$90,000 granted through 2020 Empower Polk grant cycle

29 local nonprofits received funding from Community Foundation to build organizational capacity.

LAKELAND, FL (May 26, 2020) – GiveWell Community Foundation is pleased to announce that $90,958.15 has been awarded through the 2020 Empower Polk grant cycle. This year, Empower Polk made capacity building grants ranging from $900 to $5,000 to 29 local nonprofits.

• A Woman’s Choice – $2,363.18 for upgrades to donor website.
• Achievement Academy – $3,000 for strategic planning.
  
• Alliance for Independence – $4,000 for computer upgrades.
• Bonnet Springs Park – $4,951 for technology and training.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County – $2,600 for new marketing/outreach materials.
• Camp Fire U.S.A. Sunshine Council – $3,500 for computer/technology upgrades.
• Central Florida Speech & Hearing Center – $5,000 for updated electronic medical record software.
• Circle of Friends Ministry – $2,000 for organizational consulting and marketing upgrades.
• Cornerstone Hospice Foundation – $3,200 for leadership training for managers.
• Explorations V Children’s Museum – $5,000 for integration of software systems.
• Family Literacy Academy at Lake Wales – $3,500 for branding refresh.
• Girls Inc. of Winter Haven – $1,348 for new donor management software.
• Gospel Inc. – $2,500 for video marketing campaign.
• Humane Society of Polk County – $4,544 for computer and software upgrades.
• Imperial Symphony Orchestra – $2,044 for technology upgrades.
• InnerAct Alliance – $3,500 for technology and marketing upgrades and board training.
• Junior League of Greater Lakeland – $924.97 for video projector and screen.
• kidsPACK – $5,000 for donor software upgrade.
• Lakeland Choral Society – $2,000 for marketing strategic plan.
• Lakeland Community Theatre – $3,800 for video projector upgrade.
• lkldnow.com – $1,600 for staff training.
• Parker Street Ministries – $3,000 for digital communications and human resources training for staff.
• Peace River Center – $2,500 for public awareness video campaign.
• Polk Education Foundation – $2,287 for upgrades to outdoor building signage.
• SPCA Florida – $4,425 for medical equipment upgrade (autoclave).
• Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland – $1,371 for volunteer software upgrade.
• Volunteers in Service to the Elderly (VISTE) – $3,500 for computer upgrades.
• Women’s Resource Center of Florida – $2,500 for board training.
• YMCA of West Central Florida -$5,000 for medical equipment (defibrillators) and training.

Established in 2018, Empower Polk is an annual competitive grant program of the GiveWell Community Foundation with the goal of empowering local nonprofit organizations to become more efficient and sustainable. Due to limited program funding, Empower Polk is currently only available by invitation to nonprofit organizations who have established an agency fund within GiveWell Community Foundation. Learn more about Agency Funds here.

Empower Polk grant requests are reviewed and awarded by the members of the Foundation’s Grant Committee. Funding for the Empower Polk grant cycle comes from donations made by fundholders and the public to the Foundation’s Unrestricted Grant Fund, and 100% of all contributions go directly towards empowering local nonprofits. Donations can be made to Empower Polk at givecf.org/donate. Fundholders can request a grant to Empower Polk from their donor advised fund.

“The Foundation is proud to help these outstanding local nonprofits invest in their sustainability and effectiveness through the Empower Polk grant cycle,” said GWCF President and CEO, John Attaway. “Thank you to the members of our grants committee who carefully vetted and deliberated over each grant request, and to the many donors who believe in and financially support this great program.”