Community Foundation of Sarasota County

10/20/2026

The Community Foundation recently awarded a $400,000 grant to help transform a stretch of land at The Bay Sarasota into a living shoreline designed to mitigate the impact of future storms and provide lasting environmental benefits to the area.

The improvements are expected to reduce the City of Sarasota’s vulnerability to storm surge and coastal flooding, help protect adjacent infrastructure, improve water quality in Sarasota Bay, and restore nearby coastal habitat.

Elements of the project include:

✅Raising elevations from 5 feet above sea level to as high as 9.5 feet in some areas
✅Replacing hardened shoreline elements with natural systems that dissipate wave energy and reduce erosion
✅Installing rain gardens (depressed areas in a landscape that collect rainwater and allow it to soak into the ground) and other green infrastructure to capture, filter, and treat stormwater before it enters Sarasota Bay
✅Planting Florida-friendly, salt-tolerant trees and greenery that stabilize the shoreline
✅Strengthening the shoreline with larger-sized riprap (layers of stones that protect soil from erosion)
✅Installing accessible waterfront walkways, seating, and shaded areas
✅Providing accessible public education programs so that community members can learn why resilient shorelines are important and how they can implement similar strategies
✅Sharing key lessons and takeaways from the project with the public so that other communities can emulate its success

Read all about this exciting initiative at the link in the comments.

10/15/2026

It may only be mid-October, but year-end giving deadlines are right around the corner.

As Sarasota Scene Magazine reporter Sasi Goldstein writes in the magazine's current issue, "The hustle and bustle at the end of the calendar year can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to philanthropy. Phone calls, emails, and mailers stack up, and with so many appeals for donations, it’s easy to feel lost in a sea of requests. In fact, according to the marketing agency Nonprofits Source, 30 percent of all charitable giving typically happens in December, with 10 percent occurring during the final three days of the year alone."

Learn all about how the Community Foundation can help donors avoid all that hassle by picking up a copy or by visiting the link in the comments.

10/13/2026

Earlier this year, the U.S. Census Bureau released a tally of the most common last names in the year 2020 and compared the results to the most common names all the way back in 1790.

As the bureau notes, "despite a more than 84-fold increase in the population" between 1790 and 2020, the last names Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones, Miller, Davis, and Wilson appear on both lists.

"Popular first names may come and go," the researchers note, "but it’s clear the most common last names have staying power."

Find more name data at the link in the comments.

10/10/2026

This week, the Florida Nonprofit Alliance unveiled the results of its 2026 Compensation & Benefits Survey, a comprehensive look at how Florida’s nonprofit organizations "attract, reward, and retain their workforce."

According to the alliance, this year’s findings show that the nonprofit sector is "navigating economic pressures, evolving employee expectations, and a continued focus on equity and sustainability."

In addition to a written report, the alliance has also created an online dashboard that allows employers and jobseekers to find salary benchmarks, compare compensation across various factors, and more.

Dive into the report and explore the dashboard at the link below.

Florida Nonprofit Alliance, in partnership with 14 organizations across the state, is pleased to present the 2026 Florida Nonprofit Compensation & Benefits Survey Report, the first comprehensive, statewide study of compensation and benefits practices in Florida’s nonprofit sector, 

10/08/2026

Meet Stephanie Miller! As the foundation's manager of grants and scholarships, Stephanie works behind the scenes to make sure that all of our grant and scholarship programs run smoothly and supports nonprofits and students across our region.

Nonprofits with questions about our grant programs can connect with Stephanie and the rest of the Community Impact team during our weekly Zoom office hours, which take place from 11 a.m. to noon every Friday. There's no need to pre-register. Just follow the link in the comments.

10/06/2026

"I grew up on a farm, a place where the land held history, shaped our daily lives, and connected one generation to the next," writes Jessica Muroff, our president and CEO, in her latest column. "That early relationship with the outdoors has stayed with me. As someone who loves endurance sports, I spend hours upon hours training on trails and in parks—places that restore me, challenge me, and remind me how much our well-being is connected to that of the natural world.

"As our area’s population continues to grow, that connection can sometimes feel precarious. In fact, much of the open space we treasure today may no longer exist if we delay decisions about land conservation.

"Thankfully, voters in Sarasota and Manatee counties have an opportunity to act. In Sarasota County, voters are being asked to continue to support a pair of ballot measures that will maintain the county’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program and Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program, while in Manatee County, a referendum on the ballot would extend the county’s Environmental Lands Program."

Continue reading at the link in the comments.

10/06/2026

🎼🎻🎺🎶🎵 This Friday, Oct. 9, Sarasota Orchestra is offering a free family concert that blends narration with live music, giving children a playful introduction to symphonic music, musical instruments, and the art of conducting.

We are proud to support the concert, which promises to be thrilling and inspiring for listeners of all ages!

The concert starts at 7 p.m. at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The performance is completely free, and no ticket is required.

10/02/2026

🌱 Building the foundation for what’s next.

We’re grateful to the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for a $14,000 Capacity Building grant supporting ELC Sarasota’s strategic planning work.

This support comes at an exciting time as we prepare for our upcoming Board strategy session, a community needs assessment, and economic case for support work that will help us better understand our community, sharpen our priorities, and build a clear framework for where we’re headed.

Our goal is bigger than creating a plan. It’s about strengthening how we make decisions, tell our story, build sustainable support, and ultimately expand our impact for Sarasota County’s children and families. The strategic planning initiative is designed to establish clear priorities across areas including operations, fundraising, board development, and data-driven decision-making.

Thank you, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, for investing in the future of early learning in our community. 💚

10/01/2026

Shumaker Partner Jade Davis led an informative, comprehensive training on practical A.I. usage for nonprofit leaders at the Community Foundation yesterday morning. Davis discussed how nonprofit organizations can use A.I. to increase their efficiency and improve their operations, as well as areas where A.I. should not be implemented. She also offered tips on how to create an effective A.I. usage policy and provided actionable ideas for how attendees could explore the topic further.

We are grateful to Davis for sharing her time and expertise, and to all the nonprofit leaders who took the time to learn and share!

09/29/2026

☕☕☕ Today is National Coffee Day, and so we needed to know: How does the team at the Community Foundation of Sarasota County prefer their morning cup? Black? Loaded with cream and sugar? Or somewhere in between?

See the results of our highly scientific survey below. What's your favorite?