Community Foundation of Sarasota County awards more than $281,000 to 16 organizations in its fourth Equity and Access competitive grant cycle

SARASOTA, FL – The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 16 nonprofit organizations with grants totaling more than $281,000 in its fourth Equity and Access competitive grant cycle. The support will strengthen local, direct service programs focused on serving populations within Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties that face systemic barriers to healthcare, education and human services.

While each proposal presented unique causes –from securing clear home titles for families in Newtown to providing access to mental health services for single mothers to supplying medication for uninsured people with epilepsy – all shared a commitment to strengthen their diversity, equity and inclusion framework and build a region where all who call it home can thrive. Access to healthcare and human services emerged as top priorities as a diverse committee of volunteers, staff, board members, and community leaders, enriched by their own experiences, reviewed each application and selected the grant awardees.

“By working together, we can continue to create a supportive community that embraces a variety of viewpoints and passions,” says Angelica Hull, Director of Community Impact at the Community Foundation. “Each and every one of these causes are remarkable and these grant awards will help these organizations continue to make strides in positive change towards a more inclusive, equitable and diverse community.”

Organizations Supported: Promoting Equity in Health Care and Human Services

• Adventure for All
• Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice. Inc.
• Center for Religious Tolerance
• Educational Consultants Consortium, Inc.
• Epilepsy Services Of Southwest Florida
• Hershorin Schiff Day Schools of Tomorrow, Inc.
• Legal Aid of Manasota
• Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center
• Manatee Children's Services
• Project 180 Sarasota Inc
• Project Pride SRQ Inc.
• Sertoma Kids
• St Vincent De Paul CARES
• The State College of Florida Foundation, Inc.
• Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc.
• Women’s Resource Center, Inc

Since its inception in 2020, the Equity and Access Grant cycles have awarded more than $1 million to 47 local nonprofit organizations, each serving one or several populations: geographically underserved neighborhoods, communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and English language learners, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and single mothers, among others.

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is committed to improving the lives of all people. We believe the strength of our community is in its diversity. Together, we strive to address issues and create opportunities so all people can achieve their full potential. To learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, visit www.cfsarasota.org/about/diversity-equity-inclusion.

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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 $520 million in more than 1,570 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $27.5 million dollars last year in the areas of education, the arts, health and human services, civic engagement, animal welfare and the environment. Since its founding, the Community Foundation has been able to grant more than $350 million to area nonprofit organizations to our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families, and businesses. For more information, visit www.CFSarasota.org or call (941) 955-3000.