In this Issue: Sanibel Captiva Recovery Fund Assists 32 Businesses Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Class in Full Swing Lisa Riordan Begins Term as CFI Board Chair CFI Drops DAF Minimum to $10,000, Launches Community Impact Fund CHR Selected as First Grant Recipient of 100+ Women Who Care Grant Shell Point Retirement Community Supports Positive Aging Initiative
Sanibel-Captiva Volunteer Directory Available Online |
SanCap Recovery Fund Assists 32 Businesses |
As of February 15th, 32 independently owned island businesses have benefited from the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund, providing critical grants of up to $5,000 to help them recover and rebuild following Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton. Fifteen more businesses are in the pipeline for the small business support program. Thanks to our generous donors, we exceeded the $125,000 matching gift challenge and raised a total of $266,000.
Our community partners make this possible. Thanks to FISH of SanCap for administering the program. The Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce also allocated staff to assist businesses with the applications. |
Small Business Owners Share Their Gratitude After the hurricane, CFI stepped in and provided the funding I desperately needed to repair the damage to my restaurant. This support was absolutely vital. I'm so grateful for their help, and I'm confident that I'll emerge from this stronger than ever.
Many Thanks, Michael Puente Blue Giraffe Sanibel ******* The Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Grant allowed me to purchase additional inventory of parts for the maintenance of my rental inventory. Thank you! Marcel Ventura YOLO Watersports, Inc. |
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Leadership Sanibel-Captiva 2025 in Full Swing |
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The Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program is an immersive eight-week initiative to develop emerging volunteer leaders on the Islands. The program's third cohort began on January 7th with the Opening Session sponsored by Bank of the Islands. The evening included a Q&A with the City of Sanibel's Founding Mayor Porter Goss and his son Chauncey Goss (pictured above).
The program's mission is to educate and inspire the future volunteer leaders of the Islands. To date, more than 60% of alumni serve in leadership roles with Island nonprofit and civic boards. |
Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Class of 2025 gathers for Opening Session on January 7th.
Back row (left to right): Miles Sweiss, Matthew Pierce, Dane Johnson, Brad Andres, Jason Chiklakis, and Evan duPont. Front row (left to right) – Sue Van Oss, Kelly Niesel, Laura Gales, Arielle Cohen, Ilie Ruby, Pam Norton; Dolly Farrell (CFI Executive Director); and Ken Washuta (CFI Leadership Chair). Not Pictured: David Haas. |
(L to R): Sanibel's First Mayor Porter Goss with CFI Chair Emeritus Al Hanser |
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Lisa Riordan Begins Term as CFI Board Chair |
The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) Board of Directors will see several changes in 2025 as the Executive Committee transitioned to a new slate of officers in January, all of whom bring a wealth of experience and dedication to their roles. This includes Lisa Riordan (Chair), Doug Congress (Vice Chair), John Morse (Secretary), and Mike Bennett (Treasurer). After completing five years of service as CFI’s Board Chair, Chip Roach will serve as the Immediate Past Chair through 2025.
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CFI Drops DAF Minimum to $10K, Launches Community Impact Fund for Collective Grantmaking |
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On February 11, 2025, the Sanibel Captiva Trust Company and the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) hosted a Community Conversation celebrating the island’s 50-year history of philanthropy.
During the event, CFI Executive Director Dolly Farrell announced that the minimum to open a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) will be lowered to $10,000 for 2025 in honor of the 25th anniversary of the formalization of the Good Neighbor Fund. Previously, the minimum was $25,000. Additionally, CFI introduced a new community impact fund that operates similarly to a DAF and allows individuals to pool their donations and collectively award grants twice a year.
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CHR Selected as First Grant Recipient at 100+ Women's Inaugural Meeting |
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Pictured from left to right: Savannah Miller-Berg, CFI Director of Community Relations; Pam Browning, 100+ Women Who Care Volunteer; Shelley Greggs, Clair Beckmann, and Erika Steiner, CHR Board Members; Dolly Farrell, CFI Executive Director; Nicole McHale, CHR Executive Director; and Jane Majeski, CFI Board Member and 100+ Women Chair. |
Next 100+ Women Who Care Meetings March 4th and April 1st |
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Shell Point Retirement Community Supports Positive Aging Initiative |
Older adults living or engaged on Sanibel and Captiva Islands will benefit from a $20,000 donation from Shell Point Retirement Community to the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI). The funds will support CFI’s Positive Aging Initiative, which awards grants to nonprofit organizations serving older adults on the Islands. Santiva Islanders were selected for the inaugural grant. The Positive Aging Initiative distributed $90,000 to FISH of SanCap, CHR and the Santiva Islanders in 2024.
“Shell Point champions promoting positive aging for seniors throughout Southwest Florida,” said Martin Schappell, President of Shell Point. “We are proud to partner with CFI to enhance programs that enrich the lives of the Island’s older adults—many of whom later become active members of our Shell Point community.” |
Sanibel-Captiva Volunteer Directory
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CFI is a public grant-making charity as described in Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN # 27-4027791). |
| | CFI's mission is to inspire philanthropy, leadership and collaboration for the vitality of the Island community. |
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