Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, in collaboration with commercial and academic partners, was awarded $3.2 million in grants from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund three projects focused on preventing blue-green algal blooms and testing water quality technologies that reduce nutrient pollution levels.

Mote also recently announced that it received more than $400,000 from this year’s Protect Our Reefs (POR) License Plate Grant Program.

The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast will receive a transformative gift in honor of the late Nora Patterson. Patterson, who passed away on February 8 at the age of 79, was an enthusiastic supporter of land conservation and a dedicated public servant. To honor her legacy, Patterson's husband, John Patterson, is including Conservation Foundation in his estate plan to receive a percentage of the Patterson estate. Funds will be designated to Conservation Foundation’s Land Fund in memory of Patterson's impact and legacy.

Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities, recently donated the $150,000 honorarium he received from his 2024 Hearthstone Builder Humanitarian Award to the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. Additionally,  Neal and Neal Communities raised an additional $200,000 to add to the $150,000 honorarium to donate a total of $350,000 to the foundation.

The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation recently approved $938,246 in grants to 16 charitable organizations in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. YMCA of Southwest Florida and Safe Children Coalition will receive the two largest grants for projects that support youth ($200,000, respectively); other recipients include Legal Aid of Manasota, Resilient Retreat, Florida State Parks Foundation and more.

The Manatee Literacy Council recently received three grants: $148,476 from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; $11,928 from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation; and $10,000 from Dollar General. The funding will support adult literacy programs and adult English-language learning programs.

Publix Super Markets Charities recently donated $100,000 to Habitat for Humanity Sarasota to support its mission to build a Habitat Sarasota home.

Making An Impact, Inc. recently received a donation totaling $28,250 from the Greater Sarasota chapter of 100 Women Who Care.

Sarasota Music Conservatory recently received a $7,211 capacity-building grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. The funds will be used to enhance the conservatory's operational efficiency.

Resilient Retreat recently received a $4,500 grant from the Church of the Redeemer/Episcopal Thrift House.

Oyster River Ecology was recently awarded grants totaling $20,000 from the William G. & Marie Selby Foundation and the Bishop Parker Foundation Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation to purchase a work boat for implementing large-scale oyster restoration projects.

Neal Communities has donated $14,550 to support youth sports and programs in Manatee, Sarasota and Lee counties. The donations included $1,500 to the boys basketball team at Bayshore High School in Bradenton; $1,000 to the Venice High School football team; $1,000 to the North Port High School cheer team for new uniforms; $350 to the Southern Starz Gymnastics Booster Club in Cape Coral to pay for a photo booth at the end-of-year banquet; $3,000 to the Sarasota Shock travel baseball team; $5,000 to the North Port Junior Bobcats Pop Warner football team for equipment shed repairs; $1,200 to the Braden River Black Pearls Dance Team; and $1,500 for a North Port High School graduation night lock-in party.

CBIZ Insurance Services Sarasota has officially awarded $10,000 to The Payton Wright Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide financial assistance to families who have children being treated for cancer of the brain and spinal cord.

Big Cat Habitat has been awarded a $4,620 grant from the Manatee Community Foundation in support of its Wild About Learning education program. 

The 26th annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival, held this past February at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, generated a net revenue of $204,000 for Suncoast Charities for Children.