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Community Foundation of Sarasota County
  • Donors

    Every One Can Make a Difference

    • Create a Charitable Fund
    • Learn How to Give
    • Join the Legacy Society
    • Establish or Participate in a Giving Circle
    • Consult with Your Professional Advisor
    • Find Inspiration through Donor Stories
    • Support Our Community
    • Donate Through Your Private Foundation
    • Research Nonprofits and Volunteer Opportunities
    • Donor Central Login
    • Understand Community Needs & Data
  • Advisors

    Our Services for Professional Advisors

    • Charitable Giving Options
    • Financial Advisor Program
    • Distinguished Speaker Series
    • Resources and Tools
  • Nonprofits

    Our Support for Nonprofits

    • Grant Opportunities
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    • Giving Challenge
    • Workshops and Trainings
    • Agency Funds
    • Resource Materials
    • Nonprofit News
    • Research Community Needs & Data
  • Students

    Scholarship Opportunities

    • Scholarships for Students Under 24 Years of Age
    • Scholarships for Students 24 Years of Age or Older
    • Tools and Resources for Scholarship Planning
    • Become a Scholarship Committee Volunteer
  • Community Knowledge and Impact

    Community Knowledge and Impact Overview:

    Our Philosophy
    Community Tools and Reports
    Community Indicators Dashboard
    The Giving Partner

    Areas of Impact:


    Community Care


    • Emergency Needs &
      Disaster Relief
    • Providing Stability
    • Health & Hunger
    • Animals
    • Environment
    • Placemaking

    Empowerment and Success


    • Literacy Support
    • Student Enrichment
    • Scholarship Opportunities
    • Career Development &
      Advancement
    • Lifelong Connections

    Belonging and Culture


    • Strengthening Families
    • Bridging Generations
    • Uniting Community
    • Cultural Development &
      The Arts
    • Building Support & Capacity

    Our Initiatives:

    • 2Gen (two-generational) Approach
    • “EdExploreSRQ” Student Learning
    • Education and Career Scholarships
    • Season of Sharing Donation Campaign
    • Strauss Literacy Initiative
    • Student Emergency Fund
    • Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund
    • The Giving Challenge
    • Campaign for Grade-Level Reading
     
  • Media & Stories

    The Latest:

    • Stories of Impact
    • Our Blog
    • Press Releases
    • Social Media

    Resources:

    • E-Newsletters Signup
    • Press Kit
    • Publications

    Media Galleries:

    • Video Library
    • Photo Gallery
    • Podcast Library
  • About Us

    About:

    • Mission and Values
    • History of Community Impact
    • Our Strategic Framework
    • Celebrating 45 Years
    • Accreditations
    • Fast Facts

    Leadership:

    • Our Board of Directors
    • Our Staff

    Financial Stewardship:

    • Audited Financials & Tax Returns

    Contact:

    • Ways to Reach Us

    Careers:

    • Overview and Openings
    • Our Benefits and Culture

    Events:

    • Upcoming Events
    • Request a Speaker

    Foundation Partners:

    • Manatee Community Foundation

DONATE NOW

Distinguished Speaker Series

Our Distinguished Speaker Series is an educational and networking resource for all professional advisors and is offered complimentary as a thank you for referring clients to the Community Foundation. Through a signature series of lectures presented by nationally recognized estate planning and tax experts, advisors can earn advanced education credits and stay abreast of current trends and updates in wealth planning.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2024-2025 season of our Distinguished Speakers Series programs! Stay tuned for updates and more information about the upcoming season.


2024-2025 Schedule

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Speaker: Christopher Hoyt, Professor of Law, University of Missouri, Kansas City

Topic: Tax Smart Charitable Giving, Especially with Retirement Assets

Learn more about Christopher Hoyt. 

Read the Recap


Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Speaker: Alan Rothschild, Jr., Esq., Atlanta, Ga. 

Topic: Looking Back and Looking Forward: Maintaining a Successful Estate Planning Practice over the Next 25 Years

Learn more about Alan Rothschild. 

Read the Recap


Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Speaker: Lauren Wolven, Esq., Chicago, Ill. 

Topic: Using and Misusing the Marital Deduction

Learn more about Lauren Wolven. 

Read the Recap

Betsey Pennewill headshot

For more information or questions, please contact:

Betsy Pennewill, JD
General Counsel
941-556-7152 
betsy@cfsarasota.org

May 14, 2025

Key Provisions of a Charitable Gift Agreement

February 11, 2025

Using and Misusing the Marital Deduction: Takeaways from January's Distinguished Speakers Series

December 5, 2024

Strategic Planning, Flexibility, and Long-Term Solutions for Your Professional Practice: Takeaways from November's Distinguished Speakers Series

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Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Contact Us

Physical Address

2635 Fruitville Road
Sarasota, FL 34237

Directions and Map

8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., M – F

Phone: (941) 955-3000

Fax: (941) 952-1951

General Inquiries:
info@cfsarasota.org

Connect with Us

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THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY, INC. IS A REGISTERED 501(C)(3) NON-PROFIT CORPORATION. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-435-7352 (OR 1-800-352-9832 EN ESPAÑOL) OR GOING ON THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE WWW.FDACS.GOV/CONSUMERSERVICES.  REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. One hundred percent (100%) of the donation is received by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, registration #CH2471.

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