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Impact100 SRQ Awards $864,000 to Eight Local Nonprofits, Fueling Transformational Change Across Sarasota and Manatee Counties

| Suncoast Post Staff |

In a powerful display of collective philanthropy, members of Impact100 SRQ awarded $864,000 in transformational grants to eight local nonprofits during the organization’s Annual Celebration & Awards Ceremony, held at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium at the Bay.

More than 860 voting members gathered for the annual event, where ten nonprofit Grant Finalists delivered compelling presentations outlining initiatives designed to create long-term, sustainable impact throughout Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Following the presentations, members voted to fund eight grants of $108,000 each, supporting projects across five key focus areas: Arts, Culture & History; Education; Environment, Recreation & Animal Welfare; Family; and Health & Wellness.

The grant recipients were announced live at the event, marking a celebratory moment that underscored the collective power of women coming together to invest in meaningful, community-driven change.

“Every year, our members prove that when women come together with purpose, generosity, and vision, we can create transformational change in our community,” said Pam Kandziora, Co-President of Impact100 SRQ. “These grants will empower nonprofits to expand their reach and deepen their impact in ways that truly matter.”

2025 Impact100 SRQ Grant Recipients

Arts, Culture & History

  • WSLR + Fogartyville – Built for Belonging: A fully equipped, flexible, community-driven space designed to foster creativity, inclusion, and cultural expression.

Education

  • Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County – ReadingPals and Storytimers, strengthening early literacy and lifelong learning.
  • Selah Freedom – Safeguarding Our Youth – See The Signs, empowering communities to recognize and prevent exploitation.

Environment, Recreation & Animal Welfare

  • Oyster River Ecology – Suncoast Community-Led Oyster Reef Revival, restoring vital marine ecosystems through local engagement.

Family

  • Academy at Glengary, Inc. – Blueprint of Self-Support (BOSS): A Family Affair, strengthening family stability and self-sufficiency.
  • Manatee Children’s Services – Healing Paws, Helping Hands, integrating therapy and compassion for child abuse survivors.

Health & Wellness

  • Hand Up To Victory – Next Steps Sarasota, expanding access to adaptive services and community inclusion.
  • Loveland Center, Inc. – Ride Together, Rise Together, enhancing mobility and independence for individuals with disabilities.

Since its founding in 2018, Impact100 SRQ members have collectively funded 30 transformational grants totaling more than $4.1 million, demonstrating the measurable power of women pooling their resources to create lasting, positive change across the region.

Women inspired by Impact100 SRQ’s mission are invited to join this growing movement of collective giving. The Membership Drive for the 2026 Giving Year is open through March 26, 2026, offering the opportunity to be part of a dynamic community investing directly in the future of Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

To learn more or become a member, visit www.Impact100SRQ.org/membership.

About Impact100 SRQ

Founded in 2018, Impact100 SRQ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and one of more than 75 Impact100 chapters worldwide. Using a collective giving model, at least 100 women contribute $1,000 annually, pooling funds to award grants of $100,000 or more to local nonprofits. The organization’s mission is to create measurable, sustainable impact while empowering women as philanthropic leaders.

Press Photo (left to right):
Colleen Whattaker and Rachel Spivey (Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County); Marie Berthou and Vanessa Alcantara (Academy at Glengary, Inc.); Patrick Guerin III and Becca Eldredge (Loveland Center, Inc.); Damon Moore and Abbey Kuhn (Oyster River Ecology); Gabrielle Triplett (Selah Freedom); Kimberly Griffin and Krista Post (Manatee Children’s Services); Kathleen Murray and Ariel Aparicio-Jerro (WSLR + Fogartyville); Austyn Culhane and Justin Halas (Hand Up To Victory).

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