“Asking and listening.” It’s a simple mantra, but it’s central to the work we do at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. It’s a reminder that none of us have all the answers, and that we can only succeed in our mission when we actively solicit input from the families we hope to help, the nonprofits we work with and the donors whose generosity powers all of our impact.

But what do our donors really think of us? We’re always asking that question, but it’s useful to step back on occasion and hear the unfiltered, unvarnished truth, which can come only when people can speak their minds anonymously. That’s why, earlier this year, we connected with The Center for Effective Philanthropy, a national organization that provides data and feedback for foundations and donors. We asked them to anonymously survey our donors, analyze the results and prepare a Donor Perception Report with their observations and recommendations.

I’m pleased to say that we scored well: In overall donor satisfaction, we earned a score of 6.55 out of a maximum of 7, ranking in the top 3 percent of community foundations nationwide. That’s a terrific score for several reasons, but what excites me most is that it represents an improvement from our previous Donor Perception Report, which was compiled in 2019. It’s reassuring to know that our donors recognize the steps we’ve taken to grow and improve in the intervening years, and that those steps are making a noticeable difference.

In addition to our overall rating, we achieved similarly high scores when donors were asked if they would be likely to recommend us to a friend or colleague (in the top 5 percent) and when they were asked to rate how responsive we are to them (in the top 7 percent). Perhaps the most impressive results came when donors were asked to evaluate our impact on the community and how well we understand Sarasota County and our region. In both cases, we scored at the very top of the center’s national rankings—setting a new high-water mark for not only our foundation, but for community foundations nationally.

All of that is a testament to the work we do collectively throughout the foundation, from the warm greetings people receive when they stop by our office to the support offered by our Finance department and the in-depth research and knowledge generated by our Community Impact and Strategy and Communications departments.

But the whole point of doing surveys like this isn’t to pat ourselves on the back and focus on what we’re doing well—it’s to ask and listen, and to identify areas where we can improve in partnership with our donors. Survey respondents were encouraged to share their thoughts on things we could do to better our operations, and we’re taking those answers to heart. Some asked us to be more proactive about reaching out to them more regularly, while others suggested improvements to our events to better connect them with local causes, and still others recommended that we expand our efforts in areas like the environment and sustainability.

That kind of feedback is invaluable and provides added motivation for us to grow and improve. We’re happy with the results of this year’s survey, yes, but until our community is a place where every last person can thrive, there’s always more work to be done.

Jay Young is the vice president of philanthropy at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. 

The world is changing at breakneck speed, and we find ourselves at a multigenerational crossroads with important choices to make. It’s worth starting with a quick snapshot of the rising generations.

Gen Z currently ranges in age from 13 to 28 and makes up a significant share of both the global and national populations. Close behind is Gen Alpha, which has already surpassed all other generations, accounting for 24.4% of the global population—more than 2 billion people. Gen Z is the first generation to grow up fully immersed in the digital age; they are true digital natives. Gen Alpha will be the first generation to grow up fully immersed in artificial intelligence.

This matters because these two generations are poised to become among the most influential forces shaping our future. From an educational perspective, we must be ready to prepare them.

During a recent webinar on emerging educational models, a successful administrator made this comment about instructional curriculum: “I know what I had, and that’s my basis for what it should be today.”

I believe that approach is misguided. What and how we learned 25, 10 or even five years ago isn’t necessarily aligned with what today’s students need. We can’t assume yesterday’s methods still work. As another webinar participant put it, this is a choice between the status quo and forward movement.
But how do we know where education should go? There’s no crystal ball to predict future instructional needs, and the noise surrounding education policy often overshadows the central question: What’s best for kids? They are, after all, the workforce of tomorrow. Fortunately, there are clear trends we can and should pay attention to.

AI will certainly be a factor, and determining how it can best serve students’ needs is crucial now. Evolving values will also shape these generations. Well-being, cultural values and choice—not just for parents and schools but for students themselves—matter more to youth today. Research suggests Gen Z already takes charge of its own learning. When they want to know how to do something, they often turn to Google, YouTube or ChatGPT. As for Gen Alpha, its worldview is still forming, but early signs show a deep concern for fairness, inclusivity and collaboration. These emerging values offer insight into how they want and need to learn—insight we cannot afford to overlook.

We already know that many of tomorrow’s jobs will look very different from today’s, and many of today’s jobs may disappear. That isn’t new: education and the workforce had to adapt during the manufacturing age, the information age, the technical age—and now this new AI-driven era. What is new is the speed and scale of the change. We owe it to our students, our communities and future generations to get ready.

Jennifer Vigne is the President and CEO of the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. 

Pictured: Students work on laptops in the classroom at Taylor Ranch Elementary School. Provided photo.