Program areas at CFFK
Philanthropic services - the Community Foundation is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of life in monroe county, Florida, both now and for generations to come. Through fostering philanthropy, it actively connects acts of compassion to the specific needs of the Community. Collaborating closely with individuals, the Foundation helps shape philanthropic plans to bolster nonprofit programs across the Florida Keys. A total of 446 grants made in 2023 provided support for diverse causes, including animal welfare, arts and culture, education, environmental preservation, health and human services, housing, music, recreation, scholarships, teacher awards and youth programs. the majority of these 1.8 million in grants stemmed from the thoughtful recommendations of donor advisors and not-for-profit entities. the Foundation empowers nonprofit organizations by assisting them in establishing endowments and operational reserve funds. In the year 2023 alone, 24 new funds were opened, seven (7) of which are permanent endowments for the benefit of the Florida Keys in perpetuity.
Unmet Community needs - ever-vigilant to the pressing needs of the Community, the Community Foundation consistently identifies and addresses unmet gaps in partnership with other organizations and compassionate individuals. the Foundation continues to sustain regional advisory councils in the upper, middle, and lower Keys, which play a vital role in identifying and responding to unique challenges in these respective areas. the Foundation facilitated a 1:1 matching program throughout 2023, effectively multiplying the impact of donors' contributions to the upper Keys future fund, middle Keys future fund, and lower Keys future fund. A total of 48,300 in grants were invested in the Community through these three regional funds. Demonstrating its commitment to serving the entire county, in 2023 the Foundation hired a full-time vice president for philanthropy based in islamorada, to better identify and serve the needs of residents in the upper and middle Florida Keys.
Center for nonprofit excellence - empowering the Florida Keys' nonprofit organizations, the Community Foundation offers an array of invaluable resources and services aimed at fostering strong leadership and effective management. At the heart of this effort lies the annual leadership success academy, a crucial program dedicated to equipping nonprofit board members with essential leadership and governance skills. In march 2023, 43 local non profit leaders graduated from training, held at the Tennessee williams theatre in key west. A true beacon of recognition for local volunteers, the Community Foundation has been hosting the esteemed unsung heroes celebration for 23 years now, with 73 inspiring nonprofits participating in the 2023 event. the commitment to promoting volunteerism was celebrated with the one year aniversary of the Florida Keys volunteer center-a dedicated online platform, volunteerkeys.com.