What an Impact! The 2024 Action for Impact grants program made history this year by awarding almost $740,000 to 52 Monroe County nonprofits. Grants from this round will be used make an actionable impact in our community in the next year – expanding access to healthcare, especially for women and children; ensuring our children…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is pleased to announce that Elizabeth Brown, who has been serving as interim CEO since the departure of Jennifer McComb, has been selected as the permanent President and CEO of the Foundation, following a comprehensive search process. Brown brings extensive leadership experience and a deep commitment…
Nonprofit professionals from across the region gathered this week at Marathon’s City Hall for the 3rd Annual Florida Keys Nonprofit Day, a sold-out event that brought together over 120 nonprofit leaders from across the Keys and South Florida to share knowledge, collaborate, and elevate the impact of local organizations. Hosted by the Florida Keys Funders…
Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Future The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is entering an exciting new chapter. After five years of dedicated service, our esteemed CEO Jennifer McComb will be stepping down as of August 30. We are grateful for Jennifer’s visionary leadership, under which we transformed into a respected countywide organization with…
Professionals from charitable organizations across the county will convene on Wednesday, September 11, for the third annual Florida Keys Nonprofit Day. The event will be held from 1-4:30 p.m. at the Marathon City Hall, 9805 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050. The event is presented by the Florida Keys Funders Alliance, a partnership of…
Key Largo Resident Laura Lietaert Named First Upper Keys Board Chair Robyn Still and Isis Wright Elected to Board. The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys today announced significant changes to its Board of Governors, marking a milestone in its 27-year history. Laura Lietaert, principal of Coral Shores High School, will become the organization’s first…
Nine Key West High School teachers have been awarded a total of $65,000 through the distinguished David Wolkowsky 2024 Teachers of Merit Awards. The awards have been given annually by the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys for over 20 years on behalf of late Key West philanthropist and businessman David Wolkowsky, known as Mr….
Cultivating Tomorrow’s Stewards In a testament to the enduring spirit of giving and community stewardship, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is excited to announce a new scholarship in the Upper Keys. The Earth Conservation and Sustainability Scholarship (ECOS Scholarship), made possible by the generosity of Natalie Stetz Tobias and her husband Bruce,…
Join us at either session to learn more about how your money is invested at the Community Foundation. Matt Doyle from CAPTRUST will show you what strategies they are using to keep your investment growing. Individual donors with funds: another investment update will be held just for you in November. FREE registration is available…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is proud to announce that 33 local nonprofit leaders graduated from its 2024 Leadership Success Academy. While this was the 17th year of the program, it was the first time that the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys hosted it in Islamorada. “We are proud to bring our…
Lunch and Learn Offered at The Studios of Key West Community members are invited to a free presentation on the benefits, challenges and logistics of donating real estate to charitable organizations. The speakers will be attorneys Samuel J. Kaufman and Suzette Alfonso from the Law Offices of Samuel J. Kaufman, P.A., each of whom have…
Community Foundation’s Certificate Program Offered March 26-27, 2024 For the first time ever, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys will hold its signature board member training program in Islamorada. The 2024 Leadership Success Academy will be held at the Islander Resort on Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27. Registration is available online at…
Congratulations to Laura Lietaert, for being named the 2023-2024 “Principal of the Year” for the Monroe County School District! In addition to being a great leader in our local school system, Laura has also committed herself to the upper keys community as a Board member for the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys. Laura assists…
In a small community, leaving an entire estate to a small group of local nonprofits is newsworthy. But for John and Sarah Bartus, who recently did just that through the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys (CFFK), they were hesitant to grant an interview to the Keys Weekly. And when I sat down with them for half…
This Friday, December 15 marks the deadline for nonprofits to nominate exemplary volunteers to be recognized at the Community Foundation’s 24th annual Unsung Heroes Celebration. Organizations will receive two complimentary tickets to the celebration on Friday, February 2, 2024, at noon, at the Key West Marriott Beachside. The online nomination form is available at cffk.org/unsung….
Community Foundation Awards $500,800 to Keys Nonprofits The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is awarding grants totaling $500,800 to 49 Keys nonprofits for projects in all areas of the Keys that will directly benefit our residents, communities, and environment. Ten different community members representing Key West, the Lower Keys, the Middle Keys and Upper…
Time to Nominate. Since 2001, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys has been hosting an annual event to recognize the service of volunteers. Monroe County 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations are invited to nominate one Unsung Hero to recognize that individual’s unpaid contributions over the past year. Each Unsung Hero will be presented with a certificate…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is proud to announce a new initiative to support the sustainability of our Monroe County nonprofits, now and in the future. Thanks to a special gift from long-time Key West resident Jean Stearns (1922-2022), the first 100 individuals or families to provide documentation of a future gift of…
Legacy Challenge Spotlight: Greg and Donna Daniels Greg and Donna Daniels, accomplished entrepreneurs, embody the significance of estate planning, regardless of one’s age. In 2021, these dynamic individuals, both in their 50s, made a resolute commitment to create a lasting legacy by establishing the Gregory and Donna Daniels Memorial Scholarship at the Community Foundation of the…
When you think of Sloppy Joe’s, the Duval Street landmark known around the world, it may bring to mind fun, live music and street-packed events. Now the owners of Sloppy Joe’s are making history in 2023 as philanthropists, with the establishment of the Sloppy Joe’s Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation of the Florida…
Applications for Funding due October 13. The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is accepting applications from nonprofit organizations for its “Up and Over, for the Keys” Grants Program. The Community Foundation will award grants of $5,000 to $20,000 each to 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits for mission-building general operating and/or program support through a competitive grants…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is pleased to announce that local business owner and City of Marathon’s Vice Mayor, Robyn Still, has joined the Foundation’s Middle Keys Advisory Council. The Community Foundation manages over 200 charitable funds totaling over $25 million in assets, making grants over $2 million annually to support Florida Keys…
The Macedonia Fund of the Community Foundation awarded a $3,500.00 grant to The Children’s School (Montessori Children’s School Key West). The Macedonia Fund provides scholarships for Montessori pre-school and kindergarten education to children of African-American and Afro-Caribbean descent, with priority given to families of Bahama Village and members of the U.S. Military. cffk.org/macedonia Pictured from…
PHOTO: Peter MacDougall 1937-2021. A successful campaign has resulted in 24 nonprofit organizations planting the seeds for millions of dollars of permanent support for our Florida Keys community over the coming decades. In early 2022, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys announced a matching program to support the financial sustainability of our Monroe County…
Professionals from charitable organizations across the Keys will convene on Tuesday, September 12, for Florida Keys Nonprofit Day. The event, to be held from 1:30-5 p.m. at the Marathon Community Theatre, is free to paid staff and volunteers of nonprofit organizations, students, and community members interested in nonprofit service. Pre-registration at cffk.org/nonprofitday is…
The last few months have been busy for the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Middle Keys Advisory Council. Since May, the Council has established and awarded two new scholarships for Marathon High School students, and made grants to Marathon High for graduation gifts, to Florida Keys Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) for dental equipment,…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys has retained the services of CAPTRUST, one of the Top 10 U.S. investment advisors for nonprofit endowments. CAPTRUST manages $12 billion for nonprofits including the Orlando-based Central Florida Foundation, the GiveWell Community Foundation in Lakeland, the Pinellas Community Foundation in St. Petersburg, and The Community Foundation Martin-St. Lucie,…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Lower Keys Advisory Council has awarded $3,000 to help fund the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program at Sugarloaf School. The program serves over 500 students from age four through eighth grade, living from Big Coppitt to Big Pine Key. “Since we began enforcing these expectations, we…
To honor her friends Jerry and Caroline Cash, who passed away in 2012 and 2020 respectively, Key West resident Carrie Groomes recently presented the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys with a $25,000 check. The new Jerry and Caroline Cash Endowment Fund will make annual grants in perpetuity to support environmental conservation, animals, and the…
The 2023 Teachers of Merit Awards, and the Harry and Linda Bryant Fund Award were presented at Key West High School. Awards totaling $66,000.00 were given to 10 teachers who went above and beyond to make our community brighter and more brilliant! Thank you to all the teachers in our community for making a difference….
The Community Foundation was on hand to present scholarships and awards to the Class of 2023 at Key West High School. Over $50,000 of scholarships and awards are processed through the various funds at the Community Foundation. Board members Larry Nolt and Heidi Morris took turns rewarding the students for their amazing accomplishments. Thank you…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is pleased to announce that estate attorney Bobby Highsmith and real estate investor Ken Silverman have been elected to its Board of Governors. The Board is responsible for the organization’s efforts countywide including managing over 180 charitable funds totaling over $25 million, making grants over $2 million annually…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Lower Keys Advisory Council has awarded $8,000 in grants to organizations headquartered in the Lower Keys, supporting projects that will benefit residents in communities from Big Coppitt to Big Pine Key. The Jose Wejebe Memorial Foundation received $3,000 to provide boating outings for Lower Keys at-risk youth…
The magic of Aladdin has come early for Key Largo School Drama Club Director Michele Zofchak and over 50 students who will perform in the upcoming dual-language, English/Spanish, production of Disney’s Aladdin. Recently the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys granted $11,000 to Key Largo School to support the production to supply costumes for all…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is proud to announce that 43 nonprofit board and staff members graduated from its 2023 Leadership Success Academy. The Community Foundation hosted its training program on March 7 and 8 at the Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key West. “This is the 16th year of our program…
Organization Presents Surprise Checks Totaling $5,000 to the Key West Garden Club & the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden. At its 23rd Annual Unsung Heroes event, the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys named two Nonprofit Partners in Paradise. Board chair Will Langley presented the Key West Garden Club and the Key West…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is honored to announce the appointment of Elizabeth Brown as its Vice President for Philanthropy. The new full-time employee will be based in Islamorada, a historic achievement for the community foundation which has operated from Key West for 27 years as of May 1. Brown brings over 15…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys has opened enrollment for its 2023 Leadership Success Academy, a “bootcamp” for nonprofit board members. The Community Foundation’s signature training program will be held at the Tennessee Williams Theatre in Key West on March 7 and 8, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Registration is available…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Upper Keys Advisory Council has awarded a total of $10,000 to help local food banks that have been experiencing increased demand: $4,000 to Burton Memorial United Methodist Church, in Tavernier $3,000 to First Baptist Church, in Islamorada $3,000 to St. Justin Martyr Church, in Key Largo…
The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys is accepting nominations for its 23rd annual Unsung Heroes Celebration, recognizing the tremendous efforts of our community’s volunteers. Every 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit or faith-based organization in the Florida Keys is invited to nominate one volunteer to be honored. The online nomination form is available at cffk.org/unsung. Organizations who…
Check out all the accomplishments over the past challenging year and ways we’ve been working together for the past 25 years to serve the Keys.
