Community Foundation of Sarasota County Approves nearly $10 Million in Grants

SARASOTA, FL – The Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Board of Directors recently approved nearly $10 million in grants, with more than $1 million dedicated to supporting access for families to needed services and cultural amenities in honor of the foundation's upcoming 40th Anniversary.

By partnering with more than 60 nonprofit organizations, as well as local schools and universities, educational and cultural programs will be expanded, providing greater access for families and adults throughout our region.

“Through these thoughtful partnerships that uphold our 'two-generation philosophy,' our aim is to create opportunities across generations to improve the lives of everyone in our community,” said Roxie Jerde, President & CEO, of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. “When all of us feels we belong, then we are creating a caring community where each of us can be successful in our unique ways.”

In addition to these celebratory anniversary grants, funding was also approved in support of leading initiatives of the Community Foundation, including: the 20th Anniversary of Season of Sharing, which helps adults and families with unexpected expenses that threaten homelessness; EdExploreSRQ, which funds curriculum-based, experiential learning opportunities for all Sarasota County public school students; and the Giving Challenge 2020, an online giving event that provides unrestricted funding to hundreds of nonprofit organizations. More than $3 million in gifts from current Community Foundation donors was also approved.

“Every donor and organization we work with is here to help build the community we all want to live in,” Jerde said. “We are honored to extend support on behalf of our donors whose desire to contribute to our community’s well-being at all levels drives our work.”

Since its founding in 1979, more than $252 million have been invested in our community through grants and scholarships thanks to thousands of donors working with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

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About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County: The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for caring individuals and the causes they support, enabling them to make a charitable impact on the community. With assets of over $398 million in nearly 1,500 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $34 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.