The Charlotte Community Foundation (CCF) just awarded $172,500 in unrestricted operating support grants to 35 local nonprofits. These organizations cover everything from education to health, serving people all across Charlotte County. CCF picked them for their solid finances, strong leadership, and effective programs.
President and CEO Shelley Strickland, PhD, shared that their grants committee, comprising 24 community members from places like Englewood, Deep Creek, and Babcock Ranch, brings a lot of different backgrounds to the table. Some committee members are new to working with CCF, which keeps the process fresh. They all come together for in-person training to learn the latest evaluation rubric, then review every application on their own before regrouping for an in-depth discussion. That’s when they make some tough calls about who gets recommended to the board.
JoAnn Tompkins, CCF Board Secretary and chair of the grants committee, said they’ve focused on rebuilding the grant program with active community involvement and more openness about the process. The application itself is simple and considers the size and structure of each nonprofit. Whether they’re volunteer-run or have paid staff, everyone gets a fair shot.
Tompkins is right to be proud: “We’re seeing it pay off. This was only our second year running the spring competitive grant cycle, and we got a record-breaking 66 applications!” In the end, 18 groups received $2,500 each, and 17 others got $7,500 each.
CCF hosted a celebration for the grantees at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center on May 5, 2026. Nonprofit leaders, the volunteer reviewers, CCF’s board, and donors all came together, everyone who played a part in making this round of grants possible.
Behind every grant is a donor. Alongside many gifts to the general CCF Community Fund, dedicated supporters have created permanent named endowments that are combined to fund these grants year after year. CCF’s board set up a “Charlotte Forever” endowed fund in 2024, starting at just $5,000, to give more people a way to make a meaningful, lasting mark in Charlotte County. Now there are 19 such named funds, which you can read about on CCF’s website at charlottecf.org.
At its core, the Charlotte Community Foundation exists to enrich local life. Volunteers and a small team work together to connect people who care, the donors, with important community causes and long-term capital. Two decades in, and now under new leadership, CCF is focusing on one goal: to promote philanthropy across Charlotte County and build a stronger community for generations to come.
