Local Black-Led Nonprofit Organizations Join National Give 8/28 Giving Day to Build a More Equitable Community
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County steps up support by hosting a community mixer uniting donors with nonprofits.
August 2, 2023
SARASOTA, FL – August is Black Philanthropy Month, and several Sarasota-Manatee nonprofit organizations will be taking part in Give 8/28, a 15-hour digital giving event designed to support Black-led and Black-benefiting nonprofit organizations. With the goal of boosting overall Give 8/28 performance in our area, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County is hosting a community mixer that will bring donors together with Give 8/28 participants to discover their missions and impact in our community. The mixer, providing ample learning opportunities for community members, will be from 5-7 p.m. August 28 at Westcoast Black Theater Troupe. Give 8/28 is like the Giving Challenge, which many of the participating nonprofits have taken part in to hone their skills in preparation of this national giving day. People interested in supporting the community by participating in Give 8/28 can attend the mixer to meet the people inspiring change through their organizations. Those who cannot make the event can still donate online.
NEW MEMBERS TO JOIN MANATEE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Douglas J. Elmore and Debra Estes will join the Manatee Community Foundation board of directors on July 1, 2023.
June 27, 2023
Bradenton, FL- Elmore has a deep history of community involvement including leadership roles with Easterseals of Southwest Florida, Mote Marine Laboratories and Ringling College Library Association. He is a partner at Williams Parker, Attorneys at Law, practicing in the areas of trusts and estates.
Estes is the Director of ESOL, Migrant and Dual Language Programs for the School District of Manatee County with 25+ years of as a public-school educator. She has been at the helm of the ESOL program in the School District of Manatee County nine years. Estes serves on the Florida Association of Bilingual and ESOL Supervisors (FABES) board, including a term as president from 2018-2020.
Manatee Community Foundation’s new board officers are: Chair Robert “Buzz” Turner; Vice Chair Dannie Sherrill; Treasurer Garrett Shinn; Secretary Steve Roskamp; and immediate Past Chair Jeanie Kirkpatrick.
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards nearly $150,000 to Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness and support groups
Four local nonprofit organizations have received funding for brain research and support programs
June 27, 2023
Sarasota, FL- In recognition of June as International Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded $150,000 to four nonprofits in the region supporting care, awareness and research of cognitive diseases.
Many experts caution that finding ways to end or mitigate syndromes of brain and memory decline is urgent, as the cost of these disorders, in medical care, wraparound support, and loss of productivity owed to informal care of patients by family, is significant.
Community Foundation grants provide relief in a range of areas, from supporting research efforts to providing services for dementia patients who need it. Funds were allocated to The Roskamp Institute, The Pines of Sarasota Foundation, The Alzheimer's Disease & Related Disorders Association, and The Senior Friendship Centers.
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards $120,000 to Area Nonprofits
Grants support capacity building in nonprofits serving counties along the Suncoast
June 20, 2023
SARASOTA, FL – The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 20 local nonprofit organizations nearly $120,000 through grant opportunities with the purpose of strengthening each organization’s capacity to fulfill its mission.
Most of the grants awarded will support organizations’ marketing and development efforts, a critical component for nonprofits to increase visibility, but an area that is often underfunded. Some of the grants support staff professional development and board development, which aim to help the nonprofits shape and implement thoughtful strategic plans. Other grants support expanding an organization’s impact through investing in their staff and volunteers.
The Community Foundation Recognized at Council on Foundations Conference for Award-Winning Public-Philanthropic Partnership with the City of Jacksonville
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida was honored with the HUD Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships for its role in helping lead the launch of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the City of Jacksonville’s Office of the Mayor
June 15, 2023
DENVER, CO – A public-philanthropic partnership in Jacksonville was recognized as a national model yesterday through the Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnerships, a recognition offered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Council on Foundations.
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida was honored at the Council on Foundations’ Leading Locally conference in Denver for helping to lead the launch of the Office of Strategic Partnerships in the City of Jacksonville’s Mayor’s Office. The award is given to foundations annually to recognize excellence in partnerships that have transformed the relationship between the public and philanthropic sectors and led to measurable benefits for local communities.
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards nearly $1 million for Hurricane Recovery Efforts
An additional $720,000 has been earmarked for future funding
June 14, 2023
SARASOTA, FL – Just as a new hurricane season gains steam, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded nearly $1 million to local nonprofits to address ongoing impacts of Hurricane Ian, with another $720,000 reserved for multi-year grants for long-term recovery efforts that will take several years to take root. Programs supported through this grant include hurricane survivor advocacy and case management, mental and behavioral health treatment, youth services, and still-lingering home repairs.
Grants were announced for nonprofit organizations helping rebuild their communities in Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, and Charlotte counties with emphasis placed on the areas hardest hit by the storm, namely south Sarasota County, Charlotte County and DeSoto County.
Unlike relief, which is immediate reparation of damage to get society moving again, recovery focuses on the long view and helping people restore their lives on several fronts—economically, emotionally, and spiritually. To determine funding priorities for the nearly $5 million raised, a task force was convened that included Community Foundation staff and board members, along with key stakeholders in hard-hit communities. Through several listening sessions, the task force developed the scope of funding priorities.
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Selects Isaiah M. Oliver
Effective July 31, Oliver will succeed Nina Waters, who is retiring after 22 years with The Community Foundation.
May 10, 2023
JACKSONVILLE, FL – Following a nationwide search, the Board of Trustees of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida (TCF) today announced that it has unanimously selected Isaiah M. Oliver as TCF’s new president, effective July 31, 2023.
A proven community leader and a bright star in the field of place-based philanthropy, Oliver will continue the Foundation’s focus on donor stewardship and strategic philanthropy that improves the lives of everyone in the six-county Northeast Florida region. Oliver will serve as the third president of The Community Foundation, stepping into the role after more than nine years at the Community Foundation of Greater Flint (Flint, MI), where he currently serves as President and CEO.
“Throughout this process, Isaiah has impressed us as a dynamic, collaborative leader who has the vision and the skills to advance our mission of stimulating philanthropy to build a better community,” said The Honorable Brian J. Davis, chair of The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “We are happy and excited to welcome him to Northeast Florida as The Community Foundation’s next president.”
Oliver will succeed TCF President Nina M. Waters, who will retire on September 1 after 22 years with the Foundation. Under her leadership, The Community Foundation has established itself as a premier philanthropic anchor institution, with more than $1 billion in total gifts since its founding, an engaged network of 660+ fundholders and donors, and a record $57.7 million in grants distributed in 2022. It has also grown multiple philanthropic initiatives, including the Women’s Giving Alliance, the Beaches Community Fund, the LGBTQ Community Fund for Northeast Florida, the A.L. Lewis Black Opportunity and Impact Fund, the Donors Forum, Art Ventures and many more.
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Native Forward Scholars Fund Leader Angelique Albert Joins Johnson Scholarship Foundation's Board of Directors
May 1, 2023
WEST PALM BEACH, FL –The Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) is pleased to announce that Angelique Albert of Native Forward Scholars Fund has joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Albert (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes) has dedicated her career to serving Tribal communities. As Native Forward’s chief executive officer, she leads the nation’s largest scholarship provider to Native students, which has distributed more than $350 million in scholarships to students representing over 500 Tribes across all 50 states.
“The Johnson Scholarship Foundation has a strong legacy of partnering with organizations across North America to enable students to pursue greater educational and career opportunities,” said Robert A. Krause, the Foundation’s CEO. “Angelique Albert brings over 25 years of experience as a leader in nonprofit, philanthropic, business and government industries. The Foundation will look to her for insights on how to better serve our program areas, including Indigenous communities.”
Albert is a 2014 graduate of Gonzaga University’s Master of Business Administration in American Indian Entrepreneurship (MBA-AIE) program, which was created in 2001 in partnership with the Foundation. The program was designed to meet the unique needs of Indigenous students living on reservations and spark economic growth.
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SELBY FOUNDATION AWARDS $1,042,735 IN CAPITAL FUNDS FOR NONPROFITS IN REGION
April 26, 2023
SARASOTA, FL – The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation is awarding $1,042,735 in
grants to support nonprofits located in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and
DeSoto counties with capital funds needed to better serve youth,
families, neighborhoods, the environment, and the arts.
“The positive effect these funds will have on people living in a
four-county region will be felt for generations through the important
work of nonprofit organizations shaping the success of our community,”
said Susie Bowie, Selby Foundation President and CEO.
“Bill and Marie Selby were passionate about opportunity for everyone,
and we can see the continued impact of their legacy reflected in these
outstanding grants.”
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Socrates Rivers Joins The Community Foundation as Director of Development
Rivers will lead the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of new funds and fundholders
March 29, 2023
JACKSONVILLE, FL – The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida is pleased to announce Socrates Rivers has joined the staff as Director of Development, as the Foundation continues to grow.
Socrates is an experienced fundraising professional with more than 17 years in development, finance, and business, most recently having served as the Director of Major Gifts & Corporate Giving at the FSCJ Foundation. He also serves on the boards of the United Community Outreach Ministry and the First Coast Tiger Bay Club of Jacksonville. Socrates is a graduate of Ohio University and holds an MBA from the University of Akron.
As Development Director, Socrates is responsible for the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of new funds and fundholders at the Foundation. The primary role is working with potential and existing fund holders to open new funds and facilitate giving to fundholders’ interest areas and preferred organizations. He will steward a portfolio of existing fundholders, providing ongoing relationship management and philanthropic service. He will work closely with John Zell, Vice President of Development.
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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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