Pinellas Community Foundation staff believe that individuals should see the work of nonprofits firsthand to better understand their impact.
Last month, the organization hosted its biannual bus tour for fund holders and supporters. The Pinellas Community Foundation provides philanthropic expertise, community leadership and investment oversight to support local nonprofits.
Pinellas Community Foundation vice president of philanthropy Meg Lokey explained that the team wants to connect donors to different nonprofits so that they can learn more about programs in the county that they may not be aware of.
She added that fund holders “can learn about the different needs in the community and the different ways nonprofits are solving these needs.”
Participants met with Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside representatives in the unincorporated community of Lealman and toured a few of the organization’s residential projects. The goal was to educate them about Habitat’s mission, which is to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope.
Additionally, attendees visited Girls Inc. of Pinellas’ facility in Pinellas Park. According to the entity’s website, the nonprofit is focused on building the next generation of strong, smart and bold leaders through direct service and advocacy. Lokey said that the fund holders and supporters were able to attend a Girls Inc. afterschool program and participate in activities such as science experiments and craft projects.
The tour made a stop at the Palm Harbor Museum as well. She explained that this gave the attendees an opportunity to explore Pinellas County’s history.
Lokey added that the Pinellas Community Foundation’s work is multifaceted.
“A big part of what we do, and we’re known best for, is giving grants out to nonprofits to allow them to have operating funds to solve the community’s needs,” she said. “We also connect donors to nonprofits and connect nonprofits to each other.”
The Pinellas Community Foundation adjusts its funding efforts every grant cycle.
“The needs of the community change every year,” she said. “Who knew that hunger would be such a huge problem in this area, and that so many of these nonprofits would need to be created to provide food for people who just simply can’t afford food right now?”
According to the St. Petersburg-based nonprofit Daystar Life, approximately 13% of the county’s population or over 150,000 individuals experience food insecurity.
“With different types of government funding drying up and different budgets getting cut, private philanthropy is more important than ever in solving these community needs,” Lokey added.
Pinellas Community Foundation website