The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation recently awarded more than $1.1 million in grants to 21 nonprofit organizations that provide local communities with much-needed services. The capital expenditure grants awarded this fall ranged from $8,000 to $150,000 in a number of areas including technology, education, transportation, environment, health and human services, and facilities. They are Boys & Girls Clubs of Manatee County ($150,000); Centerstone of Florida Inc. ($100,000); Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Inc. ($10,000); Children's Home Society of Florida ($30,336); Community Foundation of Sarasota County ($125,000); Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast ($60,000); CreArte Latino Cultural Center Corp. ($29,847); Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, Inc. ($30,000); Friends of Sarasota County Parks, Inc. ($100,000); Harvest Tabernacle of Sarasota, Inc. ($50,000); Honor Sanctuary ($20,000); Inclusion Revolution Inc. ( $35,500); Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, Inc. ($84,060); Pines of Sarasota Foundation, Inc. ($25,000); Project Light of Manatee, Inc. ($34,000); Resilient Retreat, Inc. ( $100,000); Suncoast Communities Blood Bank, Inc. ($34,507); and Venice Area Beautification, Inc. ( $50,000).

As part of this grant cycle, the Foundation launched its  Small and Mighty Grant (SAM) program, developed to respond to the needs of small-scale nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the foundation. To qualify, organizations must have less than $300,000 in annual operating expenses and the request must be for a capital expenditure. Three organizations were awarded the inaugural  SAM grants, totaling $37,450: Kiwanis of North Port, to assist with interior/exterior improvements to the Children’s Closet ($16,100); SPAACES Foundation, to assist with interior improvements and purchase of technology equipment ($13,000); and Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative, to assist with the furnishing of office space ($8,350).