Join Nonprofit Network, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s New Online Discussion Group

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has recently overhauled The Giving Partner Huddle, our Facebook discussion group for nonprofit professionals in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. 

Now known as Nonprofit Network, the group provides an informal space for nonprofit employees, volunteers, and supporters to ask questions, share knowledge, and build community, all with the goal of strengthening your organization so that you can better deliver on your mission. 

If you were previously a member of The Giving Partner Huddle, you don’t need to do anything to join. If you would like to join, click here to request access.

Here are suggested topics and themes for discussion in the group: 

• Grant Opportunities: Share news if your organization is accepting grant applications from nonprofits in the four-county area, or if you discover opportunities that you think other nonprofits would want to know about. 

• Webinars and Trainings: Discuss upcoming trainings that might be useful or relevant to the group or past trainings that have been useful or relevant to your work. 

• Consultants: Ask your fellow group members for suggestions for consultants that work with local nonprofits, or share the names of consultants you’ve worked with who have provided a positive experience. 

• Free or Discounted Resources: Everyone loves a deal. If you find an inexpensive, useful resource that you think other nonprofits would benefit from, alert your fellow group members. 

• Good News: Did your nonprofit recently reach a significant milestone or achieve a major goal? Your peers want to know about it, and if you can share background about how you pulled it off, even better. 

• General Advice and Questions: Don’t be shy! If you have questions about anything relevant to local nonprofits (capacity building, program outreach, data collection, etc.), don’t be afraid to speak up.

Upcoming Webinar Will Cover How Amendment 3 May Affect Florida Nonprofits

If approved by 60 percent of Florida voters this November, Amendment 3 would expand homestead property tax exemptions and reduce funding for cities and counties. To help nonprofits better understand the amendment and its potential impact on their organizations, the Florida Nonprofit Alliance is holding a free webinar from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10. Register here. 

The alliance has also created a messaging toolkit to help nonprofits educate their communities on the property tax issue and engage voters ahead of the November election. Read more about the toolkit and download visual assets and other materials here.

Upcoming Grant Opportunities

Each year, the Community Foundation sets aside specific periods of time during which nonprofits can apply for different types of grants made possible by the generosity of our donors. 

Ongoing and upcoming grant cycles include:



• Ongoing through Oct. 1: Sponsorship Grants

• Sept. 15-Oct. 18: Capacity Building Grants

• Nov. 15-Jan. 3: Animal Welfare Grants

• Dec. 1-Jan. 17: Community Impact Grants  

Stories of Impact

Sarasota Opera Receives Major Grant From Community Foundation of Sarasota County 

Read more here.

South Florida State College Foundation Receives $40,000 Grant for Scholarships 

Read more here.

Athena Giving Circle Contributes $20,000 to All Faiths Food Bank for Hygiene Products

Read more here.

Have a story of impact you'd like to share?

Email it to communications@cfsarasota.org.

Upcoming Scholarship Opportunities



• Ongoing through Sept. 15: Adult Scholarships

Office Hours

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 grants or grant applications that may affect your nonprofit.

There's no need to pre-register. Just click here to join.

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