Greetings!

It's hard to believe that summer has come and gone, the school year is well underway, and we are preparing for the fall and holiday seasons. Despite those typical happenings, things look different this year for so many of our friends and neighbors.

With so much change happening in the world, one thing has remained consistent - the kindness and generosity of the people in our community, many of whom will never even fully understand the impact they have made in the lives of others. You are the heroes who are making 2020 the year that we show our resilience and that Brevardians come together in times of need.

At the Community Foundation for Brevard, we are surrounded by partners, nonprofits, donors, and community members whose work reminds us not to be defined by the challenges we face, but how we grow from them and move forward together. There is much work to be done as 2020 comes to a close and we begin the new year.

Please know that we are here for you as your trusted philanthropic partner. As always, I am proud to join together with each of you in making Brevard a better place for us all to live, work and play.

With deep appreciation,
Rising to the Challenge - Together!

When we rang in 2020, few fully grasped that our community, the nation, and the world would be in the midst of a pandemic. The impacts have been devastating, and the Community Foundation for Brevard quickly recognized the urgent needs and responded. Immediately after the pandemic hit, we began working together with our funding partners, Space Coast Health Foundation and United Way of Brevard, and generous fund partners and donors to help ensure local nonprofits had additional support to continue helping the people they serve.

Great Need: Strong Response
The need is great to ensure that those facing housing and food insecurity and other hardships have places to turn for resources. Individual donors and companies responded with gifts to our Brevard Relief Fund - COVID-19. At the same time, our Donor Advised Fund holders stepped-up with immense generosity and kindness. Through October 1, nearly $230,000 has been granted through the Community Foundation for Brevard to support a wide array of emergency needs in our community.

“The Community Foundation worked quickly and decisively. We started
by reaching out to our funding partners and then focusing on front-line agencies.
We knew this was bigger than us and wanted to ensure agencies had additional resources as they dealt directly with the people most affected."

Theresa Grimison, President/CEO,
Community Foundation for Brevard


Better Together: Over a Million Dollars Awarded
Through a collaborative COVID-19 Response Initiative, $1,070,931 million has been granted through the Community Foundation for Brevard, Space Coast Health Foundation and United Way of Brevard to individuals and local nonprofits serving the most vulnerable populations. Some grant focus areas include:

  • United Way of Brevard, the first local agency to offer individual assistance after the pandemic hit, provided $569,264 in direct individual emergency assistance, helping 395 families in need.

  • Space Coast Health Foundation has granted $148,000 focused on the health and stability of individuals and families impacted by COVID-19; including, a two-week ‘Dental Days’ program, in collaboration with the Brevard Health Alliance, and an advocacy effort supporting Medicaid expansion, which aims to improve access to care for those most in need.

  • Together, as of October 1, the Community Foundation for Brevard, Space Coast Health Foundation and United Way of Brevard, have jointly distributed more than $500,000 to nonprofits providing food, housing assistance, adaptation of virtual learning programs, healthcare services, organizational support, mental health, and more.

When the pandemic hit, the number of families in need
exponentially increased as large numbers of our residents found themselves
out of work and scared they could lose their home.

The funds Family Promise of Brevard received from the CFB, SCHF and UW
came at a critical time when federal funds had either been exhausted or
CARES dollars had not yet kicked in to assist. With the combined funds to date, we've assisted 95 families impacted by a loss of income due to the pandemic,
totaling 353 people (219 of them children).

The most important part is that 94% of the families we served through
these prevention dollars have remained housed! We know housing
equals healthcare, housing equals education, and housing equals stability!
We are thankful for the flexibility and confidence in our services to
administer these funds for Brevard families to have every opportunity
to weather the pandemic and come out stronger than before.

Tara Pagliarini, Executive Director
Family Promise of Brevard

As Brevard County has started to reopen during the pandemic, the Community Foundation has remained focused on supporting needs related to COVID-19. Moving forward, we are also concerned about long-term negative impacts. Despite the strong philanthropic response to date, we know the health and economic well-being of many of Brevard’s residents are threatened, and nonprofits will need the resources to respond. The cost of extra precautions and services combined with decreased revenues will increase the strain on agencies.

Give or Learn More
Donors can give in many ways. All donations are tax deductible.
  • Donate online by selecting "Brevard Relief Fund - COVID-19"
  • Stock transfer or IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) contact theresag@cfbrevard.org
  • Donor Advised Fund recommendations can be made online here
  • Mail donations to 1361 Bedford Drive, Ste 102, Melbourne, FL 32940 and indicate 'COVID-19 Fund' in the memo

Call 321.752.5505 or visit cfbrevard.org/covid-19 to see the full list of grantees and learn more.
Supporting an Inclusive Vision for the Space Coast

The Community Foundation continues to learn where and how it can be most helpful and make the greatest impact. We also continue to rely on available data to determine where needs are most critical in key focus areas. Across every sector, one data trend has become unequivocally clear: communities of color are disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

The recent tragedies and ensuing national conversation on race has brought to light that racism is still woven into the fabric of our country. It effects our schools and workplaces, economic situations, and the health and living conditions that disproportionately expose so many.

As a community builder for ALL people, the Community Foundation pledges to strengthen our whole community through philanthropy. We must do more heavy lifting to shift dynamics and achieve change. We have begun to ask ourselves:

  • What barriers might be within our processes that need to be broken down to better partner with more diverse organizations, more leaders of color, and our communities of color? 
  • How do we formally apply an equity lens to all that we do? 
  • How do we use our voice as a community leader to amplify those who need to be heard? 

These are hard questions to answer, but we commit to having the critical conversations that are needed to make change within and throughout. That’s why we have launched the new Equity & Inclusion Fund. This fund will provide grants for nonprofit organizations addressing inequity, inclusion and access to opportunities for everyone in our community. Please consider a gift to help us grow these resources.
For Paul and Shirley Friedland, Personal Experience Guides Philanthropic Giving
Shirley, a retired nonprofit leader and Paul who founded a technology company, share a passion for philanthropy and community. Active in the community, it has been a lifelong goal for both to help others.

Paul and Shirley Friedland joined the Community Foundation for Brevard in 2016 when they transferred a portion of their commercial advised fund to create the Paul and Shirley Friedland Fund, a personalized donor advised fund (DAF) at the Community Foundation.

Originally learning about the Community Foundation through their attorney, Kurt Panouses, Paul and Shirley became engaged in several of the Foundation’s special events, tours and learning opportunities. Through this engagement, their knowledge of the community and their philanthropy has continued to grow. They closed their commercial fund to create a family of philanthropic funds at the Community Foundation for Brevard.

“Being part of the Community Foundation we get to be a part of something bigger than ourselves,” shared Shirley. “We get to network with a lot of the people who are other funders and it’s a little bit like coming home, getting to see everyone. It’s enjoyable and thrilling to see how our philanthropic dollars leveraged strategically makes a difference.”

Additionally, in subsequent years, Paul and Shirley used their IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to establish field of interest funds, also named the Paul and Shirley Friedland Funds, at the Community Foundation. These funds are each customized to the Friedlands’ interests and support the vitality of Brevard and its residents in different ways. This giving strategy allows the couple to fulfill their RMD and lower their taxable income, while providing support in the local community and gaining the value of the Foundation’s expertise, stewardship, and networks.

Through the Community Foundation, Paul and Shirley get to see the results of their giving come to life. For several years, they’ve supported the Brevard Symphony Orchestra’s 5th grade concert at the King Center and have been able to watch nearly 5,000 fifth grade students light up as they experience a symphony prepared just for them. The Friedlands’ also have interests in innovative cancer research. Paul and Shirley have funded up-and-coming researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center and Duke Cancer Institute, helping them to secure additional federal dollars to move the needle toward better treatment and a cure for cancer.

“I feel confident. I know that everything is going to be taken care of and handled in a fiscally responsible way,” said Paul. "Once we created a plan for the funds, the CFB took care of distributing checks and record keeping while we get to enjoy helping others."

Shirley became increasingly engaged with the Foundation’s initiatives, serving as a grant review team lead for several years. In 2019 her passion and commitment to the Community Foundation’s mission led her to join the Board of Directors.

 “We enjoy being part of the Community Foundation’s family of funds,” said Shirley. “It is like having our own private foundation. We also know that after our lifetimes the Community Foundation will deploy our money the way that we want it to be in order to maintain our legacy and help more people even after we’re gone.”

Paul and Shirley are great examples of how the Community Foundation helps individuals and families create a customized philanthropic plan, all while being savvy with charitable giving tax incentives. We are honored and thrilled to have Paul and Shirley as part of our CFB family. 

Inspired by your neighbors?
Talk with us about your own legacy.
Thank you to all of our fund holders and legacy society members who joined us yesterday for a special edition of our Smart Giving Series - Coffee & Convos Community Update. We appreciate Keith Winsten and the amazing team at the Brevard Zoo for sharing an update and bringing several of the zoo's most popular residents live into our homes through a fun, and edZOOcational Zoom.

Our Smart Giving Series are exclusive events and learning opportunities for fund holders and legacy society members to learn more about what's happening through the Community Foundation. Although we're not able to gather in person, we have continued to bring regular updates to our donors on topics such as COVID-19 relief, food & housing and other important community issues through these one-of-a-kind virtual events.

Donna Sewell Joins Community Foundation in New Role as Philanthropy Manager

Please help us welcome Donna Sewell who joined the CFB team on August 5th.

Donna leads the Foundation’s annual competitive grant and scholarship programs. Additionally, she helps in the Foundation’s core work of catalyzing our philanthropic partners to create positive lasting change and meet our communities’ critical needs.

Previously, Donna served for seven years as the manager of education and outreach at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts.

Welcome Promise in Brevard to our Family of Nonprofit Endowment Funds

The biggest fear of parents who have children with special needs is, “What will happen to my child when I am no longer able to care for him or her?” Established in 2009, Promise in Brevard is designed to provide affordable, independent housing for adults with cognitive and physical disabilities.
 
Promise in Brevard's vision is to empower their residents with social, educational and meaningful employment opportunities by actively supporting full inclusion within the community to live a life never thought possible. 
Nancy Baur Dillen Art Teacher Scholarship is Now Open
Annually, up to five art educators employed by Brevard County Public Schools are selected to receive scholarships for week-long workshops at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, a national art education center in Gatlinburg, TN. The Foundation is accepting applications through January 18, 2021.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) creates a variety of mechanisms to support nonprofits while impacting your charitable giving. Let the team at the Community Foundation assist you with these and other charitable tools.
This information is not intended as tax, legal, or financial advice. Gift results may vary.
Please consult your personal advisor for information specific to your situation.
You Can Make An Impact -
Today & Forever
When you are ready to make a lasting impact, the Community Foundation is here to help. Your gift, combined with those from other caring individuals, can multiply the positive effect on our region for generations to come. We have a variety of options to help you make the impact you want to see in your community and beyond:

Your philanthropic goals are our first priority at the Community Foundation. If you need help with developing a personalized charitable giving
strategy, please feel free to contact us. 
We invite you for a conversation to explore ways we
can make your philanthropy meaningful: