Parenting Matters Receives $8,000 Grant to Strengthen Family Support Services in Sarasota County
A respected nonprofit that has spent more than three decades helping families across Southwest Florida is preparing for its next chapter of growth.
Parenting Matters has been awarded an $8,000 Capacity Building Grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, funding that will help the organization launch a consultant-led strategic planning initiative aimed at strengthening its long-term impact on local families.
Based in Sarasota, Parenting Matters provides evidence-based parenting education and support to families with children from birth through age 17. The nonprofit says the grant comes at an important time as it continues expanding its programs, staff, and community reach.
What the Grant Will Fund
The funding will be used to create a comprehensive strategic plan that helps align the organization’s leadership, board, and long-term goals while ensuring Parenting Matters remains responsive to the changing needs of families in the region.
This effort is being supported in part by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, one of the area’s leading philanthropic organizations. The foundation has long played a key role in strengthening nonprofits throughout the region through grants, scholarships, and charitable support — including capacity-building grants that have helped other local organizations grow their impact.
Parenting Matters will partner with Joey Brannon, founder and CEO of Axiom Strategic, to guide the planning process. Brannon is no stranger to the organization — his connection to Parenting Matters spans nearly 20 years, including previous service as both a board member and Board Chair. That history gives him a unique perspective as the organization looks ahead.
The strategic planning process will examine Parenting Matters’ current position, assess outside factors including funding trends and community needs, and establish measurable goals for the future. The final result is expected to be a practical roadmap that helps the organization stay focused, aligned, and sustainable as it grows.
What Leadership Is Saying
Katie Becker, Executive Director of Parenting Matters, emphasized how critical this moment is for the organization:
“This investment allows us to take an important step forward as an organization. As we continue to grow, it is essential that we remain aligned in our vision and intentional in our approach. This strategic planning process will help ensure we are making the greatest possible impact for the families we serve.”
Brannon echoed that focus on results over process:
“The planning is important, but execution is what truly makes the difference. This process is about building structure, accountability, and alignment so Parenting Matters can continue to grow its impact in a meaningful and sustainable way.”
For nonprofits, capacity-building grants like this one often do far more than cover administrative costs. They help organizations improve their structure, planning, and ability to deliver stronger results over time.
About Parenting Matters
Founded in 1994, Parenting Matters has built a strong reputation in Southwest Florida for delivering personalized services in both English and Spanish. The nonprofit offers a range of support, from in-home visits to group workshops, often at no cost to families.
The organization is one of only 67 nationally Accredited Child Abuse Prevention Centers in the country — and one of just three in Florida — a distinction that reflects the quality and credibility of its programs.
Its mission is simple but powerful: advancing the lives of children, together with their parents. Its vision is a future where every child has the opportunity to succeed.
That mission is especially relevant as many local families continue to navigate economic pressures, changing school environments, child development challenges, and the everyday demands of parenting in a fast-moving world. This grant is the latest in a series of investments backing Parenting Matters’ growth — the Wilson-Wood Foundation donated $15,000 to support local families through Parenting Matters, and the Bishop-Parker Foundation awarded a $35,000 grant to expand programs serving Manatee County families.
About the Community Foundation of Sarasota County
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, founded in 1979, is one of the area’s most important charitable institutions. With more than $605 million in assets across over 1,600 charitable funds, the foundation awarded $44.7 million in grants and scholarships last year. Since its founding, it has granted more than $542 million to nonprofits serving the community.
For Parenting Matters, this latest grant is more than a financial boost. It is an investment in stronger planning, stronger leadership, and ultimately, stronger families across Sarasota County and beyond.
For more information about the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, visit cfsarasota.org.