Helping our community rebound from natural disasters with resilience.
Recovering with Resilience
In the devastating aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which impacted our region within two weeks of each other, our communities will face a long road to full recovery. From experience we know that many of the needs that these disasters will unleash will not be evident for months or even years to come.
To address anticipated long-term unmet needs, The Patterson Foundation has contributed $1 million to the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund AND has offered a match challenge of up to $1 million for donations up to and including $50,000.
A Vital Community Resource
A peninsula located in the semi-tropical Atlantic Basin, Florida's geography and climate increase the state's susceptibility to natural storms, yet for many years, the suncoast has remained resilient to such storms relative to other coastal regions around the state.
As natural hazards become more prevalent and intense, so too has our region's vulnerability to weather-related risks. In 2023, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its environmental hazard risk data, which analyzes social factors, infrastructure, economic components and environmental characteristics to measure community resilience.
Activated in the days before Hurricane Ian made landfall in 2022, the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is a local resource for the long-term, ongoing needs that emerge over time, so communities can heal holistically after a catastrophic weather event.
Emergency Capital Needs
Funding Priorities
Many of our area nonprofits provide vital services and programs to vulnerable individuals and families in our communities.
When Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton battered our region in the summer of 2024, the damage they unleashed had serious impacts on some nonprofit organizations that provide these essential services.
For individuals and families that rely on these nonprofits, the disruption in services can create compounding crises that can lead to rippling calamiites.
To restore these services that are essential to so many living here, funding through the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is available to help cover costs of emergency capital repairs.
This funding is available only to human services organizations.
Eligibility
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is currently accepting applications for emergency capital needs. Requests will be considered for the organizations that meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on human services with a location in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto County.
- Have a capital needs request under $50,000 aimed at restoring services to clients or reopening doors to operations.
- Have an approved and current profile in The Giving Partner.
At this time the Community Foundation of Sarasota County cannot support requests for deductibles or a full rebuilding effort of your building or facility.
The deadline to apply is Dec. 13. 2024.
Long Term Recovery
Funding Priorities
The following areas represent typical disaster recovery funding gaps as well as areas of enduring need throughout the four-county region. In most cases, these challenges existed prior to a hurricane and the crisis amplified them.
Grant proposals focused on these areas will receive priority:
- Case Management
- Children & Youth Services/Education
- Home Repair and Housing Needs
- Legal Services
- Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) and COAD support
-
Mental and Behavioral Health
Learn more about Funding Priorities details here.
Eligibility
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund will accept applications for the next grant cycle beginning Dec. 13, 2024 and closing on January 15, 2025. Requests will be considered for the organizations that meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- An IRS Letter of Determination that shows the organization is a 501(c)3 public charity
- At least one current program with local impact in one of the following counties: Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto
- An approved/current profile in The Giving Partner, a powerful, searchable online database with over 700 profiles of charitable organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties
Information Session
Join us for an informational Zoom session at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 to learn about long-term recovery grant dollars available through this grant cycle, understand what qualifies as a long-term recovery project, and get help with the application process. Click the link below to join.
Successful recovery supports individuals and families' ability to rebound from their losses and sustain their well-being, and restore structures, systems, and services.
The purpose of the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is to support and benefit Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte Counties for disaster recovery to improve individual, family, and community resiliency, helping people rebuild their lives beyond initial rebuilding of structures. Complete recovery--restoring our community to its full potential, while also creating processes to better protect us from such catastrophe in the future--takes a strategic, collaborative effort over time.
Successful recovery supports individuals and families' rebound from losses, with an emphasis on sustaining their physical, social, economic, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Long-term recovery restores structures, systems, and services, addressing sources of inequitable outcomes.
Recovery involves listening to those most impacted with losses, understanding community needs, and assessing community damage. It is achieved through collaboration with government and school officials, funders, community leaders and nonprofit partners.
In 2022, our foundation published Disaster Response Analysis, which examines the anatomy of the disaster life cycle, history of disaster and response, identification of conventional responders and supports, typical gaps in those supports, and more. A strategic approach depends upon patience, transparent communication and collaboration, thorough research, and the willingness to be flexible. Thoughtful and deliberate recovery takes time to implement, and it also stands the test of time.
Stories of Impact: Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund investments have been made to restore vital programs, repair houses and replace appliances of those living at the economic edge, connect people with resources, and make mental health counseling accessible. Read here about the contributions made over time.
December 18, 2024
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Raises Nearly $9 Million for Disaster Response and Recovery After Historic Hurricane Season
Funds support both immediate needs and long-term assistance in the hard-hit region SARASOTA, FL – The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has so far raised nearly $9 million in eight…
December 11, 2024
Hurricane Recovery: A Sustained View
In a world that prizes instant gratification, a strategic long game can feel a bit out of line with the current reality. In truth, though, strengthening our ability to thoughtfully respond wel…
November 4, 2024
A Sustained View of Hurricane Recovery
Disasters have a way of bringing out the best in people. From those who distribute food and water to those who enter flooded streets to help rescue their stranded neighbors, many are inclined…
Impact to Nonprofits
After the first grant cycle went out in 2023 to organizations affected by Hurricane Ian, we reached out to some nonprofit leaders to learn how the funding restored their ability to achieve their missions. See the video series below to learn more about the ways the grant supported our community on its path to longterm recovery.
Child Protection Center
A vital resource to families living in crisis from the experience of abuse, the Child Protection Center sustained damage to its Northport location. Learn how the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund helped the Child Protection Center restore its services to families served in the hard-hit area.
Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center
Hurricane Ian ripped through the Lighthouse headquarters, resulting in damages so severe the organization had to move operations elsewhere temporarily. Funding from the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund will help the organization open its doors again.
United Way Charlotte County
Charlotte County endured enormous Hurricane Ian damage, leaving many with unanticipated expenses that made them vulnerable to losing everything. United Way was there to connect these people with resources that keeps them sheltered, secure, and healthy.
Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast
Trauma from catastrophic events like Ian can take months to surface and years to heal. Grants to Samaritan helped the organization offer affordable services to more people in the throes of a mental health crisis.
Floodwaters from Hurricane Helene inundated Kim Hinkle's cars, setting a domino-effect of crises as she was forced to rent a car to get to work, which put her behind in her bills. Season of Sharing provided a bridge to solid ground. Photo: Saundra Amrhein, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Of course, disasters can upend lives in ways that require immediate response. For many, damage to homes and vehicles or disruptions from work forces them to navigate the double-crisis of unanticipated expenses coupled with diminished income. This historic hurricane season, with Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton ravaging the region, has sparked a seismic uptick in those needing help with basic living expenses, such as rent or mortgage, utilities, transportation, and child care.
For these acute needs, Season of Sharing has been a relied upon source of relief for 25 years. Some who have been displaced have already sought Season of Sharing support--its flexibility and expeditious nature have made it a time-tested, trusted social safety net since 2000. In the wake of Ian, acute need is high. Season of Sharing has helped people get past immediate setbacks to regain stability for more than two decades.
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund was created in partnership with The Patterson Foundation, which seeded the fund with $500,000 and offered matching gifts up to $750,000, which was quickly fulfilled and inspired other matching gifts for a total of $1.25 million. Learn more about The Patterson Foundation.
The Patterson Foundation strengthens the impact through seed money and matching funds.
How to Donate
If you'd like to support either the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund or the Season of Sharing, there are many ways to do it. Donate online here.
Donate by Mail
Mail your check – payable to Community Foundation of Sarasota County (please indicate county designation on memo line) – to:
Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund
c/o Community Foundation of Sarasota County
2635 Fruitville Road
Sarasota, FL 34237
Donate by Phone
Call 941-955-3000