The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has awarded 16 nonprofit organizations with grants totaling more than $281,000 in its fourth Equity and Access competitive grant cycle. The support will strengthen local, direct service programs focused on serving populations within Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties that face systemic barriers to healthcare, education and human services.

The organizations receiving funding are Adventure for All, Catholic Charities Diocese of Venice. Inc., Center for Religious Tolerance, Educational Consultants Consortium, Inc., Epilepsy Services Of Southwest Florida, Hershorin Schiff Day Schools of Tomorrow, Inc., Legal Aid of Manasota, Manasota Lighthouse for the Blind DBA Lighthouse Vision Loss Education Center, Manatee Children's Services, Project 180 Sarasota Inc, Project Pride SRQ Inc., Sertoma Kids, St Vincent De Paul CARES, The State College of Florida Foundation, Inc., Teen Court of Sarasota, Inc. and Women’s Resource Center, Inc

Since its inception in 2020, the Equity and Access Grant cycles have awarded more than $1 million to 47 local nonprofit organizations, each serving one or several populations: geographically underserved neighborhoods, communities of color, immigrants, refugees, and English language learners, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ+ communities, and single mothers, among others.