Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards More Than $40,000 to Area Nonprofits

Grants support capacity building in nonprofits serving Sarasota and Manatee Counties

SARASOTA, FL – The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded eight local nonprofit organizations more than $40,000 through grant opportunities aimed at strengthening organizations’ capacity to fulfill their missions.

These awards will help local charitable organizations by supporting operational goals like cultivating strong fundraising plans, developing leadership and staff skills, strengthening communications plans, measuring impact, and more.

“Many nonprofit organizations operate on tight budgets, which can make it difficult to level up their operations,” said Kirsten Russell, Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation. “These grants assist in strengthening their capacity so they can operate to their full potential, allowing them to amplify their impact.”

Organizations Supported:

• The Florida Center for Early Childhood Inc
• Library Foundation for Sarasota County Inc
• WSLR Inc
• The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center
• Manatee Children's Services/MCS Child Advocacy Center
• Sarasota Parrot Conservatory Inc
• Sarasota Film Festival
• Making an Impact

As a partner to more than 700 nonprofit organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, a primary function of the Community Foundation is to enhance the organizations’ autonomy and long-term operations. Grants like this one provide practical help to support that goal.

The Community Foundation also hosts Giving Challenges, 24-hour giving events that draw visibility and tremendous community support to the nonprofit community. The next Giving Challenge will be noon to noon April 9-10, 2024. The last Giving Challenge, in 2022, raised $16.2 million in unrestricted funds for nearly 700 participating nonprofits.

Along with bolstering financial resources in the nonprofit sector, the Community Foundation hosts trainings and workshops designed to empower charitable organizations.

Grants under $10,000 help improve a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission by strengthening its capacity. Open year-round, these applications are reviewed five times annually, in August, October, December, March, and May.

For more than 40 years, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been key to unlocking possibilities for everyone who calls our area home. With the trust of the community, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $396 million in grants to support causes addressing education, health and human services, the arts, and the environment, animal welfare, and other needs that enhance quality of life. To learn more about available grant opportunities, visit www.cfsarasota.org/nonprofits/grants.