Local nonprofits receive nearly $160,000 in grants through GWCF’s Empower grant cycle!

LAKELAND, FL (June 19, 2025) – GiveWell Community Foundation (GWCF) is pleased to announce that $159,610 has been awarded through the Empower 2025 grant cycle. A total of 40 nonprofit organizations received grants ranging from $1,000 to $7,000. Through Empower Hardee, Highlands & Polk, GWCF aims to help nonprofits become more efficient and sustainable by funding capacity-building investments such as technology upgrades and training for board members and staff. Nonprofits can have difficulty setting aside or locating the funding for improvements like these; however, they can make a lasting impact within an organization.

“Congratulations to the local nonprofit organizations who received grants through the Empower 2025 grant cycle,” said GWCF’s President and CEO, Callie Neslund. “Because of the generous fundholders and donors who financially support this Empower grant, these nonprofits will be able to make improvements that help them better serve our community. We are also grateful for our dedicated volunteer grant committee members who thoughtfully review and evaluate each request to ensure that this operational support will make the most impact.”

Empower Hardee, Highlands, & Polk 2025 grants were awarded to the following 40 nonprofit organizations:

• A Woman’s Choice received $1,316 for training
• Achievement Academy received $4,300 for technology improvements
• Alliance for Independence received $3,360 for equipment
• Bonnet Springs Park received $2,000 for equipment
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County, Inc. received $5,369 for equipment
• Camp Fire U.S.A. Sunshine Council received $3,876 for technology improvements
• CareerSource Polk received $2,500 for strategic planning
• Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center received $4,300 for equipment
• Cornerstone Hospice Foundation received $3,800 for technology improvements
• Cutting Edge Ministries received $3,360 for marketing materials
• Drug Prevention Resource Center dba InnerAct Alliance received $3,880 for training
• Florida Children’s Museum received $4,500 for strategic planning
• Gospel Inc. received $3,979 for technology improvements
• Hands For Homeless received $2,000 for training
• Hardee Help Center received $5,280 for technology improvements
• Harrison Center for the Arts Parents Association, Inc. received $4,900 for teacher training
• Junior Achievement of Tampa Bay received $3,080 for equipment for Polk County
• Junior Leage of Greater Lakeland received $3,500 for marketing materials
• KidsPack received $3,766 for marketing materials
• Lakeland Community Theatre received $3,840 for equipment
• Lakeland LEADs Partnership dba ConnectED Polk received $5,140 for technology improvements
• Lakeland Police Foundation received $4,812 for technology improvements
• Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine received $4,460 for technology improvements
• Learning Resource Center received $5,116 for technology improvements
• Lighthouse for the Blind and Low Vision received $4,850 for technology improvements
• Meals on Wheels of Polk County received $5,152 for equipment
• Options for Women Pregnancy Help Clinic received $5,080 for training
• Polk Ecumenical Action Council for Empowerment received $4,575 for technology improvements
• Parker Street Ministries, Inc. received $4,535 for technology improvements
• Peace River Center received $1,500 for training
• Polk Education Foundation received $3,525 for equipment
• Recover Hardee received $3,337 for marketing
• Samaritan’s Touch Care Center received $6,100 for marketing
• Talbot House Ministries received $4,200 for strategic planning
• The Mission of Winter Haven received $5,540 for equipment
• Volunteers in Service to the Elderly received $4,600 for technology improvements
• Women’s Resource Center received $5,720 for technology improvements
• YMCA of West Central Florida received $3,260 for strategic planning
• Youth for Christ of Polk County received $5,200 for training

Due to limited program funding, Empower Hardee, Highlands & Polk is currently only available by invitation. To learn more about Empower, visit givecf.org/nonprofits/empower.

Support Empower Hardee, Highlands & Polk

Funding for the Empower grant cycle comes from donations made by fundholders and the public to GWCF’s Unrestricted Grant Fund. 100% of these donations go directly towards empowering local nonprofits. Donations can be made to Empower Hardee, Highlands & Polk at givecf.org/donate. Fundholders may request a grant to Empower Hardee, Highlands & Polk from their donor-advised fund.