Two of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s giving circles have recently made their first grants to area organizations. A giving circle is a group of individuals who combine their resources into a pooled fund and decide together what charities or community projects to invest in, multiplying the impact of their individual support. Giving circles also include social, educational and engagement aspects to increase members' understanding of philanthropy and community issues, and provide a platform for making friends and contacts outside their usual circles.
Currently, there are five giving circles, with more than 60 members, housed at the Community Foundation. The Community Foundation provides "back office" support services for the giving circles, including handling the set-up, charitable tax receipting, and management and disbursements of funds.
In November, members of the Athena Progressive Giving Circle presented a check for $10,000 to Jewish Family & Children's Service to support its Operation Military Assistance Program (OMAP) for female veterans and their families. This grant also triggered $1,000 in matching funds from The Patterson Foundation as part of its Unified Legacy of Valor Opportunity.
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OMAP offers not only financial assistance but also school readiness for children and household improvement needs, using a two-generational approach to lift the entire family. The Athena members who met with OMAP program staff reported that they were impressed with the solid record of OMAP and were enthusiastic about providing the program with resources needed to enhance current offerings.
In early December, the Women Giving Together Giving Circle made a grant to Second Chance, Last Opportunity (SCLO), a community-based 501(c)(3) grassroots organization that has been offering life management skills classes to at-risk teens and their low income and/or homeless families since 1995. The grant of $2,350 was enhanced by an additional $1,000 in matching funds from the Community Foundation, provided as part of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Giving Matters Giving Circle Initiative launched this past spring.
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The total grant of $3,350 will support the Sisters Circle program of SCLO, a seven-week program where women meet, share their experiences and develop a support network. The weekly sessions include counseling, enrichment activities, goal setting, communication skills, problem-solving and more. The goal is for participants to gain skills and a new, positive outlook on life to help positively impact the women’s attitude, behavior within the family, and work prospects.
For more information about giving circles, please call Dannie Sherrill at the Community Foundation: (941) 556-7176.
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(From left) Operation Military Assistance Program staff members Lisa Christy, Michelle Hammond and Tywanda Williams with Athena Progressive Giving Circle members Charlotte Perret, Dorothy O'Brien and Wendy Surkis
CFSC President and CEO Roxie Jerde (third from right) and Director of Development and Donor Relations Dannie Sherrill (far right) with SCLO CEO April Glasco (fifth from right) and Women Giving Together giving circle members Jaclyn Ohman, Jane Hunder, Joan Paru, Doris Berkey, Sue Seiter, Sheila Baynes, Linda DeMello and Joan Corcoran
