Nonprofit

Where do you play in Tampa Bay? A new nonprofit wants to know.

“Giving Tuesday” is a global day of giving, fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. It follows Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday to remind us to think of those in need during the holidays.

As nonprofits strive to become financially sustainable, the concept of “social enterprise” – combining the social mission of a nonprofit with the market-driven approach of a business – is gaining popularity.

Recent news coverage showed how much the Tampa Bay community helped those in need after Hurricane Irma. But the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay sees firsthand how much our community cares all year long.

The Children’s Dream Fund fulfills the dreams of children with life-threatening diseases.

Tampa Bay covers 2,700 square miles of open water and watershed, and as development has increased, its wetlands have suffered. One answer? Plant seagrass.

The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay recently held its Big Idea Grant Competition and awarded $50,000 to fund a nonprofit’s social enterprise idea. The goal was for organizations to build sustainability and generate revenue to further their missions. Think Girl Scout cookies or Goodwill stores.

This special edition of The Tampa Bay 100 highlights 15 great nonprofit organizations that are participating in Give Day Tampa Bay, a 24-hour online giving challenge on May 2 hosted by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.

St. Petersburg has several “food deserts,” or areas where fresh fruits and vegetables are not readily available due to a lack of grocery stores, farmers’ markets and other healthy food providers.

The holiday season is a popular time to make contributions in the community. Take a few additional steps before making a gift to ensure your contribution makes an impact:

Money is often the biggest obstacle for students wanting to pursue postsecondary education, yet more than $9M in federal financial aid went unused last year because only 4 in 10 Hillsborough County seniors filled out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – the first step in receiving aid.