Manatee Community Foundation Awards Over $56 Million

January 3, 2024

Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) celebrates over $56 million of community impact since its inception in 1998, and its commitment to strengthening and enhancing our community through philanthropy, education, and service – now and forever. 

In 2023, MCF and its board, committed donor family, corporate ambassadors and nonprofit partners worked to achieve greater things, together.

·        152 lives changed through meaningful scholarships​

·        825+ grants supporting nonprofit organizations in our community​ and beyond

·        500+ nonprofit partners supported ​though capacity building investments

·        A swift Hurricane Idalia Response​ that enabled community resilience

·        25 years as the only community foundation in Manatee County​

·        56+ million dollars of impact in our community​ since inception

“We are grateful to our generous community who fuels us to lead, serve, and collaborate ​to create a better future for Manatee County by addressing its growing needs,” said Veronica Thames, MCF’s executive leader who joined the organization in late August of 2023.

Of the over $56 million in grants made since its founding, $25 million were directed to meet human services needs of the communities we support, followed by over $10 million toward education, $8 million to support arts and culture, and $5 million to care for animal welfare and environmental causes. Funding for this important work is provided by the generous gifts of Manatee Community Foundation donors and the diligent management of its resources by its board of directors. These investments have supported projects, initiatives, and causes that contribute to the overall prosperity of our community, and this enduring legacy is a testament to the organization’s sustained impact and unwavering dedication to acting today, for a better tomorrow.

“In this unprecedented time of growth, we will be here for our community when it needs it most, now and forever,” remarked Bob “Buzz” Turner, current Board Chair of MCF.

For information on ways to invest in our community, visit www.manateecf.org.