I want to reflect on some of the top moments from an outstanding 2023 at Gulf Coast Community Foundation. Thanks to readers like you, Gulf Coast is off to a great start in 2024 and we want to recognize the importance of reflecting on moments of impact, together.

Community foundations invest each year in improving the communities they serve, and we are passionate about helping donors achieve their philanthropic goals through the causes that matter most to them. We serve the region through grantmaking opportunities to support our nonprofits and work with our donors to ensure their philanthropy has the maximum impact. Our Gulf Coast team works every day on opportunities that can transform lives. We do it all for the greater good of our Gulf Coast region. 

Working for a community foundation is a team sport, and each team member plays an important role. Much like rowers on a boat, every part of the organization must work together to steer the boat in the right direction in order for Gulf Coast to thrive in our mission. I was inspired to write this column after hearing accolades from colleagues and community members about our incredible team and Board of Directors who drive our mission every day.

Here are shining examples of team Gulf Coast working for the greater good of our community. 

Serving the needs of the region as a partner in philanthropy and leader in community initiatives, Gulf Coast has surpassed granting $536 million in the areas of: health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment, marking a significant moment in our history. Kudos to our donors, board and team for making this momentous milestone happen.

In October 2023, in partnership with generous philanthropists and government, we broke ground on our Veterans Housing Project which will create ten rental units in the City of Sarasota for veterans, providing long-awaited, affordable housing for our country’s heroes.

I commend Gulf Coast team members Jon Thaxton and C.J. Bannister, and philanthropists Peter and Elsa Soderberg, Skip and Gail Sack and Bob and Lin Williams for bringing this imperative project to life. William Sterbinsky, co-founder of SRQ Vets and a veteran himself shared, “I pray it brings veterans together. They start seeing that comradery or that cohesion again. They start understanding that their unique issues are not an isolated issue, that we all suffer from the same.”

Gulf Coast has invested over $7 million into creating systems to end homelessness and provide affordable housing for our neighbors who are most in need. With partners, a supportive community and local government, Gulf Coast is transforming housing in our region. We won’t stop until we see positive change.

Thanks to generous donor contributions, our Board of Directors and our dedicated team, Gulf Coast’s Hurricane Ian Recovery Initiative realized over 200 grants totaling $3.5 million in relief. The stories of hope and perseverance that we have received from our Hurricane Ian Recovery Initiative have been nothing short of life changing. 

We shared the good news in August 2023 that Gulf Coast’s Invest In Incredible (I3) initiative had an uptick in capacity building workshops with a 65% growth in participation. We doubled our capacity by offering workshops at our Venice Headquarters and downtown Sarasota Philanthropy Center, meeting nonprofits where they are and reducing travel time. For 10 years, I3 has been transforming the journeys of area nonprofits across the Gulf Coast. A nonprofit participant of I3 shared, “Invest In Incredible has been invaluable in giving us solid guidance in nonprofit best practices.”

Everything we accomplish at Gulf Coast is for you, our donors, nonprofit partners, and the entire community. It is our privilege to work together to create thriving, vibrant communities with opportunities for all. Thanks for taking this look back with us.

Phillip P. Lanham is President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation. 

Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Community Foundation: Groundbreaking for Veterans Housing effort.

The goal of an election should always be to have the highest overall voter turnout possible to elect our leaders. Elected officials should always be answerable to the widest range of voters, and hopefully that includes a diverse electorate.

In 2017, a group of organizations and community leaders got together to solve a problem in the City of Sarasota, low turnout in our off-cycle elections. The city was unnecessarily paying around six figures to have these elections, and a small percentage of people were electing city commissioners. After a refusal of the city commission to voluntarily fix this problem, this group started a citizens initiative called Decide the Date.

Decide the Date was a petition initiative to change the city charter to move the date of elections of city commissioners from March and May of off years to the regular election cycle of even years, with the final election of city commissioners always occurring in November of even years. City Commission elections would be normally held when the most people vote, on regular election cycles with other elected offices.

The groups behind Decide the Date consisted of business leaders, citizen leaders, current and former elected officials, and groups across the political spectrum from the left to the right.  All had the same goal and were unified in wanting the highest voter turnout possible for city elections.   

This petition campaign had to face the very challenging rules of petition initiatives and faced a timing issue of trying to make sure that a vote on this initiative occurred in November of 2018. The group was shocked at the immediate response to the petition campaign, receiving almost 1,000 more valid petitions than needed very quickly. 

After the official certification of the petitions, the city commission was forced to place the initiative on the ballot. It was then that the Decide the Date petition campaign became the Change the Date campaign to advocate for the passage of the charter change with the same group backing the petition campaign, also backing the advocacy campaign.

The response, again, was immediate. There were entire streets filled with Change the Date yard signs. Meanwhile, the small groups that had controlled city hall opposed more people voting and wanted to keep their power.

The voters agreed that more people having a say in elections of city commissioners was important. This translated into the referendum passing with over 63% of the vote. 

The first November election was in 2020. The impact was immediate. Black voter turnout more than doubled and there was a 743% increase in Hispanic participation. This led to the most diverse city commission the city has ever seen, and a new diverse administration. The city began actually dealing with its problems, like affordable housing, instead of ignoring them, for the first time in a long time. Outreach and dialogue with all stakeholders, not just a few groups, on both sides of issues was the new rule.

Today, we see that the same people that opposed a large diverse electorate now complaining about city employees not listening to only them. It is coded as, “Staff is not listening to the people,” when what they really mean is staff is listening to everyone and taking all points of view into account, not just theirs.

While I frequently disagree with staff and administration on many issues, I can say that they are listening and are respectful in their feedback. This is what Change the Date had hoped for, for city government to listen to as many people as possible and not just a select few.

The Argus Foundation congratulates the city for listening not just to us, but to those who disagree with us. It is an important part of government, and we are proud to have been a part of this effort, even when a decision does not go our way.       

Christine Robinson is the executive director of The Argus Foundation. 

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota, has not raised our tuition in 13 years, and for the last 10 years, our Foundation has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to students each year. In our mission to provide engaging and accessible learning environments, we also work to eliminate barriers, such as financial, that might prevent any student from continuing their higher education. Students can graduate with an associate degree from SCF for just under $7,000.

Worth mentioning is that many scholarship recipients are also working full- or part-time, raising children, supporting their families or dealing with hardships that require them to prioritize their daily choices. Throughout the years, I'm reminded repeatedly of the grit and determination these students possess and I find myself motivated and inspired by their journeys.

We honor these students and their benefactors at our Annual Scholarship Luncheon, which raised over $150,000 last year. The luncheon connects scholarship recipients with those who have supported their education and creates awareness of SCF's impact in the community throughout the event's program. Most importantly, students can share their appreciation and the effect of a scholarship with those in attendance.

Shawn C. shared his appreciation for his scholarship with a note saying, "Growing up, I never believed that I would be a successful student, let alone a college student. I struggled with ADHD, dyslexia and a difficult home life with my absent mother and battle-worn father, who enlisted in the Marines. I was placed in remedial classes time and time again, and it felt as if I could never dig myself out of this educational hole. After taking an extended break after high school, I constantly worked labor-intensive jobs; this experience gave me perspective on the importance of education." A current student, he’s made the dean’s list for three semesters.

Another recipient stated that with her current employment, she is frequently away from her daughter and must work extra hours to survive and get her daughter's necessities. She is enrolled to pursue a bachelor's degree in Exceptional Student Education. She wants to help inspire many children of different cultural backgrounds to feel that they belong and can accomplish almost anything to which they set their minds.

Emily C., a retired veteran, wants a career where she can feel the same pride and accomplishment that she had in the military. As a wife and mother of five, Emily is also seeking a work-life balance that she didn't have in the military so she can spend time with her family. She is also pursuing a bachelor's degree in education.

Shellyann graduated this past December with her Bachelor of Applied Science degree in public safety and emergency management. A single mother of four children relying on one income, the scholarship gave her the financial resources to further her education, which increased her earning potential and promotion opportunities.

Our affordable tuition rates and the availability of scholarships make higher education possible for veterans, first-time college students, those looking to advance their careers, and those rejoining the workforce. SCF’s Financial Aid office and Foundation work with applicants to find financial support options to reduce or eliminate barriers or student debt.

Through April 15 students can apply for 2024-‘25 academic year scholarships with SCF's Foundation by applying online at SCF-Foundation.org. You can also find information about donating to or establishing a scholarship at this website.

Dr. Carol F. Probstfeld is president of State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.