Guide to Giving

Giving Is Good for Your Heart (Really!)

The act of giving back can help buffer the effects of one of the body’s most lethal enemies: stress.

09/01/2024 By Kim Doleatto

Grant Report

Dogs Inc. Receives $150,000 Donation From Bezos Courage & Civility Award Recipient

Plus, PetSmart Charities donated nearly 42,000 pounds of pet food to All Faiths Food Bank and more.

08/26/2024 By Staff Photo

Philanthropy

19 Local Organizations Will Celebrate Give 8/28

The public is invited to a free mixer at Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe to meet leaders from participating organizations.

08/23/2024 By Staff

Q & A

Roxie Jerde, Who's Led the Community Foundation of Sarasota County Since 2011, Is Stepping Down Next Year

We spoke with her about her years with the foundation, what she's most proud of and what's next.

06/25/2024 By Kim Doleatto

The MacKenzie Scott Effect

How Billionaire Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott Transformed Six Sarasota Nonprofits

In more than one case, the Scott grant was the largest individual gift in the nonprofit’s history.

08/29/2023 By Elizabeth Djinis

Q & A

A New Nonprofit Wants to Rehabilitate Hundreds of Acres of Local Oyster Habitat

“Anything I can do in my power to improve the fisheries and water quality, I’m pushing hard to do it,” says Oyster River Ecology founder and executive director Damon Moore. “We’re not aiming small."

08/14/2023 By Matthew Gutierrez

Grant Report

Barancik Foundation Announces $5 Million in Grants for 13 Nonprofits

The money will go toward efforts to improve education, mental health treatment, the arts, the environment and more.

08/07/2023 By Staff

MVP

Dick Vitale Gala Raises $12.4 Million for Pediatric Cancer Research

The star-studded event took place last Friday in Sarasota.

05/08/2023 By Cooper Levey-Baker

Grant Report

Barancik Foundation Grants $250,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties

Plus, grants to Meals on Wheels, Selby Gardens and more.

04/17/2023 By Staff

United in Song

Celebrate Latin Culture With More Than 80 Musicians at UnidosNow's 'Noche Unidos'

On April 28, a unique blend of Latin and classical music will brighten the Van Wezel stage.

03/29/2023 By Staff

Limelight

Photos: Sarasota Memorial Hospital Foundation's 'Women and Medicine' Luncheon

Funds raised will go toward patient care at SMH's Cornell Family Behavioral Health Pavilion.

03/27/2023 Photography by Lori Sax

Limelight

Photos: Sarasota Orchestra Gala

World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma was the special guest performer at the sold-out event.

03/07/2023 Photography by Lori Sax

Limelight

Photos: Asolo Rep's 'Broadway Begins Here!' Gala

This year's gala honored retiring Asolo Rep leaders Michael Donald Edwards and Linda DiGabriele.

03/07/2023

Sing, Sing a Song

Hermitage Artist Retreat CEO Andy Sandberg Makes a Brief Return to the Stage

He'll appear in a benefit concert March 20 at the Van Wezel, along with some of his Broadway friends.

03/05/2023 By Kay Kipling

Grant Report

Patterson Foundation Donates $500,000 to Earthquake Relief Efforts in Turkey and Syria

Plus, Cooking for Wishes raises $650,000 and the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation awards $226,614 in Hurricane Ian relief.

02/27/2023 By Staff

Grant Report

National Science Foundation Awards USF $4 Million Grant for Cybersecurity Program

Plus, the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition received an anonymous $100,000 donation, the Hospital Gala raised $1.5 million for cancer care services and more.

01/23/2023 By Staff

Listening to Black Voices

Tomeika Hunter-Koski on Serving in the Army, Education and Her Charitable Work in Africa

“For decades, Black people have been told to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps when too many of us don’t have boots—and the powers that be continue to systemically keep the boots out of reach."

01/11/2023 By Heather Dunhill

Philanthropy

Season of Sharing Kicks Off 23rd Year

The Season of Sharing fund offers residents one-time financial assistance for basic living expenses.

11/14/2022 By Staff

Strength in Numbers

Giving Circles Bring Together Like-Minded Philanthropists to Help Those in Need

The last 10 years have seen the creation of a number of giving circles—organizations that require an annual minimum donation and work together on a membership basis.

09/16/2022 By Elizabeth Djinis

A New Hope

These Transitional Living Homes Help Women Struggling With Addiction Get Clean

SARA was founded in 2017 and has five homes where women go to recover from drugs and alcohol abuse.

08/12/2022 By Allison Forsyth