Sarasota, FL – Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center (SPARCC) is pleased to announce that it has received a $7,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Arthur T. Esslinger Memorial Fund to support SPARCC’s upcoming strategic planning initiative, an essential step in strengthening the organization’s long-term impact.

This funding will enable SPARCC to move forward with a comprehensive, multi-year strategic planning process designed to build a stronger organizational foundation, enhance decision-making, and guide future growth. A well-crafted strategic plan will support SPARCC’s board and staff by establishing clear goals, measurable objectives, and a shared vision for the organization’s next chapter.

“Strategic planning is essential to ensuring SPARCC remains strong, adaptive, and positioned to meet the evolving needs of survivors in our community,” said Jessica Hays, SPARCC President & CEO, “We are grateful to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for recognizing the importance of this work and investing in SPARCC’s future.”

The completed strategic plan will serve as a roadmap for the organization, helping SPARCC build on past accomplishments, align its programs and resources, and further its mission of providing a safe haven, and promoting empowerment, awareness and social change to end domestic and sexual violence.

For more information about SPARCC’s free programs and services and how you can get involved, visit www.sparcc.net.

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About SPARCC 

SPARCC’s mission is to provide a safe haven and promote empowerment, awareness, and social change to end domestic and sexual violence. SPARCC is the only state-certified center for domestic violence and sexual assault services for Sarasota and Desoto Counties. All of SPARCC’s services are free and confidential. In addition to serving victims, SPARCC is actively engaged in promoting social change through community awareness and education, to help prevent such violence in the future.

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 $605 million in more than 1,600 charitable funds, the Community Foundation awarded grants and scholarships totaling $49.5 million 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 $542 million to nonprofits in our community thanks to the generosity of charitable individuals, families and businesses. For more information, visit cfsrasota.org or call 941-955-3000.