provided to The Santiva Chronicle
On March 2, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) welcomed donors, nonprofit partners, and community members to a special gathering highlighting the early impact of the Community Impact Fund and the projects already underway across Sanibel and Captiva.
Held at the Sanibel & Captiva Realtors Association, the event brought together community leaders and supporters for coffee, conversation, and updates from nonprofit partners who received Community Impact Fund grants.
Representatives from several organizations shared how funding is already supporting important programs and initiatives throughout the islands. The projects highlighted align with the Community Impact Fund’s key focus areas of community resiliency, support for older adults, and nonprofit development and capacity building.
Presentations were given by Children’s Education Center of the Islands (CECI), Community Housing & Resources (CHR), FGCU AIN Hub for Innovation and Design, FISH of SanCap, Saint Michael and All Angels Church, the Sanibel Art Hop initiative, the Sanibel Recreation Center, the SanCap Chamber of Commerce, and SanCap Resilience, each sharing how the grants are helping strengthen programs and services that benefit the island community.
In addition to hearing project updates, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and share feedback on community priorities, helping guide future grantmaking decisions.
CFI also announced the creation of a new Disaster Reserve, an evergreen fund designed to support future emergency response and recovery efforts serving Sanibel and Captiva residents. The reserve has been seeded with $50,000, with a goal of growing the fund to $250,000 by the end of the season to better prepare the community for future disasters.
CFI also provided an update on the Community Impact Fund’s overall growth. In its inaugural year, the fund raised more than $218,000, allowing CFI to support a range of local initiatives that strengthen the island community.
“This gathering was about closing the loop with our donors and community—showing how generosity turns into real, visible impact,” said Dolly Farrell, Executive Director of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands. “We are incredibly grateful to the donors whose generosity made these grants possible. It was also an opportunity to listen, learn, and continue shaping what comes next together.”
The Community Impact Fund is a flexible, pooled fund that allows donors at all levels to participate in strategic grantmaking that strengthens the islands today and in the future. Grants in 2025 support older adults and positive aging thanks to the Shady Rest Foundation, as well as community resiliency, nonprofit development, and capacity building.
To learn more about the grant-funded projects, visit MyCFI.org. If you are interested in learning more about the fund or submitting a grant request, you may do so here: https://form.jotform.com/260183216498158.
CFI extends its gratitude to the nonprofit partners, donors, and community members who participated in the conversation about strengthening the future of Sanibel and Captiva.
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