Recent Capacity Building grants are intended to help nonprofits set themselves up for long-term success.

Sarasota, Florida — The Community Foundation of Sarasota County recently awarded a total of $163,300 in Capacity Building grants to 21 nonprofits. The aim of this round of funding is to help organizations improve fundraising strategies, streamline operations, manage data and invest in technological infrastructure. The Community Foundation’s long-term goal is to support nonprofits as they build greater self-sufficiency so that they can continue to serve their clients, and the community, year after year. The organizations supported work in a wide variety of fields, from providing day shelter services for the homeless to environmental conservation and restoration.

“Capacity Building grants strengthen nonprofits’ long-term viability by helping them invest in the infrastructure that drives sustained success—from advanced fundraising tools and expert strategic planning support to modernized data management systems and beyond,” says Kirsten Russell, the Community Foundation’s vice president of community impact. “While the results may not be immediately visible, these targeted investments create lasting capacity, positioning organizations to operate more effectively and amplify their impact for years to come.”

One component of the recent grants is to help nonprofits maximize their participation in this year’s Giving Challenge, which takes place from noon to noon, April 15-16. The Giving Challenge is a 24-hour online giving event for nonprofits that are located in or work in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. One of the key goals of the challenge is to connect nonprofits with new donors and encourage them to develop their own effective marketing and fundraising strategies. Nearly 750 nonprofits, a record number, are registered to participate in this year’s challenge.

Nonprofits that received grants to help them purchase systems and software that are designed to improve their fundraising and operations include:

• Anna Maria Island Historical Society, which studies, preserves and displays materials related to the history of Anna Maria Island
• Bradenton Gladiators, which improves the lives of at-risk youth through sports programs and leadership development
• Chamber Orchestra of Sarasota, which performs music ranging from baroque to contemporary in intimate venues for diverse audiences
• Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation, which provides non-medical financial assistance to adult cancer patients
• Peace River Wildlife Center, which houses and rehabilitates injured and orphaned native Florida wildlife
• Selah Freedom, which helps survivors of sex trafficking and exploitation through housing, therapy and more
• Take Stock in Children of Manatee County, which helps at-risk youth break cycles of poverty through post-secondary education
• The WareHouse of Venice, which helps middle and high school students become civic change makers and grow as volunteers and leaders

Organizations that received grants to help them engage professionals to improve their operations include:

• Academy at Glengary, which provides pathways to success, friendship and careers to adults with serious mental illnesses
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County, which helps children achieve academic success, live healthy lifestyles and develop character
• Crossroads Hope Academy, which provides a safe, stable home for boys ages 12-17 who have had multiple failed foster care placements
• Fabulous Arts Foundation, which amplifies LGBTQ+ voices through music, visual art, performance and other programming
• J5 Experience, which advocates for and educates mothers and daughters as they pursue their dreams together
• Lifeline Productions, which tells personal stories of mental illness through theater, film and live workshops
• Mothers Helping Mothers, which provides basic necessities like clothing and baby items for families in need
• Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, which educates visitors on local flora, preserves natural land for wildlife and displays sculptures and other fine art
• Resurrection House, which provides services to people experiencing homelessness as they work to rebuild their lives
• Roskamp Institute, which works to discover safe and effective drug therapies to treat diseases of the mind and promote healthy aging
• Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, which uses policy advocacy, technical expertise and public engagement to protect historic buildings and neighborhoods
• Sarasota Music Conservatory, which engages music students through educational, artistic and cultural programs
• Science and Environment Council, which brings together leading environmental nonprofits and government organizations to protect and restore the natural environment

The Community Foundation holds several grant application cycles for nonprofits throughout the year. A new Capacity Building grant cycle begins Monday, Feb. 16. Visit cfsarasota.org to learn more.

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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 $44.7 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.