The board of directors of the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation recently approved $911,570 in grants supporting capital needs of local nonprofit organizations.
Funds will provide essential tools, equipment, vehicles, and structures to help organizations facilitate meaningful services and programs strengthening opportunity for people and helping our environment.
“In our 70th year as a private foundation, nonprofit organizations serving DeSoto, Charlotte, Manatee, and Sarasota counties continue to find trusted support from the Selby Foundation for investments that are necessary, but hard to fund,” said Susie Bowie, President & CEO.
“A new truck, paved pathways, or a database isn’t the end of the story. It’s what organizations do with them to test water quality and share information, provide equal access to cultural assets, and help build sustainable systems for individual donors that matters.”
Approved grants and organizations are as follows:
Arts, Culture & History
- Military Heritage Museum – $40,220 for Veevart museum management software
- Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens, Inc. – $50,000 towards ADA pathways
Environment
- Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center – $38,730 for a renovated education pavilion
- Crowley Museum & Nature Center – $14,000 for an electric golf cart to support accessibility for visitors
- Suncoast Waterkeeper – $37,045 towards purchase of an electric truck for monitoring waterways in Sarasota and Manatee counties
Human Services
- The Caring Collective – $47,000 for security on its campus housing human service nonprofit organizations
- Good Neighbors – $50,000 towards purchase of mobile food pantry truck for use in Manatee and Sarasota counties
- NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties – $60,842 towards security upgrades and building hardening for hurricane readiness
- Operation Warrior Resolution – $75,000 towards a structure called a “barndominium” to host healing services for veterans
- Second Heart Homes – $84,895 to remodel bathrooms in homes for formerly unhoused individuals
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul South Pinellas – $55,284 to replace kitchen equipment in Charlotte CARE Center
- Teen Court of Sarasota – $18,500 for technology upgrades supporting programmatic success
- Valerie’s House – $15,250 towards safety and beautification upgrades of Punta Gorda office supporting grief recovery for children
- Women’s Resource Center – $75,000 towards hurricane doors and windows
Education
- Beyond the Spectrum – $11,000 to purchase Smart Boards for learning instruction
- DeSoto County Education Foundation – $13,000 for a three-year subscription of donor management software
- Laurel Civic Association – $104,100 towards purchase of 77-passenger school bus to increase access to afterschool and summer programs
- Manatee County Literacy Council – $14,704 for technology and a website upgrade supporting adult literacy
Civic Improvement
- Arcadia Main Street Program – $50,000 to update an office providing services to vital small businesses
- Friends of Sarasota County Parks – $57,000 for solar lighting on a paved ADA trail at Newtown Estates Park
In its 70th year, the Selby Foundation is the legacy of Bill and Marie Selby, two people who cared about increasing opportunity for others. Located in Sarasota, the Foundation invests in results-focused organizations located in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.
Susie Bowie is President/CEO and Susan Hines is Board Chair.
Photo: Teen Court of Sarasota received a $18,500 grant for new technology.