The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation recently approved a total of $5 million in grants for 13 local nonprofits, with the goal of supporting the community in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, mental health treatment, arts and cultural growth and the environment.

The grants include:

• $150,000 for the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce for the organization’s CareerEdge program.
• $225,000 for Project Light of Manatee to increase organizational and program capacity.
• $650,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast to consolidate two offices and create a 100-person capacity mentoring center.
• $1 million for the Florida Center for Early Childhood to invest in staff and infrastructure.
• $50,000 in matching grant money for Southeastern Guide Dogs for its fundraising campaign.
• $130,000 for Meals on Wheels of Sarasota to expand its workforce and grow its fundraising capability.
• $230,000 for the Florida Policy Institute to support a regional and statewide housing analyst.
• $550,000 for the Child Protection Center to support existing staff and to add capacity.
• $650,000 for CenterPlace Health to expand its obstetrics program.
• $400,000 for Samaritan Counseling Service of the Gulf Coast to support the organization’s Future Community Counselors strategy.
• $750,000 for Easterseals Southwest Florida to grow the Autism Center for Excellence.
• $150,000 for the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe for finding and funding trained production staff.
• $265,000 for Sunshine Community Compost to grow its personnel and reach.