provided to The Santiva Chronicle
As Southwest Florida prepares to celebrate the opening of the new Heights CareerTech Institute this August, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands is proud to recognize the extraordinary generosity of its donor-advised fundholders, whose grantmaking has helped make transformational community investments possible.
Over the years, CFI donor-advised fundholders have recommended more than $265,000 in grants to The Heights Foundation, supporting its mission of building strong, self-sufficient families through education, opportunity, and enrichment.
The opening of the Heights CareerTech Institute marks an exciting milestone not only for the Harlem Heights community, but for all of Southwest Florida. The new state-of-the-art post-secondary career and technical education campus will provide industry-recognized training and credentials in high-demand career fields, creating pathways to meaningful employment while strengthening the region’s workforce. The Institute represents a significant investment in the future of Southwest Florida by equipping students with the skills needed for lifelong success.
“At CFI, we believe philanthropy is about investing in people and creating opportunities that last for generations,” said Dolly Farrell, Executive Director of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands. “The generosity of our donor-advised fundholders has helped The Heights Foundation expand educational opportunities and strengthen families throughout Southwest Florida.
“The opening of the Heights CareerTech Institute is an inspiring example of what can happen when visionary donors, dedicated nonprofit leaders, and community partners come together to invest in the future. We are especially proud to see Leadership Sanibel & Captiva alumna Annie Campbell helping lead this transformational effort, and we look forward to seeing the lives that will be changed because of this incredible new facility,” said Farrell.
CFI is also proud to recognize one of its own Leadership Sanibel & Captiva alumni. Annie Campbell, Development Director for The Heights Foundation and a graduate of the Leadership Sanibel & Captiva Class of 2022, has played an instrumental role in leading the fundraising efforts that have helped bring the Heights CareerTech Institute to life. Her leadership, passion, and dedication have been key to advancing this transformational project, ensuring future generations have access to high-quality career and technical education opportunities.
The Charitable Foundation of the Islands manages more than $9 million in charitable assets, including donor-advised funds that empower individuals, families, and businesses to make strategic charitable investments in the causes they care about most. Through the generosity of its donor-advised fundholders, CFI continues to support organizations that improve education, strengthen families, protect the environment, develop community leaders, and enhance the quality of life throughout Southwest Florida.
The impact of CFI’s donor-advised fundholders continues to grow. In 2025 alone, donor-advised fundholders recommended more than $1.6 million in grants to 40 nonprofit organizations. An impressive 93.5% of those grant dollars remained in Southwest Florida, directly supporting local organizations and strengthening the communities they call home. Additionally, CFI donor-advised fundholders distributed more than 20% of their charitable assets during the year—far exceeding the commonly referenced 5% annual payout benchmark and demonstrating an extraordinary commitment to active, community-focused philanthropy.
As the Heights CareerTech Institute opens its doors to its first students, CFI celebrates not only an extraordinary new educational facility but also the generosity of donor-advised fundholders whose philanthropy is helping create brighter futures for individuals, families, and the entire Southwest Florida community.
Interested in Learning More About Donor-Advised Funds?
A donor-advised fund is a simple, flexible, and tax-efficient way to support the charitable causes you care about while creating a lasting philanthropic legacy. Whether you are interested in establishing a new fund, transferring an existing charitable account, or learning more about how donor-advised funds can help maximize your charitable impact, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands is here to help.
To learn more about donor-advised funds, please contact Dolly Farrell, Executive Director, at info@sancapcfi.org or call 239-322-3818.
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