Of the current quality of life issues in Sarasota County, most respondents reported that good-paying jobs was the most important issue they would like to see the county working on. According to the chart, the respondents most in favor of prioritizing the availability of good-paying jobs are working age (18-64), are not retired (85-90 percent), have less than a college degree, live in households earning less than $100,000 annually, have a child at home and are residents of the cities of Sarasota and North Port (both 80 percent). Information provided by the 2016 Sarasota County Citizen Opinion Survey. 

Small donations from less wealthy donors have become a more important part of modern philanthropy, according to speakers at SRQ Media’s most recent SB2, Good Coast: A Good Place to Work, Live, Play and Give. “Middle and lower income Americans increased the share of income they donated to charity even as they earned less on average than they earned six years earlier.,” said Stacy Carlson, president and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network. She noted that between 2006 and 2012, giving from those making more than $200,000 went down while for those making $100,000 or less, it went up. 

And foundations and nonprofit leaders continue to seek new ways to engage more donors, something that should only help the causes benefiting. “Too many times in this community,” said Teri Hansen, president and CEO of the Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation, “[an organization] will get an angel donor in and just rely on that one donor. Then the angel donor goes up north in the summer, gets sick and doesn’t come back.” Nonprofits need a diversity of income sources to stay solvent.

Brian Mariash, senior vice president and wealth management advisor at Mariash Loather Wealth Management, said donors are increasing in number and in sophistication. Particularly in Southwest Florida, more give with a desire to see specific impact. "They are more likely to donate to something where they can quantify and see that impact. From their business lives they were trained to look at things that way," he said. And while giving in the past often just involved writing a check, many donors today want more communication with nonprofits.

Veronica Brady, Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s senior vice president for philanthropy, said there needs to be a solid relationship between donors and organizations on the receiving end of contributions. "People need to understand why they are there,” she said, “and have that moment of true clarity about what the mission for that organization is.” 

And that means credibility means more than ever. Bob Rosinsky, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota, said organizations need to show long-term results. “How do you set up a sustainable business that can also execute your mission effectively? It’s difficult,” Rosinsky posed as questions for nonprofits. Those that can will continue to maintain donor loyalty.

The next SB2, Good Education: Learning for a Lifetime, will be held January 29. 

Photo by Wyatt Kostygan: Brian Mariash, Teri Hansen, Stacy Carlson, Bob Rosinsky and Veronica Brady speak at SB2.

Williams Parker has announced that four of its attorneys have earned board recertification in their respective areas of practice. Peter T. Currin and William M. Seider obtained recertification in real estate and John M. Hament and Kimberly Page Walker were recertified in labor and employment law. Certification is the highest level of evaluation by The Florida Bar of competency and experience within an area of law, professionalism and ethics in practice. Overall, 20 Williams Parker attorneys have been certified in several areas of practice.  

Williams Parker Attorneys

Students from State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCFMS) attended the Gulf Coast CEO forum last month to join the discussion about the hiring gap along Florida’s Gulf Coast as part of a new partnership between the career center directors from the Consortium of Colleges on the Creative Coast and the Gulf Coast CEO Forum. Nearly two dozen SCF students from Bradenton and Venice attended the Mind the Gap event designed to promote open discussions about employment issues facing college graduates and local businesses. A panel discussion helped identify employment challenges in Manatee and Sarasota counties. Panelists included Brad Bosman and Ozlem Deniz Polat with PPI Technologies Group, Amanda Cole and Sara Ellis with atLarge, Inc. and Brent Dykstra and Jennifer Rust, vice presidents with Synovus Bank. 

State College Of Florida

The Goodwill Manasota Veteran Services Program has exceeded its goal of helping 1,000 veterans just prior to the three-year anniversary of its inception, with more than 1,500 veterans and their families assisted. Through the Veterans Services Program, Goodwill Manasota is working to help returning servicemen and women reintegrate back into their families, communities and jobs. In its three years of operation, the program has connected veterans with necessary social services, provided emotional and physical support, offered free employment services and distributed funds for emergency needs through its SERV (Special Emergency Resources for Veterans) program. 

Goodwill Manasota