The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 20 local nonprofit organizations nearly $120,000 through grant opportunities with the purpose of strengthening each organization’s capacity to fulfill its mission. Most of the grants awarded will support organizations’ marketing and development efforts, a critical component for nonprofits to increase visibility, but an area that is often underfunded. Some of the grants support staff professional development and board development, which aim to help the nonprofits shape and implement thoughtful strategic plans. Other grants support expanding an organization’s impact through investing in their staff and volunteers. “For most nonprofits, the lion’s share of the budget goes directly into the people and causes they serve,” said Kirsten Russell, Vice President of Community Impact at the Community Foundation. “Yet, operational investments are important as well—they can help expand their capacity to serve and to more widely communicate to audiences, from people who might fund the organizations to people who benefit from the services the organization is offering. Expanding reach can be difficult with small operational budgets, but it is still a critical piece of the work.” As a partner to more than 700 nonprofit organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties, a primary function of the Community Foundation is to enhance the organizations’ autonomy and long-term operations. Grants like this one provide practical help to support that goal. The Community Foundation also hosts Giving Challenges, 24-hour giving events that draw visibility and tremendous community support to the nonprofit community. The next Giving Challenge will be noon to noon April 9-10, 2024. The last Giving Challenge, in 2022, raised $16.2 million in unrestricted funds for nearly 700 participating nonprofits and has raised more than $75 million since its inception in 2012. Along with bolstering financial resources in the nonprofit sector, the Community Foundation hosts trainings and workshops designed to empower charitable organizations. Grants under $10,000 help improve a nonprofit’s ability to fulfill its mission by strengthening its capacity. Open year-round, these applications are reviewed five times annually, in August, October, December, March, and May. To learn more about available grant opportunities, visit www.cfsarasota.org/nonprofits/grants.

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