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Nonprofit News: March 2026

There’s One Final Giving Challenge Training Before the Big Day

Join us at noon tomorrow, Tuesday, March 10, for

“Final Steps to Success."

The last Giving Challenge training before the challenge takes place is tomorrow. Led by GiveGab, the session will cover last-minute tips and best practices to engage your supporters and find success through the Giving Challenge.

The GiveGab and Community Foundation of Sarasota County teams will also answer any and all last-minute questions.

If you’ve missed any past trainings, each of them was recorded and has been posted on the foundation’s YouTube channel and on our website. Those sessions are packed with useful information, and in addition to the video recordings, you can also access the PowerPoint presentations used during the webinars:

• "Kick-Off Webinar: Getting Ready"
• "Set Your Organization up for Giving Challenge Success"
• "Giving Challenge Campaign Communications Planning"

After the challenge is over, it’s important to thank your supporters, build lasting relationships with donors, and focus on stewarding them for the future. In a webinar that will begin at noon on Tuesday, April 28, GiveGab will cover stewardship best practices and strategies for building stronger and longer-lasting relationships with your supporters. 

Prize Winners, Categories, Deadlines, and More



What you need to know about Giving Challenge prizes.

We recently announced the 10 winners in our Best Video Commercial contest! To see the list of organizations that received the nod, click here.

Thank you to every nonprofit that submitted an entry! Even if your commercial did not win a prize, it remains a useful tool to communicate with your donors and spread the word about the amazing work that you are doing. 

While some prize deadlines have already passed, others fall after the Giving Challenge. Applications for the Best Giving Challenge Photo, Best Use of Social Media, and Best Overall Campaign prizes will be begin to be accepted shortly after the challenge concludes. Keep an eye on the prize section of the Giving Challenge website for all those details. 

And a reminder: In an effort to create an equal opportunity for nonprofits to compete for some Giving Challenge prizes, size categories are established based on a nonprofit's total expenses. Each prize category—small, medium, and large— includes roughly the same number of Giving Challenge nonprofits, ensuring each organization can compete fairly among its peers with similar financial resources. The 2026 Giving Challenge size categories, based on total expenses, are:

• Small: less than $85,000
• Medium: between $85,000 and $650,000 
• Large: more than $650,000

The Deadline to Register Your Pop-up Giving Station Is Wednesday 

Official Pop-up Giving Stations will be recognized on the Community Foundation and Giving Challenge websites.

Pop-up Giving Stations are a way for nonprofits of all sizes to come together in person on the day of the Giving Challenge and to invite potential donors to connect with their organizations. Official Pop-up Giving Stations will be recognized on the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and Giving Challenge websites, but to be included in our listing, a minimum of five nonprofits must be participating in your Pop-up Giving Station and you must meet certain other basic requirements.



The cutoff to register your Pop-up Giving Station is 5 p.m. this Wednesday, March 11. 

Students Age 24 and Up: Apply for a Scholarship Now!

Complete one common application to be considered for more than 40 different scholarships.

Students age 24 and older can apply for an adult scholarship from the foundation through Wednesday, April 15. To qualify, students must be a resident of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto County, and should also be pursuing or planning to pursue further education at an accredited university, community college, technical school, or certification program. 

Adult scholarships are awarded through a review process in which community volunteers evaluate applications by examining financial need, academic status, employment status, life experience, and an essay written by the applicant. While academic effort and commitment to education are valued, anyone interested in furthering their education is encouraged to apply and the foundation welcomes applications from students of all backgrounds and with different life experiences. 

Got Questions? We've Got Answers!

Our Community Impact department holds weekly Zoom sessions for nonprofits from 11 a.m. to noon every Friday. This is an excellent opportunity to ask specific questions about the 2026 Giving Challenge, as well as any other questions you may have about grants or grant applications.

There's no need to pre-register. Just click the link below to join.

Nonprofit Job Bank

Whether you're seeking a new nonprofit position or you want to post an open position at your organization, your local resource is the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southwest Florida Chapter's Job Bank, supported by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County.

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