of domestic, farm, wild and exotic animals across four counties.
More than $196,000 will be awarded to support emergency veterinary treatment and capacity building for nonprofits that center on caring for animals with generous support from the Helen C. Schwieder Fund, the Robert Parker Fund, the Martha Leiter and Nancy Streetman Fund I, along with others. Awards this year reflect the diverse needs across animal welfare. Challenges are on the rise in both in domestic and wild animal care, as factors ranging from environmental disasters to economic strain have impacted the health and humane care of animals of all types, said Kirsten Russell, Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation.
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Selby Foundation Awards Over $226,000 in Hurricane Ian Relief to Area Nonprofits
SARASOTA, Florida - The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation has awarded $226,614 in Hurricane Ian relief to six Charlotte, DeSoto and Sarasota county nonprofits. The funding will go to discretionary disaster relief, roof, floor and ceiling repairs as well as outdoor lighting and fencing.
“The devastation from Hurricane Ian has severely impacted area nonprofits, many of whom serve some of our area’s most vulnerable populations. We are pleased to be able to assist with their basic needs as these organizations recover and restore their service to the community,” says Carol Butera, Selby Foundation CEO and President.
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Attaway Will Transition to Counsel Role; Neslund Appointed as President/CEO of the GiveWell Community Foundation
LAKELAND, FL (February 7, 2023) – GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) announced today the initiation of a leadership transition. John Attaway, Jr. has decided to step down as president and chief executive officer, effective March 1, 2023. The board of directors has appointed Catherine (Callie) Neslund as his successor. Attaway will remain on staff in a counsel role.
The decision was made at the January 31 board meeting, when the executive committee presented their recommendation to the board of directors who voted to approve Neslund as the organization’s next president/CEO.
“On behalf of the board, I want to thank John for his valuable contributions to GWCF over his past three years as president and CEO. His steady hand guided the organization through COVID and Hurricane Ian, providing support to those most impacted while at the same time growing the foundation and significantly solidifying its operations,” said John H. Gray, Jr., chair of the board of directors. “Callie has the vision and the drive to take GWCF to new levels of success and community impact.”
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Apply for Selby Foundation SAM Grants Starting February 1
SARASOTA, Florida - The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation SAM Grants Cycle opens on Wednesday, February 1, and will close at 3:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1. The Grant Portal will be open during that period for area not-for-profit organizations to create an account and access existing accounts as they begin the application process. Grant recipients will be notified by Wednesday, May 31.
Awarded tri-annually, the Small and Mighty (SAM) grants were created to meet the emerging needs of area nonprofits with operating expenses under $300,000. The Foundation’s grants support the construction, acquisition and/or renovation of facilities, as well as the purchase of equipment or software. These grants may also include the costs of related technical services. Projects focusing on education, human services, arts and community projects including history, science, and/or the environment will be given top priority.
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GiveWell Community Foundation Welcomes Dorena Geary as Controller
Lakeland, FL (January 17, 2023) – GiveWell Community Foundation is proud to announce Dorena Geary, CPA, as the organization’s new Controller. Dorena brings with her 40 years of experience in accounting. Geary recently moved to our community from Austin, Texas, where she previously served as Vice President of Operations at the Texas Methodist Foundation. She is a graduate of Sam Houston State University and the Southwest CUNA Management School.
“We are delighted to have Dorena joining the GiveWell Community Foundation team,” said GWCF President/CEO, John Attaway. “Her knowledge and experience in accounting for foundations will be a great addition to the organization.”
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Plans for nearly $5 Million of Hurricane Ian Recovery Charitable Donations Underway
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund has identified common funding gaps, best practices to support strategic grantmaking post-crisis.
SARASOTA, FL – In the two months since Hurricane Ian’s historic U.S. landfall, donors from our community and across the country contributed nearly $5 million to be applied to long-term recovery efforts through the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund supports long-term, long-range programs to sustain human service agencies serving people in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee and Sarasota counties as they recover from Hurricane Ian’s impact. Long-term recovery includes support for the economic, social, spiritual and emotional well-being of a community following a large-scale disaster — needs that often emerge after emergency disaster-response efforts have concluded.
“Through the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund, our region has the support to improve not only the lives of those who have been devastated by Hurricane Ian, but also our important community networks for the long run,” said Roxie Jerde, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “The outstanding support from contributors will be met with thoughtful recommendations to distribute those generous gifts so that our region has better knowledge, tools and resources to meet today’s challenges, and improve our responses to future disasters.”
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Susie Bowie to become CEO of Selby Foundation effective March 1, 2023
SARASOTA, Florida (November 21, 2022) - The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation’s Board of Directors is proud to announce that Susie Bowie, currently Executive Director of the Manatee Community Foundation, will become its next CEO effective March 1, 2023. As previously announced, Carol Butera, the Foundation’s current CEO, will retire in April 2023.
Board Chair and lead in the search effort, Barbara Zdravecky, noted “Susie’s demonstrated leadership in the local Foundation arena compliments the values of our founders, Bill and Marie Selby. The attributes of humility, collaboration, stewardship, innovation and social responsibility match well with her style and accomplishments.”
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The LGBTQ Community Fund Awards a Total of $87,000 to Five Local Agencies
Grants will support teens, disabled adults, nonprofit leaders, and transgender youth
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (November 17, 2022) – The LGBTQ Community Fund for Northeast Florida approved $87,000 in grants to five local nonprofits in its ongoing efforts to build an inclusive community where all people can thrive. Grantees will be funded from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.
“We are proud to invest in organizations serving LGBTQ communities as they need support now more than ever,” said Glenn Miller, chair for the Advisory Board for the Fund, which is housed at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. “We are grateful to the Fund’s donors for their generosity, which is making a growing impact in Northeast Florida.”
The grants represent funding for both new and existing programs for LGBTQ people of all ages.
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Season of Sharing Enters 23rd Year Beginning Nov. 13
The longstanding safety net fund expected to be vital helping individuals and families with immediate needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County will kick off the 23rd annual Season of Sharing fundraising campaign on Nov. 13, with donations amplified through partnerships with The Patterson Foundation and Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
The Season of Sharing fund is a longstanding, vital safety net for residents of Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties experiencing acute need. The fund offers residents one-time financial assistance for basic living expenses such as rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation, or childcare. Since its inception in 2000, Season of Sharing has raised and distributed more than $34 million benefiting more than 41,000 households.
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GiveWell Community Foundation and United Way of Central Florida Respond to Polk, Hardee, Highlands Communities Affected by Hurricane Ian
LAKELAND, FL (November 7, 2022) – GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) and United Way of Central Florida (UWCF) announce $205,600 in grants to provide Hurricane Ian relief throughout Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties. After surveying the most pressing needs in the hurricane’s aftermath, twenty local nonprofit organizations were selected to receive funding that will support recovery and rebuilding efforts throughout the community.
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Selby Foundation Awards 3rd Quarter “Small and Mighty” Grants to Three Area Nonprofits
SARASOTA, Florida - The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation has awarded its 3rd Quarter 2022 “Small and Mighty” (SAM) grants totalling nearly $29,000 to three area nonprofits. These awards will be used for capital purchases and technology upgrades that allow the benefitting organizations to more effectively deliver their mission to the community. 
About the Award Recipients
La Musica Di Asolo, Inc. - Formed as a 501(c)3 in 1987, La Musica offers performances by outstanding European and American musicians and free admission to students and educators to their concerts. The organization’s primary focus is to reach out to young students, stimulating a love for music which will bring them as older students and adults to rehearsals and performances. Through these programs, La Musica strives to foster a growing audience for the arts.
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Apply for Selby Foundation Q4 SAM Grants starting September 30
SARASOTA, Florida - The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation Q4 SAM Grants Cycle opens on Friday, September 30, and will close at 3:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1. The Grant Portal will be open during that period for area not-for-profit organizations to create an account and access existing accounts as they begin the application process. Grant recipients will be notified by December 31.
Awarded quarterly, the Small and Mighty (SAM) grants were created to meet the emerging needs of area nonprofits with operating expenses under $300,000. The Foundation’s grants support the construction, acquisition and/or renovation of facilities, as well as the purchase of equipment or software. These grants may also include the costs of related technical services. Projects focusing on education, human services, arts and community projects including history, science, and/or the environment will be given top priority.
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SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS PARTNER FOR RETURN OF “ON THE TABLE SWFL” INITIATIVE
October 12 mealtime conversations unite residents, inspire solutions to strengthen the region.
Fort Myers, FL (September 6, 2022) – Charlotte Community Foundation, the Collaboratory, and Collier Community Foundation today jointly announced the return of a major regional civic engagement initiative, On the Table SWFL. On Wednesday, October 12, thousands of neighbors, colleagues, friends, and new acquaintances will gather to share their stories and generate ideas to create a more sustainable and vibrant Southwest Florida.
Anyone across the region can host an On the Table SWFL session, and everyone is welcome to join the conversation and have their voices heard. The topics, issues and ideas discussed during each conversation will be completely organic and driven by participants’ interests and
perspectives, as well as the opportunities and challenges in their community that are most important to them. Mealtime conversations can take place in homes, backyards, at local restaurants, schools, community centers, places of worship, libraries, offices, retail
establishments – literally anywhere a host chooses. They can be sit-down, catered, picnic or potluck – completely up to each host.
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UWCF Announces 2022 Campaign Goal
United Way of Central Florida announced on Thursday its highest fundraising goal for the organization to date in front of a crowd of donors, volunteers and community members at LEGOLAND Florida Resort.
Campaign Chair Melony Bell, along with Resource Development chair Nick Plott, announced that the total fundraising goal for 2022-2023 is $10,657,000.
“If we all just give 10% more of ourselves; time, talent or treasure; this will demonstrate the power that we can have in our community,” Bell said. “Together, we can make a difference for our neighbors.”
To help achieve this goal, companies and organizations choose to run their campaign early to help kickoff the year. These companies are called “Pacesetters” and this year, raised more than $400,000.
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