In December 2023, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation awarded $54,962 in grants investing in capital needs at “Small and Mighty” nonprofits, charitable organizations with annual budgets of $300,000 or less.
Two grants will support African American history education. Reflections of Manatee received $18,000 for walkways to connect historic buildings, making them more visible and accessible to visitors. The organization’s properties include The Theodosia Curry House (1925), used as a visitors’ center housing the exhibit “Freedom Seekers at the Manatee,” telling the story of freedom seekers and Florida’s Underground Railroad.
Manasota ASALH received $4,500 for iPads to enhance experiences of students attending the Freedom School, a free Saturday school for the community teaching African American history to youth of various ages.
The Foundation awarded a $15,000 grant to Friends of Myakka River for a “pop up” education trailer that will travel within the park (and occasionally outside of park boundaries) to provide environmental interpretation. The nonprofit supports valuable projects at Myakka River State Park in Sarasota County, one of the oldest and largest state parks in Florida.
Sertoma Kids received a $11,500 grant to reconfigure its office, improving air flow and logistics to support children with auditory challenges who receive therapeutic services.
Alpha Kappa PSI- Project Guide Right was granted $5,962 for a new shed to store furniture as the organization’s need for flexible space increases. The shed will allow the fraternity to better accommodate its growing youth-serving membership and to serve local civic and community groups that are now able to utilize the space for their meetings.
The next “Small and Mighty” (SAM) grant cycle opens February 1, 2024 and will support small but impactful organizations in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties with capital needs.