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Together...We Make Greater Impact
Our ImpactThe hallmark of our grantmaking program is understanding community needs and targeting our grants to address these needs. One unique need, or theme, is identified for each grant year. To validate such needs, we consult with the Collier and Lee counties’ community foundations, community leaders, and review publications such as "Together we are building a better, stronger Southwest Florida" and the Collier Community Foundation 2024 Community Report and dashboard. Three grantmaking committees--Grant Research, Grant Evaluation, and Grant Impact--establish a relevant theme for the next grant cycle, discuss the merits of each grant application, recommend a slate of grantees, and monitor the intended outcomes for each approved grant. This multifaceted process brings a high degree of confidence to our donors. After careful evaluation and WGC membership approval, we are pleased to highlight our grant theme and eight grant recipients for 2026-2027. |
Addressing the Needs of Abused and/or Neglected Children
in Collier and Lee counties
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$15,000 | $25,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 |
A.N.A.’s Friends (Collier and Lee counties), will use the $15,000 for their Children’s Needs Program which sponsors Heartfelt Hangouts events to bring foster children together for shared activities and outings in a safe and structured setting. Children’s Needs also provides individual necessities such as clothing, bedding, hygiene items, school supplies, tutoring supports, etc. | Better Together (Collier and Lee counties), received a $25,000 grant for their Better Families Program. The purpose of this program is to stabilize families in crisis by connecting them with host families and mentors. WGC funding will enable Better Together to grow the network of volunteers, churches, community partners, and professionals serving vulnerable children in Collier and Lee counties. https://bettertogetherus.org | The Collier Children’s Advocacy Center (Collier County) received a $20,000 grant for their Enhancing Therapy for Child Victims of Sexual Abuse Project designed to fortify therapy by using advanced trauma-informed training. It provides evidence-based therapy, reliable transportation, emergency gift cards for essential needs and the therapeutic supplies that help children speak through art, play, and sensory tools. www.caccollier.org | Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida (Lee County) is the recipient of a $25,000 grant to sustain these programs: Pine Manor After School & Summer Programs; Level Up! Dad's Fatherhood Initiative; East United Way Resiliency Hub; and Parenting Education and Reunification. Each initiative focuses on practical skills: Parents learn to manage stress and communicate effectively while children build resilience and coping strategies. |
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$25,000 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $20,000 |
Fostering Success (Collier and Lee counties) is awarded a $25,000 grant for their Academic Mentoring Program. This program provides free tutoring to foster youth. It takes a comprehensive approach by addressing both the scholastic and socioemotional deficits experienced by children exposed to trauma. WGC funding will enable Fostering Success to provide free tutoring to 571 foster youths in Collier and Lee Counties through their Academic Mentoring program. | Path2Freedom (Collier and Lee counties) is a recipient of a $25,000 grant. This grant focuses on enhancing neurological and spiritual healing for child survivors of human sex trafficking by providing safe housing and therapeutic support. Funds will be used to purchase supplies and materials for enrichment activities designed to promote healing, confidence, and connection for girls residing in Path2Freedom’s Safe Houses and for participants in the Aftercare and Transitional Services programs. | Project BUILD (Collier and Lee counties) will use their $25,000 grant for their Pathway to Freedom Program, a workforce development and mentoring initiative for foster youth and women survivors of domestic violence. The program offers workforce training, career coaching, and individualized action plans. This grant will enable Project Build to expand workforce training, cover certification costs, and provide transportation for up to 150 participants. | Youth Haven (Collier and Lee counties) is awarded a $20,000 grant for their new Independent Living Mentor Program. This program offers age-appropriate individualized goal-setting and skill-building activities for all residents ages six though twenty-one. Through this grant, the mentor Program will provide services to ensure consistent delivery of one-on-one mentoring, group instruction, and individualized goal planning, bridging therapeutic care with real-world skill development. |
To date, WGC awarded $1,153,450 in grants to local nonprofit agencies-see list here |
Dear Members of The Women's Giving Circle of SWFL, On behalf of our Board of Directors and Staff at Café of Life, I wish to express our most sincere thanks for your very generous donation of $15,000 for Hurricane Relief. It’s only through the generous support of organizations like yours that we can make a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate. This donation will go a long way in bringing our services to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. The Café was able to provide nearly 20,000 nutritious meals in 2022 to those struggling with nutritional insecurity while also providing these people in need with take-home food and clothing from our pantries.Thanks for all you do for the less fortunate. Jeff Nichols |
one of many success stories! |
Thank You to Our Dedicated Grantees,
| Maria was a new mother at 16. She came from a long line of migrant workers, was undocumented and was not attending school. She did not speak English. After two years of assistance from an organization WGC supported, Maria graduated from high school and her son just started to walk. Now, she can carry on a basic conversation in English and dreams of attending Fort Myers Technical Institute to earn an academic certificate in the medical field. Maria has also been taking parenting classes, learning how to budget her money, and enjoying normal teenage activities like going to the beach, shopping at the mall, and going out to eat with her friends. Our Mother's Home of Southwest Florida WGC is proud of our collective efforts and the impact we make. |
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The Women's Giving Circle of Southwest Florida is a fund of the Collier Community Foundation.
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