Gulf Coast Community Foundation reaches out to area philanthropists

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation’s mission statement reads: “Together with our donors, we transform our region through bold and proactive philanthropy.”

To better achieve its mission, the Venice-based organization opened a new Philanthropy Center July 1, on Osprey Avenue in Sarasota’s Southside Village.

The new facility, which was made possible via a donation from Longboat Key resident Daniel Paradies, offers a relaxed, living room-style environment in which staff and board members can meet with philanthropists and other members of the community to discuss ways in which they can collaborate in giving back to Sarasota.

The building features several couches and meeting tables to host group meetings or one-on-one conversations, and the front window is also equipped with a projection screen that plays video and audio information about the organization for shoppers passing by.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation originally owned a small satellite office in Sarasota, which it utilized to host meetings if donors were in the area. But, as more Sarasota donors became involved with the organization’s larger initiatives, such as combating hunger issues and providing a safety net for homeless children, board members wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to provide a more convenient meeting space. According to Greg Luberecki, director of communications at GCCF, the new location will increase the community foundation’s visibility in Sarasota and open doors for new opportunities in the area.

“There’s a lot of energy in the neighborhood, and I think this (location) will help us show the people living there what’s possible and attract more people who might not know about what we do,” says Luberecki.

The Philanthropy Center will also serve as an educational tool to spread awareness about what needs exist within the community and help bring together the proper people and resources to approach them.

We hope to educate more people, and that as they learn, they’ll become more apt to get involved,” says Luberecki.

Forging philanthropy
The new Gulf Coast Community Foundation Philanthropy Center is located at 1931 S. Osprey Ave. and is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 468-4600 or visit gulfcoastcf.org.