COVID-19 Response

(Updated 11 a.m., 5/5/20)

Dear Friends,

The changes taking place in our community and across the world in response to coronavirus are happening rapidly and can be overwhelming. At the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, we are fortunate to be part of a caring, generous, and resilient community. The health and safety of our partners, staff, neighbors and community is always our top priority.

Following are updates on steps we are taking to address any impact Covid-19 may have on upcoming events, activities, and operations. We will provide additional updates and recommendations as necessary in the coming days and weeks via email, our website, and social media.

ACCESS TO OUR OFFICES

We will be following recommendations from public health officials related to social distancing. Our staff remain accessible and we continue to process grants, contributions and distributions regularly, and we are communicating with our nonprofit partners to assess the needs of our community as we move through this emergency situation. The majority of our team began working remotely beginning March 16. Our main phone number, 941-955-3000, will be answered as normal from 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

We will review this policy on a daily basis following guidelines from the State, CDC and the Sarasota County Health Department and share updates as needed.

Find Community Resources and Help.

GRANTS

Contribution processing, grants processing and distributions will continue.

Any grants submitted to the Community Foundation by fundholders via the online Donor Central portal are being processed and mailed out weekly as regularly scheduled.

To support local nonprofit and other community organizations engaging in short-term response and longer-term recovery, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has several grant funds available.

We anticipate multiple phases of funding and are collaborating with other local foundations to learn about different community needs. Together, our organizations will coordinate resources to further support the changing government and private measures that are being developed.

In addition to Season of Sharing, current grant funds available (as of 3/20/20) include:

• Community Impact Grants. Rolling grant cycles for requests up to $10,000 are reviewed regularly with an online, streamlined application.
• Healthcare Grants. Healthcare grants are available through support from the James Franklin Warnell & Dorothy J. Warnell Fund. Applications are open through May 1, 2020.
• Giving Challenge 2020. The Giving Challenge remains scheduled April 28-29, as it is first and foremost an online giving event, and the unrestricted funds to be raised during the campaign provide our nonprofit partners the flexibility to respond to community needs, especially as those needs evolve and change.

Grant Opportunities Available

NONPROFIT TRAININGS

We are in the process of transitioning workshops from in-person events to virtual webinar formats. More information will be shared when available on our "Events" page.

ROOM USAGE

We have cancelled all scheduled room reservations of our training and conference rooms through June 30. Any organization that has scheduled use of any of our office spaces through that time will be notified directly via phone and/or email. We apologize the inconvenience and will work to reschedule dates on a case-by-case basis.

FUNDHOLDERS & DONORS: INVESTMENTS PERFORMANCE

As global markets continue to experience volatility we want to assure fundholders and nonprofit endowment partners that the Community Foundation focuses on making investments with an eye towards the long-term and sustaining the wellbeing of our region.

Our Investment Committee, comprised of seasoned finance professionals, will continue to monitor our investments in the days and weeks ahead.

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We appreciate the generosity of our community now, and always. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is committed to a healthy and resilient community where we all can thrive.

Thank you for your support, strength, generosity, and resiliency, and for being one of many to care for our friends and neighbors.

With gratitude,

Roxie Jerde
President & CEO