The Community Foundation: 40 Years of Compassion & Impact

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County

By Ryan G. Van Cleave

Founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council as a resource for those who wanted to create a lasting, charitable impact in the community, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has helped invest more than $252 million back into the community through grants and scholarships. Considering that the Community Foundation started with an original gift of $500, this is quite the accomplishment.

Now in its 40th year, the Community Foundation is poised to continue its efforts to help caring individuals more effectively support the many worthy causes they champion.

Current board member Donna Koffman explains, “We are entering another period of growth and need, so it’s comforting to see an 

organization that connects individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations continue to have such powerful positive impact in our community and the lives of people who live here.” While there’s sometimes an overwhelming need in our community for basic support and services, she explains, the generosity of Community Foundation donors is its equal.

Koffman is also pleased with how the Community Foundation, through the generous support of donors, is able to provide nearly $2 million in scholarships for high school seniors and adult learners each year. “Last year, I helped out on the scholarship committee, reviewing numerous applications,” she says. “Knowing that the Community Foundation would be able to help bridge the gap between what these individuals could contribute and what was needed financially to help them achieve their goal of furthering their education was very inspiring and really resonated with me!”

Koffman is not the only one with great Community Foundation experiences.

When asked what her favorite Community Foundation memories are, President and CEO Roxie Jerde confesses that she has more than one. “My favorites are 1) the times with our amazing team when new ideas and solutions emerge as we work to match donors with causes they are passionate about to strengthen our community; and 2) when I am out in the community, whether it is reading to students in our schools or celebrating student’s parents who are graduating from a certificate program.”

Jerde also points out that she’s continually surprised at the depth of caring donors have for our community, especially considering that for so many, they moved here later in life. “Whether it is volunteering or creating a legacy fund to create lasting impact across generations, the generosity is truly inspiring.”

“When you look at the 40th year for any organization,” says Orion J. Marx, a former board member and Atlas Financial Private Wealth Services Group Member, “there often is a sense of maturity and consistency in operations and effectiveness. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County has been growing, learning, and overcoming challenges to serve our community of donors and nonprofits for 40 years, with consistent success seen by our healthy nonprofits and philanthropic community. Our community gets to experience the impact of all the awards and growth the Community Foundation accomplished by becoming the largest community foundation in Florida, one donor at a time. What a great story!”

It IS a great story, and Marx thinks we can all be part of it, saying, “Philanthropy is not about any one person or organization. It is about a sense of community. The selflessness in giving provides for others and what makes our community, our country what it is. Every donor and each one of our associated nonprofits is the foundation for our community.”

Koffman adds that “Philanthropy is often seen as removed, or reserved for people with a certain income, but that is what is so special about the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. We believe every single person has the potential to change the life of another. That comes about through gifts large and small, and also through an intention to be charitable with your time and energy.”

For 40 years, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County has matched donors with causes, creating lasting impact across generations because they understand one crucial thing—every one of us has the potential to impact a person, a cause, a community. It’s their belief that YOU can be the one to make a difference.  And they’ll be there for the next 40 years—and beyond—to help make that happen.

As Marx says, “We are just getting started.”

For more information on the Community Foundation of Sarasota, please visit www.cfsarasota.org or call 941.955.3000.