Manatee Community Foundation Is Your Partner in Philanthropy

Philanthropy can mean different things to different people.

“Philanthropy to me is giving of not only dollars but also using knowledge from my business career to help guide charitable organizations and donating my time to do that,” said Manatee Community Foundation (MCF) board member Tom Breiter, a financial advisor who serves on the MCF Finance and Investment Committee.

For others, donating to the causes they care about may be their definition of philanthropy. No matter how you define it, MCF is here to walk alongside you, helping transform generosity into lasting impact. If that aligns with your definition, MCF can help you strategically and thoughtfully plan your giving to create a lasting legacy for generations to come. As Manatee County’s only Community Foundation serving the entire county, MCF is deeply rooted in the fabric of our community, serving neighbors in ways that matter most—whether today or tomorrow.

For example, after last year’s hurricanes, MCF took a leadership role in conjunction with local government and other organizations to devise the most effective response.

“I’m particularly proud that MCF was able to jump into action and help the area and coordinate to move dollars and human efforts where they were best needed,” Breiter said. Following the hurricanes, MCF invested in establishing a new COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) by leveraging County and United Way resources.

Not only does MCF step in when our community needs assistance, it also supports nonprofits in our area through grants, scholarships, capacity-building, and professional development learning opportunities, including Manatee Connects and Changemakers Collective, which provide tools to help run those organizations more efficiently. These initiatives reflect MCF’s belief that strong nonprofits build strong communities.

“MCF helps donors amplify their impact and direct their dollars because Manatee Community Foundation knows their communities and which organizations are doing the good work and which ones are strongest from a financial standpoint,” said Breiter.

You can make a meaningful, ongoing contribution to our community by partnering with MCF in creating a charitable fund. Funds can be established in a variety of ways, including cash, securities, and real estate. Future gifts may come from a charitable remainder trust, life insurance policy, will, bequest, or living trust. And MCF can help reduce the tax burden and capital gains of appreciated assets and take mandatory distributions from IRAs, to name a few.

“Opening an endowed fund would allow someone to have a legacy - forever,” Breiter said. “The knowledge that donors and their kids can have is that they’ve made an impact that lasts, in a place they care about.”

Donors can specify that their funds benefit causes that matter the most to them, such as education, animals, or homelessness.

“If someone has the intent to give but they may not know exactly who to give to, we can support them in their decision of making those gifts,” Breiter said.

At Manatee Community Foundation, our mission is simple but powerful: connect the generosity of donors with the real needs of our community. MCF invites donors, families, and professional advisors to contact their philanthropy team to discuss how they can ensure their investments strengthen Manatee County, our region, and our world—now and forever.

Lastly, Manatee Community Foundation has launched The Giving Gallery, an online space designed to connect visionary donors with innovative projects. This curated list of funding opportunities serves as a co-investment catalog where generosity meets opportunity – a place where individuals can align their passions with transformative community work.

For information about Manatee Community Foundation, visit www.manateecf.org