Bocilla Islands Conservancy gets grant to boost website

PLACIDA The Bocilla Islands Conservancy was recently awarded a $7,150 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to help develop its website.

The Conservancy is a public, nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving open, undeveloped space and natural habitat on the Bocilla Islands Chain since 2015.

The grant will help the group with a website redesign that will make its site "more attractive, engaging, user-accessible, donation-secure, and mobile device-friendly," according to a release from the Conservancy.

"The current BICI website, bocillaislandsconservancy.org, has served the organization well for over five years and has been developed and managed solely by volunteers. Today, more than ever, web presence is critical in building an organization's capacity to meet its mission and communicate with its constituents," the release states.

A team of board members will oversee a project completed by a professional web designer.

The plan is to allow access to more information about the Conservancy, increase interest, boost web traffic and grow the organization.

"In addition, the new website will add a board member portal that will be dedicated solely to the Conservancy's operations. Documents and communications will be easily accessible to the board of directors and committees, thereby increasing productivity and organizational cohesion.

These updates will improve the Conservancy's communications and increase its capacity for supporting fundraising activities, increasing donor support, enhancing educational programs and creating a credible and visible presence for prospective supporters in the community.

The Bocilla Islands Conservancy Inc. is a public, nonprofit, non-political organization working in partnership with residents of the Bocilla Islands Chain, including Don Pedro Island, Knight Island, Palm Island, Little Gasparilla Island and Thornton Key, according to its current site.

It is dedicated to preserving open, undeveloped space and natural habitat through the acquisition of land and conservation easements.