Every winter, scholarship season arrives with quiet urgency and extraordinary promise. For students across Sarasota County, these months are not just about applications and deadlines; they are about possibility. About whether dreams feel reachable. About whether the next chapter opens with confidence or uncertainty.

This year, that promise matters more than ever. Sarasota County School District recently celebrated an all-time high graduation rate of 94.3%. That milestone did not happen by chance. Superintendent Connor’s leadership, his extraordinary staff, and the endless dedication of Sarasota teachers and families significantly contribute to a student's belief that their hard work matters. They live in a community willing to show up and invest in what comes next. Scholarships are a powerful part of that equation, turning graduation from an ending into a beginning.

At the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, our scholarships reflect the many pathways students take toward success, and numerous community partners representing a variety of areas are equally committed to our students’ success and are represented in the scholarship database we offer through our website.

This year marks an exciting expansion of opportunity through our Future-Ready Scholar program, designed for students who need both financial support and guidance as they plan their futures. Fifty Future-Ready Scholars will receive $1,000 awards, alongside renewable scholarships, Florida Prepaid plans, and a Future-Ready Scholar of the Year, supported with up to $20,000 over four years.

One of those scholars is Pierce.

Pierce knew he wanted to serve others, and he loved to run. As a Sarasota Military Academy senior, he believed college was out of reach. He explored becoming a firefighter, only to realize it wasn’t the right fit. Discouraged but determined, Pierce talked with his Student Success Coach, who didn’t close doors but opened them. Together, they explored options, applied for scholarships, and imagined new possibilities. Today, Pierce is attending New College of Florida with his education fully funded and running competitively on the cross-country team.

“I was NOT planning on college,” Pierce shared. “For it to blossom the way it did and for me to be flourishing now—that’s what happens when you take steps and make connections through the Education Foundation.”

His story echoes through the voices of scholarship recipients across our community:

“This scholarship is not just financial support; it is a stepping stone toward a brighter future.”

“Your gift will go far in helping me achieve my dream of becoming a master mechanic.”

“I am so excited to continue my education without worrying about how I’m going to do this.”

These are not just individual success stories. They are workforce stories. Community stories. Proof that when we invest in students, we invest in Sarasota County’s future educators, healthcare workers, entrepreneurs, artists, and skilled trades professionals.

For nearly a decade, our Scholarships Manager, Heather Ferrigno, has witnessed the impact of scholarships first-hand. “Scholarships open doors for students who might not otherwise imagine college within reach. More than financial support, they provide confidence and encouragement by showing students that someone believes in their ability to go further.”

Scholarship season is a reminder that belief is a powerful currency. And it grows when shared.

We invite our community, businesses, families, and neighbors to stand with our students. Support educational scholarships. Be part of the story that turns graduation into opportunity, and potential into purpose. Together, we can ensure that every student has the chance to go further while bringing our whole community with them.

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

Pictured: L-R: SMA student class of 25 Elias Erquiaga and Education Foundation Student Success Coach Diana Berris. Elias was a STRIVE awardee in 2025, a program that recognizes 40 seniors at eight county high schools each year.

Many donors are managing complex financial situations while trying to make a meaningful difference in their communities. Charitable tools have evolved to offer more flexibility, tax efficiency, and long term impact. In my experience, the most effective giving plans have one thing in common: timing. When donors align what they give depending on where they are in life, better positions them to support the causes they care about and make sound financial decisions at the same time.

Below are ten strategies donors can use right now to do exactly that.

Give appreciated assets instead of cash. 

Donating stocks, funds, or cryptocurrency can help avoid capital gains tax while increasing charitable impact, particularly in high-income years. 

Use retirement assets for giving. 

Qualified Charitable Distributions and beneficiary designations remain among the most  tax-efficient ways to support philanthropy during life or through an estate. 

Convert illiquid assets into impact. 

Real estate or closely held business interests can be gifted prior to sale, simplifying  complex assets while creating lasting community benefit. 

Combine income and legacy with charitable remainder trusts. 

These trusts provide income today while supporting charitable goals in the future, which is  ideal when both are a donor’s priorities. 

Give now and transfer wealth later through charitable lead trusts. Lead trusts support meaningful causes today while planning for heirs tomorrow, often during high-income or estate planning periods. 

Create predictable income with charitable gift annuities. 

These arrangements offer guaranteed lifetime payments and future charitable impact,  making them a practical retirement planning tool.

Donate real estate while retaining use. 

Retained life estates allow donors to receive a charitable deduction now while continuing to use their property during their lifetime. 

Leverage life insurance for meaningful impact. 

Policies no longer needed for family protection can create a charitable legacy. 

Donate collectibles to align passion with purpose. 

Art, antiques, and other collectibles can be gifted to simplify estate plans while avoiding capital gains tax. 

Align lifetime giving with legacy planning. 

Blending current philanthropy with future commitments helps ensure charitable goals endure across generations. 

For donors, professional advisors, and nonprofit leaders, these strategies are not about mastering complicated tools. They are about having better conversations and making informed decisions with confidence. At Gulf Coast, we bring these groups together with purpose. When these individuals understand one another, charitable planning works better and the results are stronger.  

Many of the strategies outlined here rely on a simple principle: separating the timing of a gift from the timing of its impact. That flexibility is often what makes long-term giving possible. 

Those concepts are the focus of The Fundamentals of Planned Giving, a workshop I will lead on Wednesday, February 11, at Gulf Coast’s Venice headquarters. The session covers core planned giving concepts, common gift types, and practical ways to begin meaningful legacy conversations, regardless of an organization’s size. To learn more and to attend,  visit GulfCoastCF.org/workshops. 

The Gulf Coast region has always been generous. Thoughtful planning helps ensure that generosity remains effective as needs change. When the right assets are used at the right time, philanthropy becomes a lasting investment in our region’s future.