Philanthropy in Sarasota and Manatee counties is a well-organized network of foundations and active donors with a strong focus on community resilience, enhancing nonprofits’ capacity to grow and responding to local challenges.
Two of the main nonprofits that work to protect the waters and marine habitat of the area, Sarasota Bay Watch and Suncoast Waterkeeper, have both been able to make a larger impact thanks to grants from local foundations like the Barancik Foundation, the Manatee Community Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Gulf Coast, the Mote Scientific Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sarasota County (CFSC).
In April, CFSC awarded $322,450 to 29 nonprofit organizations to enhance operations, support technology upgrades and strengthen strategic planning in the region.
The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation played an important role in capacity building for Sarasota Bay Watch and awarded a two-year, $200,000 grant to Suncoast Waterkeeper. In addition, the Mote Scientific Foundation (not related to Mote Marine Laboratory) has been the driving force behind Suncoast Waterkeepers’ ongoing water quality testing.
Last week I had the pleasure of attending an event at the new St. Regis Resort on Longboat Key that was organized by Sarasota Magazine. Sarasota Magazine supports local philanthropic works by highlighting the work of nonprofit organizations, fundraising events and community initiatives across Sarasota and Manatee counties. Through its editorial features and digital outreach, the magazine amplifies the work of nonprofits, raising awareness of their missions, highlighting donor opportunities and celebrating impactful partnerships. By doing so, Sarasota Magazine helps connect the philanthropic community with causes in arts, education, health, environment and human services, enhancing visibility for organizations that might otherwise struggle for recognition.
The St. Regis was the perfect venue for this event. Hotel Manager Kara Hardiman welcomed guests and pointed out that their commitment to the larger community was best summed up by a quote from Lora Whitney (Whitney Beach): “We are determined to create a space of sanctuary that celebrates the natural beauty of our region at the same time as it encourages education, exploration and implores us to slow down and make memories with each other.”
Besides expressing pride in being part of a women-led management team, the resort commissioned a painting by Lauren Marshall entitled, “Matriarchs of The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort.” The painting honors (and they named their exquisite suites after) women who were in their words “… trailblazers whose impact shaped the region’s cultural, scientific and philanthropic landscape.” They include Caroline Astor, the undisputed queen of New York society in the gilded age and Eugenie Clark, the pioneering marine biologist who founded Mote Marine Laboratory in 1955 and broke barriers for women in science. Others include Lora Whitney, Marie Selby, Mable Ringling, Irene Colson (a vital figure in Sarasota’s early African American community), and Katherine Klauber, the president and general manager of the Colony Beach Resort, now home to the St. Regis.
The resort features an “Under the Sea Lagoon” – a 500,000-gallon saltwater habitat containing reef fish, rays and other marine animals, guided by a staff of resident marine biologists/aquarists who educate guests about the ecosystem. Their children’s club, called the Reef Rangers, offers a “marine explorer camp” where younger guests engage with aquatic life and learn about local marine environments and species.
A highlight of the evening was a panel discussion among the leaders of local foundations that centered on the challenges facing nonprofits and the area’s most vulnerable citizens they serve due to federal funding cuts. A part of the discussion centered around strategies to continuing serving the needs of environmental nonprofits that support the basis of the region’s appeal, and those most in need. The evening was an inspiration and a terrific opportunity to get to know and mingle with the region’s most engaged philanthropists.
