03 Jun 2019 Southwest Florida Community Foundation announces call for Community Impact Grants to strengthen nonprofit agencies in our community
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation will open its annual call for Community Impact Grant applicants on June 3, 2019. The Community Impact Grant is a program of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. The funding for this program comes from Field of Interest funds. Donors and philanthropists establish Field of Interest funds to address their desires and intentions for Southwest Florida, including Hendry, Glades, Charlotte, Collier, and Lee counties. This grant program reflects the intent of donors who have entrusted their money to the Foundation.
The call for applicants will be open until from June 3, 2019 – July 31, 2019. To review the details of the grants, please visit floridacommunity.com/portfolio/community-impact-grant/
In 2018, $596,923 was awarded to 21 local nonprofits in this annual grant process- both established and new programs – that are designed to increase the quality of life in sustainable and equitable ways for Southwest Floridians. Grants are made from the Foundation’s Field of Interest funds, as well as individual and corporate funds resulting from the Foundation’s grants process which includes the Compassionate Shark Tank audience.
Some examples of the regional funding last year include:
- Swim lessons and aquatics safety training for 250 students at the TICE community pool
- Workplace mentoring initiative; matching 65 students with local businesses to facilitate the exploration of career opportunities
- Increasing community awareness and engagement in response to Harmful Algae Blooms; funding for field personnel, data collection, video production, and participation in regional conference
- Purchase of a customized mobile van, for the safe transit of animals
- Purchase of specialized medical equipment for clinic, staff training and transit for 200 patients
- Expanding a national food distribution program for low income families
- STEM Summer Camp; a total of ten days serving 20 girls from 10th, 11th and 12th grade. Field research and lab work studies
- Training three visually impaired youth for a career in the arts
- 6-month health and fitness program for 60 Post-9/11 SW Florida Veterans
- Purchase of technology for 25 special needs students
- Medication assisted therapy for clinically supervised substance abuse recovery services
About the Southwest Florida Community Foundation
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, founded in 1976, cultivates regional change for the common good through collective leadership, social innovation and philanthropy to address the evolving community needs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Foundation partners with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 400 philanthropic funds. Thanks to them, the Foundation invested $6.8 million in grants and programs to the community. With assets of more than $126 million, it has provided $78.2 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves since inception. The Foundation is the backbone organization for the regional FutureMakers Coalition and Lee County’s Sustainability Plan. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s regional headquarters are now located in the historic ACL Train Depot at Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers, with a satellite office located in LaBelle (Hendry County). For more information, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com
