Central Florida Foundation

We have a new bonus episode live! Bonus episodes are short (about 10 minutes!) and include parts of a conversation that didn't fit in the full episode.

First You Talk podcast is sharing more of Mark Brewer, CAP® and Nicole Donelson, CAP®'s conversation on "Are you a philanthropist?" by diving more into obstacles and fears associated with giving back.

Our Director of Marketing and Communication's son also makes a quick "appearance," sharing what a kid can do to give back and be kind.

Find the First You Talk podcast wherever you get your podcasts or click here: https://cffound.org/podcast/

Our podcast, First You Talk, has SIX full episodes ready for you!

You're looking at the people you'll hear on our most recent episode: Are you a philanthropist?

🎙 Chris Manley, a CFF Fundholder who shares about walking into his Orlando high school alma mater with a longstanding desire to give back - and did in an impactful way.

🎙 Renuka Sastri, giving circle extraordinaire (she'll deny it, but it's true) who shares that her philanthropic journey came out of a desire to build her network - and then never looked back

🎙 Nicole Donelson, CFF's Vice President of Philanthropic Strategies and Partnerships and one of our Chartered Advisors in Philanthropy® who shares insights on giving trends, misconceptions and why giving strategies change over time

🎙 Mark Brewer, CFF's President/CEO, and another Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® who dives into the pros and cons of retail and strategic giving, plus his philosophy on what it means to be a philanthropist

Listen now by visiting cffound.org/podcast or searching for First You Talk wherever you get your podcasts!

Calling all Central Florida nonprofits!

Don't forget: Ask Us Anything - Nonprofit Search Edition - is happening THIS Wednesday, 6/26!

If you haven't already heard, NPS is getting a refresh, with new features and an updated look. To learn more about how this will affect your profile and what exciting changes are coming later this summer, be sure to join us on Wednesday morning at 10AM!

Register here: https://linktr.ee/cffound

New blog post!

3 Nonprofits Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community Committed to Financial Sustainability

This post showcases local nonprofits that have established a nonprofit endowment fund with us - and what the means. You'll learn about the Nonprofit Sustainability Model and how nonprofit endowment works.

Thank you to 26Health, LGBT+ Center Orlando - The Center, and Orlando Gay Chorus for helping this post come to life and for believing in the power of endowment!

Read here: https://cffound.org/lgbtq-nonprofit-endowment-fund/

Member Spotlight: Christina Hartfield!

I joined 100WS because...

"As someone who is passionate about helping women and children, 100 Women Strong is one of my favorite organizations to support. As a giving circle of women, we take a strategic approach to addressing systemic issues affecting women & children. Our focus is on treating the root causes rather than just the symptoms of issues. I am an advocate and member since 2019. it's truly one of my favorite organizations and it’s my passion/purpose work!"

What is a community foundation anyway?

We get this question a lot.

So let's break this down!

Community foundations:
✔ are tax-exempt public charities recognized by the IRS.
✔ support a specific geographic region.
✔ manage charitable funds established by individuals, families and organizations.
✔ work to solve complex issues within its defined geographic region.

Central Florida Foundation is our region's community foundation. We serve 7 counties: Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Volusia, Brevard, and Polk.

Here in Central Florida, we operate through the lens of Thrive, our localized version of the Sustainable Development Goals. Think of this as a blueprint for making our region an even better place to call home.

In addition to being a trusted steward of hundreds of philanthropic legacies, we also focus on issues that matter to Central Floridians:

✔ attainable housing
✔ creating a safe, resilient and inclusive community
✔ giving circles that empower women and children
✔ social enterprise that offers business solutions to complex social issues
✔ homelessness
✔ and several more pressing issues.

Our work in these areas is guided by our team of philanthropic and community experts who believe in the power of collaborating, and powered by the generous philanthropy of our Fundholders and donors.

Have more questions on community foundations or what we do? Comment below, send us a message, or visit our website: cffound.org.

Grantee Spotlight! 💡

IDEAS For Us - Orlando was a recipient of a CFF Winter Park Community Grant last year, and recently shared with us a wonderful grant report that showcases what those dollars were able to power.

From the report:

"We partnered with the Central Florida Foundation and All Saints Episcopal Church in Winter Park to create a community garden that will be open to the community and provide fresh local produce. The garden will be utilized and maintained by the Church’s youth group as well as our Edible Landscapes team in order to ensure its longevity and success.

"The garden sits directly across the street from the walking entrance to Rollins College. Being right off of Park Avenue, and in conjunction with the Churches congregation, the garden will be an inviting space that will provide many families with healthy produce. This shared space will be a beacon of many plants that can be duplicated with cuttings, and planted in homes around the Central Florida community for years to come. The garden will produce more and more produce every year, with an average yield of 200 lbs/year."

Read more here: https://bit.ly/4boQRtr

https://www.facebook.com/fleetfarming
https://www.facebook.com/ediblelandscapesFL

Collaborating and Learning: Miami's Jail Diversion Model

Alongside other community leaders, Central Florida Foundation joined Peace and Justice Institute on a trip to Miami to learn more about the region's way of addressing how individuals with mental and substance use disorders come into contact with and move through the criminal justice system.

The workshop, entitled "Improving the Court and Community Response Decriminalizing Mental Illness: The Miami Model," enabled us to gain a better understanding of this program that has had promising results.

As PJI's Executive Director Rachel Allen says, this system has been a way for "hope and recovery" to happen instead of more incarceration.

Watch PJI's video on this experience here: https://youtu.be/nsmldqjbzNs?si=CA2jS2_1BQxvdz4u

____

But will this work for Central Florida?

Rarely does a model fit perfectly into another region, but this program provides insights on what could work here. This process of learning about other promising models is all part of collaborative community work of finding what works elsewhere, understanding about what parts can be applied to our region, and developing the necessary changes that would need to take place to fit our unique community.

So, to answer this question, this is one step in this process of creating a new path forward for this complex issue.

As a community foundation, we are so grateful to our Fundholders who power this type of collaborative approach to solving complex social issues. Without philanthropists, this wouldn't have been possible.

Thank you for helping us in our mission of building community by building philanthropy.

Improving the Court and Community Response: Better Outcomes for Individuals with Mental Illness Convened by the Peace and Justice Institute’s (PJI) Resilience Network, top-level stakeholders and community leaders from across sectors traveled to Miami on...

Earlier this month, 250 incredible supporters of women and children gathered for the 100 Women Strong Elevate Summit.

This annual summit is a 100 Women Strong at Central Florida Foundation (100WS) signature event that aims to inspire women to grow, learn, and be inspired to engage more in the Central Florida community.

From powerful keynote speakers and dynamic panels to a nonprofit expo and a deep dive into CFF's Community Landscape, attendees were immersed in different perspectives and data-driven resources from start to finish.

It was a great day and we're so glad many of you were able to spend it with us! We hope to see many familiar faces (and new ones too!) at next year's Summit.

✨

What is 100 Women Strong?
Established in 2006, 100WS is a strategic giving circle at Central Florida Foundation. This group of caring, passionate, and engaged female philanthropists work together to empower women and children in our community through collective giving, with special 3-year focuses. They also work to provide engaging opportunities, such as the annual Summit, to connect and inspire other community-minded female philanthropists to get more involved in their communities.

100WS values:
🎇 Collective Impact
🎙 Diverse Perspectives
📈 Data-Driven Research
🤝 Community Partnerships
⚡ Innovative Approaches to Complex Social Issues

Learn more about 100 Women Strong and how to become a member here: https://cffound.org/100womenstrong

Are you interested in finding solutions for crisis points in our educational system?

Have you considered taking a step back and thinking about a systems-level approach?

Episode 5 of the First You Talk podcast looks at our educational system from 30,000 feet to help us to consider the entire process and find a holistic approach to finding ways to improve our children's educational experience.

Guest Eddy Moratin of Lift Orlando shares his insights on place-based philanthropy, community schools, and what he's learned in his years leading an organization on a mission in the 32805 zip code - the neighborhoods surrounding Camping World Stadium.

And we ask...

What DO we want out of our educational system?

Listen now: https://cffound.org/podcast or wherever you listen!

We're excited to share with you new board appointments and new board members for the 2024-2025 year!

New Board Members:
Ixchell Duarte, CNL Healthcare Properties
Amanda Seecharan,Darden

New Executive Committee Appointments:
Roi L. Ewell, Executive Committee | Secretary
Amanda Seecharan, Executive Committee | Treasurer

New Committee Chairs:
Kay Rawlins, Board Development
Peter Hilera, Audit
Rebecca True, Investment

Thank you for lending your expertise and time to further our mission of building community by building philanthropy!

You can learn more about our Board here: https://cffound.org/about-us/board-and-staff/

Every May 1st, CFF starts a new fiscal year, which means that we sometimes have to say goodbye to a few members of our Board of Directors. It's a normal and expected rhythm around here every spring: welcoming in new voices to help guide Central Florida Foundation's vision and future while letting go of some of the voices that helped us do just that for years.

This year, we lose a few board members that we couldn't let go without saying a huge thank you!

Avani Desai, Ashley Hill and Rob Panepinto, your service to our Board of Directors is immensely appreciated. Thank you for helping us in furthering our mission of building community by building philanthropy.

Episode 4 of the First You Talk podcast is now live!

Is innovation an ingredient we need for a better Central Florida?

You'll hear from:
CFF's Mark Brewer and Sandi Vidal
Rob Panepinto, Rally and Govo Venture Partners
Grant Hayes, UCF College of Community Innovation and Education

Listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit our website to listen and find all the resources mentioned in this episode: https://cffound.org/podcast/podcast-episode-4-is-innovation-an-ingredient-we-need-for-a-better-central-florida/

If you're a nonprofit organization, be sure to register for our Ask Us Anything virtual open forum - happening in two days!

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpde2spjMjE91Cb8w2HGwOR5S6eu01BWeV #/registration

If you aren't already, be sure to join our nonprofit newsletter to stay in the loop: https://bit.ly/cffnewsletters

Our annual Grassroots Grant cycle has opened today!🌱

If you're a registered 501c3 organization, serve Central Florida, and have an annual revenue of under $250k, this grant opportunity might be for you!

This year’s grants will focus on supporting:
✔ building infrastructure,
✔ capability,
✔ and expanding existing programs

with organizations that focus on:
✔ human services,
✔ education,
✔ youth development,
✔ and/or health.

📣Up to 10 grants of $5,000 each will be awarded.

📽 For the 2nd year in a row, applicants have the option to submit an application using video!

Learn more about how to apply and eligibility here: https://cffound.org/investing-for-impact/grants/

Last week, celebrated its 2024 grantee, - and what a night it was!

This grant will fund a new pilot program at Women on the Rise that offers a holistic approach to women’s career development, including addressing the fiscal benefits cliff.

🤔WHAT IS THE FISCAL BENEFITS CLIFF?

The fiscal benefits cliff is the phenomenon of someone losing eligibility for benefits when given job advancement opportunities. In practice, there is a fiscal benefits gap when someone goes off the 
fiscal cliff, which often results in women turning down job advancements due to financial 
insecurity.

One of the coolest parts of this new pilot program? It will provide quality childcare for women in the program, lifting yet another barrier to women’s financial independence and success. 👏👏👏

Learn more about our women-led strategic giving circle by tapping link in bio.

Is your nonprofit providing hope?

The Helpers of People Enslaved (H.O.P.E.) Fund at Central Florida Foundation will be accepting online applications for funding through February 29, 2024. The Helpers of People Enslaved Fund seeks to award a $10,000 grant to benefit a trauma-informed residential program or other direct services for adult survivors (18 years or older) of human trafficking operated by eligible public, private or faith-based entities. The organization should be located in the state of Florida.

Join us for a virtual Q&A session on Wednesday, 2/7, at 2pm!

Click here for more information and Zoom link: https://linktr.ee/cffound