Member News

Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards 12 Grants Promoting Equity for Healthcare, Education, and Human Services
The more than $320,000 in funding will support nonprofit organizations in equitably expanding access to services and opportunities.

PHOTO I.D. – A student and teacher dive into a spelling lesson at SOAR Learning Center, one of several nonprofit grantees awarded an Equity and Access Grant. Photo by Karen Arango Photography.

SARASOTA, FL – The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 12 nonprofit organizations with grants totaling more than $320,000 in its third Equity and Access competitive grant cycle. The support will strengthen local, direct service programs focused on serving populations within Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties that face systemic barriers to healthcare, education, and human services.

While each proposal centered its own unique cause – from mobile health clinics to STEM experiences for young students living with disabilities – all shared a commitment to strengthen their diversity, equity, and inclusion framework and build a region where all who call it home can thrive. Access to healthcare and human services emerged as top priorities as a diverse committee of volunteers, staff, board members, and community leaders reviewed each application and made decisions enriched by their own experiences.

Read the full press release here.

LEAP Tampa Bay receives 2021 Member of the Year Award

Awarded by the National College Attainment Network, LEAP Tampa Bay College Access Network received the 2021 Member of the Year Award.

Nominated by the President of St. Petersburg College, Dr. Tonjua Williams, LEAP Tampa Bay is the first Florida network to win this award. This is the third national recognition in 18 months for LEAP Tampa Bay.

Read the full press release here.

Teri A Hansen Named Top 500 Executives Across State for Third Year Running

Sarasota, FL (September 30, 2021) — For a third year in a row, Teri A Hansen, President|CEO of Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, was named one of Florida Trend Magazine’s Florida 500, a recognition that highlights the most influential executives in different economic sectors throughout the state. Since first being recognized in 2019, Hansen joins a dozen philanthropic leaders positively impacting the lives of children and families in their communities.

Under her leadership, Barancik Foundation became a major catalyst for improving the lives of the less fortunate in Sarasota County and beyond—spearheading work like First 1,000 Days, Here4Youth Mental Health Initiative, and COVID-19 response efforts.  Previously, Hansen transformed Gulf Coast Community Foundation into a regional philanthropic powerhouse that awarded more than $200 million in grants during her 13-year tenure.

Hansen earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University and served as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Air Force. She also completed the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. She serves on the Boards of Ringling College of Art and Design, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, and Gulfside Bank

Barancik Foundation Names Five Teachers as Ripple Effect Award Winners in Honor of Late Philanthropists

Sarasota, FL (September 29, 2021) — Recently, five Sarasota County teachers were recognized by Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. In partnership with Sarasota County Schools, Barancik Foundation named five winners of its Ripple Effect Teacher Awards on Tuesday, September 28th. The semi-annual prize acknowledges five outstanding teachers on Chuck Barancik’s birthday in May and five on Margie Barancik’s birthday in September. Each teacher recognized for their impact on lives in and outside classrooms are awarded $5,000 to spend on professional development experiences, material and equipment for their classrooms.

Margie’s fall semester awardees are: Christine Dapra of Venice Elementary Deb Hogue of North Port High Taleisa Schlemmer of Gocio Elementary Tina Slattery of Phillippi Shores Elementary Brian Upholz of Triad

TD Charitable Foundation launches the 16th annual Housing for Everyone Grant

Applications are now live for the annual TD Charitable Foundation’s Housing for Everyone grant competition. This year’s competition is committing $5.8 million to help affordable housing providers continue, or increase capacity to offer, needed resident services like workforce development and eviction prevention. Grants will range from $150,000 - $250,000.

You can find more information here and email any questions about the competition/application to US-CharitableGiving@TD.com and include "Housing for Everyone" in the subject line

The Partnership for Mental Health Awards Nearly $600,000 in Grants
Applications for the last round of funding are due November 15

JACKSONVILLE, Florida – September 14, 2021  Eleven nonprofit organizations in Northeast Florida received a total of nearly $600,000 to increase access to mental health services and strengthen the system that provides mental and behavioral health care for all citizens of Northeast Florida in the latest round of grantmaking from The Partnership for Mental Health.

Read the full press release here.

Local Black-Led Nonprofit Organizations Join National Give 8/28 Giving Day to Build a More Equitable Community
Grant support from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County will help organizations kickstart their campaigns.

SARASOTA, FL (August 24, 2021)– To culminate the month-long celebration of Black Philanthropy Month in August, several local nonprofit organizations will participate in the fourth annual Give 8/28, a national giving day hosted by the Young, Black and Giving Back Institute to inspire philanthropy by and for Black communities. For the second year in a row, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded $250 kickstart grants to more than 10 nonprofits in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties to encourage local involvement and help build greater support for a more equitable community. This year, these local organizations will be joined by more than 300 Black-led and Black-serving causes across the nation. 

Read the full press release here.

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation Board Approves $3 Million in Grant Funding

Sarasota, FL (August 9, 2021)— Recent funding from Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation strengthens workforce development programs, reinforces health equity efforts, and jumpstarts efforts to restore local waterways.

Read the full press release here.

Community Foundation of Collier County Launches New Website and Donor Portal

Naples, FL (June 16, 2021) – The Community Foundation of Collier County has launched a new look online with a new website and donor portal providing increased access to information and an easier granting and donation process for fundholders and donors accessible at cfcollier.org.

The new website is easier to navigate, user-friendly, and makes information regarding community trends, philanthropic impact, and collaborative efforts more accessible. The site highlights critical community needs and how the Community Foundation addresses the areas of mental health & substance abuse, housing & hunger, education & employment, seniors & veterans, environment & accessibility, and crisis and disaster relief through its Your passion. Your Collier. campaign.

Read the full press release here.