Safe Children Coalition has met a challenge match by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation for its new youth center. The Barancik Foundation awarded the campaign its first $1 million leadership gift, which included a $500,000 match. SCC has leveraged the challenge portion of the gift to raise an additional $500,000, resulting in $1.5 million that will help build the new facility in north Sarasota for homeless or unaccompanied teens.

Bank of America recently awarded $300,000 to Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in support of its upcoming Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park. The funding will help Mote create its research center that drives cutting-edge marine discoveries and educates visitors on environmental sustainability.

Southface Institute recently named Sarasota Opera Association, Inc. as a GoodUse Sarasota recipient, providing $75,000 in funding and technical assistance to make cost-saving efficiency improvements. The resources will support Sarasota Opera’s Pavilion Project, a campaign to raise funds for replacement of the failing HVAC system in its pavilion building and make building upgrades that will increase the opera’s environmental and financial sustainability.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation (GCCF) has approved funding for two of Project 180's programs—its First Week Out and Residential Program—through GCCF's Criminal Justice Reform Initiative, which focuses on reducing recidivism. Both of the Project 180 programs reduce re-arrests by helping clients rebuild their lives after incarceration and preclude the poverty, homelessness and unemployment associated with reentry into the community after incarceration.

The Florida Department of State Division of Arts & Culture recently awarded Art Center Sarasota a $43,297 grant to support the organization’s 2023-2024 season. 

Thanks to funding from the John J. Clopine Fund and George J and Alice Pugh Donor Advised Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, WSLR 96.5 received an $8,250 grant for redevelopment of wslr.org, the nonprofit media organization’s website.

Local mental health-focused nonprofit Sunshine From Darkness  recently presented checks of support to the beneficiaries of its 2023 Inspiring Hope Dinner. Harvest House, Teen Court of Sarasota and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation each received $26,000 to support their work. Sunshine From Darkness will use the balance of the $200,000 indinner proceeds for its own advocacy, education and program initiatives.

The Young Professionals Network (YPN) and the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM) hosted a celebrity bartending fundraiser in June, raising $29,280 for two local charities. Fifty percent of the funds raised were donated to Everyday Blessings Springboard Program and the other fifty percent will support the RASM Realtors Charitable Foundation.

Manatee Community Foundation recently awarded Forty Carrots Family Center a grant of $10,000 to pilot its "Welcome to Our World" parenting education group in Manatee County at Little Discovery Center. The grant, which supports caregivers with infants, is made possible through the Bishop-Parker Foundations Fund of the Manatee Community Foundation.

Goodwill Manasota recently received a grant of $5,000 from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of TD Bank, in support of Goodwill’s Pursuit of Education program. The funds will enable Goodwill team members who are Sarasota County residents and mid-career (ages 30-54) to earn market-relevant, post-secondary credentials in technology, which will lead to higher earnings. Goodwill also recently received a $10,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation for its GoodPartner Coach program. The funds will help to offset the cost of one of Goodwill Manasota's GoodPartner Coaches. 

Bank of America recently granted $5,000 to Easterseals Southwest Florida to help adults with disabilities who are enrolled in Easterseals Employment Program by providing reliable transportation services that provide them opportunities to enter the workforce.  

The Child Protection Center (CPC) was selected by the Matthews Children’s Foundation to receive a grant in support of CPC’s Personal Safety and Community Awareness (PSCA) program. The funds—the amount of which were not disclosed—will provide new equipment to be used in presentations on child abuse prevention and personal safety.