Community Foundation of Sarasota Powers Philanthropy
By Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director
Over the past several years, working with many Foundations in Southwest Florida has truly opened my eyes to the profound impact they have on our communities. I’m not sure our community realizes the magnitude of the work they do. In abundance, their eyes are focused on what it takes to build capacity for nonprofit organizations, which is critical in serving the deep needs our community faces.
Case in point, United Way of Charlotte County (UWCC) excitedly received the Giving Challenge funds raised this past April. This type of fundraising is a gamechanger and we are so grateful for the incredible hard work it must take to ensure its success.
Under the leadership of Roxie Jerde, President and CEO, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (Community Foundation) has ushered in a community-wide culture of philanthropy through new innovative approaches to integrate charitable work. Ms. Jerde and her team are true visionaries and it’s always inspiring to see what is happening next.
Over the past 12 years, they have hosted the Giving Challenge nine times, raising over $92 million in unrestricted funding for local nonprofit organizations serving our region. An additional $6.7 million was provided in 2024 by The Patterson Foundation through their generous dollar-for-dollar match. This is just one example of the remarkable gifts to our communities.
When the flurry of the 24-hour Giving Challenge closes and the agencies receive their funding, The Community Foundation is still hard at work. There is quiet yet impactful work being done to support the community. I want you to know about this work and my hope is you will spread the word.
Several weeks ago, I attended a training session offered by the Community Foundation, where I was introduced to two new powerful resources. The State of the Nonprofit Sector Report-2024 is an interactive tool offering a comprehensive and robust opportunity to understand all the organizations who provide their data to The Giving Partner Database. It provides critical data to drive decision-making, aligning with the Community Foundation’s mission to strengthen our communities.
In addition, the Community Indicators Dashboard is an exciting and invaluable active tool featuring key indicators for the four-county service region – Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. On the dashboard homepage, it notes that at the “heart of our data strategy is the recognition that data is neutral—it presents facts without bias. However, deriving meaningful insights from data can sometimes be a challenge… These Reports offer concise summaries and compelling narratives across various domains including community profiles, education, economy, health, and housing.”
The Community Foundation has been serving our community for over forty years. Their mission is to make an important connection between individuals personal memories, passions and dreams, and the fulfillment of their charitable goals. Their motto – “Be the One” reflects their deeply-held belief that anyone can be a philanthropist and give back to our community, regardless of their means.
Foundations are invaluable resources to our communities, channeling donations into coordinated investments that drive social improvement in our neighborhoods. Their work and resources are truly priceless, and we are deeply grateful. Words alone cannot fully express our thanks to the Community Foundation for their unwavering commitment to improving the lives of those in Charlotte County.
My hope for you is that you will take some time to learn of these great resources – save them in your computer for reference later. For more information about the Community Indicators Dashboard and State of the Nonprofit Sector Report, please visit: unitedwayccfl.org/AbundantGratitude.
For more information about United Way of Charlotte County’s mission: Mobilizing the power of our community to break the cycle of poverty, please contact Angie Matthiessen, Executive Director. She can be reached at director@unitedwayccfl.org.