Our Board of Directors recently approved $6 million in grants to improve access to quality education, expand human services for vulnerable community members, strengthen local arts programs, and more.
“These grants reflect our belief that meaningful change begins with big ideas and trusted partners,” said Teri A Hansen, President | CEO of Barancik Foundation. “We are committed to investing in organizations that are shaping a more hopeful future and fueling partnerships that can make our community stronger, smarter, and more compassionate.”
Education
Suncoast Science Center will reach more students with its hands-on STEAM programming.
Suncoast Science Center – $450,000 to enable more students to participate in its STEAM programming and to expand its Science Lending Library for use by local teachers in their classrooms. This grant includes a $150,000 match to help the organization leverage additional support from donors.
FUNducation – $400,000 to enhance the organization’s capacity so it can provide exceptional STEAM education to more students.
Manatee Education Foundation – $250,000 to support the planned Soar Lab, an expansion of the Soar in 4 literacy initiative that will bring high-quality learning materials directly into neighborhoods in Bradenton. Half of the grant is designed as a match to leverage additional donations to the project.
Barancik Foundation’s Board also directed new funding to the Foundation’s two multiyear education initiatives:
- $900,000 for Barancik Foundation’s Early Learning Initiative, which works to improve the quality of early learning in Sarasota County. Among the strategies that will be supported with this funding are building the local workforce of early learning educators, supporting mental and behavioral health services in area preschools, and enhancing the leadership and management capacity of early learning center directors.
- $750,000 for the Teacher Recruitment, Retention, and Recognition Initiative, a partnership with Sarasota County Schools that funds several activities to help the school district recruit and retain high-quality teachers. Among them are paid classroom internships for aspiring educators pursuing teaching degrees at area colleges, as well as stipends for their teacher mentors, and funding of a district staff position dedicated to talent acquisition.
Humanitarian Causes
Ability to Include will expand programs like TOPSoccer for children with disabilities.
Operation Warrior Resolution – $850,000 toward the purchase of a permanent state-of-the-art facility from which to base its operations and improve the quality of its holistic mental-healthcare services for veterans.
Help to Home – $375,000 to support construction of phase two of Hope Village of Manatee, its new neighborhood for temporary supportive housing in Bradenton.
Family Promise of South Sarasota County – $350,000 to renovate its family shelter site in Venice for safety, security, and increased capacity to temporarily house more families in need.
Bridge a Life – $300,000 to expand its foster-care prevention and adoption preservation and support services to meet growing needs in the region.
We Care Manatee – $300,000 to expand Care Connection Manatee, a program that provides quality medical care assistance to uninsured residents and helps them navigate the healthcare system.
Ability to Include – $150,000 to expand its services providing specialized education, recreation, and caregiver support for children with special needs in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The Foundation’s Board also approved allocations to funds that support human services and mental health needs in the community:
- $205,000 to seed a mental health fund from which the Foundation will direct grants to fill gaps in mental health services in the community.
- $200,000 to assist Foundation grantees in implementing Unite Us, a software platform that enables service referrals and coordination across the community’s network of health and human service providers.
Arts and Culture
Art Center Sarasota plans to enhance its exhibition and education programs.
Art Center Sarasota – $250,000 in operational support to expand its free art programming, engage more emerging local artists, and enhance its community impact as the center approaches its centennial.
Sarasota Music Conservatory – $230,000 to support operations and need-based scholarships so it can serve more students with high-quality music instruction and performance opportunities.
Environment
SunCoast Blood Centers – $85,000 to support the Resilience Incubator, a collaborative office space housing nearly a dozen environmental nonprofit organizations on the second floor of its facility on Mound Street in Sarasota.
