The Generous Cape Reception was an opportunity for old friends and new residents to learn about the new Cape Coral Community Foundation Global Center for Generosity.
About 230 people attended the reception where Board Chair Brian Gomer paid tribute to the Foundation's valued volunteer leaders, especially those who completed their service on the Board of Directors. The six finalists for the Elmer Tabor Generosity Award were honored, including Michel Doherty, Marc Collins, Marc Devisse, JoAnn Elardo, Lesley Hill and Joe Mazurkiewicz.
"None of this is possible without the support of you, our donors," said Foundation president Michael Chatman. Gomer and Chatman recapped the year's action plan and shared the vision for the future. Some highlights were:
- New ‘Sponsor A Nonprofit' Program – Helping nonprofits build organizational capacity.
- Faith & Generosity Conference – Equipping churches and ministries to create cultures of generosity.
- The Fundraising Institute – Address the need for nonprofits to create sustainable revenue models using practical tools and innovative strategies.
- Philanthropy Experts and Leaders Academy – Host a national delegation of funders to learn best practices of thought-leadership and engage grant-makers to invest in Lee County nonprofits.
- Financial Advisors Charitable Fund – Training professional advisors to blend philanthropic services into estate and retirement planning to increase assets under management.
As competition for the charitable dollar heats up in Lee County, nonprofits are asking some very fundamental questions about new ways to raise funds to support their missions. Let's focus on VIP donor events.
Small VIP donor events are an easy way to open doors to new prospects – and engage current donors in your mission.
At the Cape Coral Community Foundation, we have knowledge and experience on how to create the perfect VIP donor event. Our ideas work. They can transform a simple gathering on your porch into a compelling, engaging experience for your donors.
Every week, our foundation receives questions from nonprofits about fundraising ideas and I'm answering many of them here...Read more >>
Christin Collins, one of the leading voices in Southwest Florida philanthropy, has joined the Global Center for Generosity at Cape Coral Community Foundation Speakers Bureau.
Christin's leadership roles with the Lee Health Foundation and Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest have helped raise millions of dollars for The Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.
She also spent six years as a board member for the PACE Center for Girls, founding its popular Love that Dress! Fundraiser, and now has a leadership position with the Women's Foundation of Southwest Florida.
"Christin Collins is the quintessential leader with a heart for people and an entrepreneurial vision for the community of tomorrow. Without hesitation, I believe Christin is one of the best communicators and fundraising talents in Florida. I am thrilled to have this inspiring leader as a member of our speaker bureau."
- Michael Chatman, President & CEO, Global Center for Generosity at Cape Coral Community Foundation.
For consideration to join the Global Center for Generosity Speakers Bureau, contact: [email protected]
in the faith community
How to foster ministry and faith-based donor relationships
Thirty-three percent of charitable donations given in the United States goes to ministry organizations. Cape Coral Community Foundation is happy to announce a new opportunity to gather together with church and ministry leaders, as well as donors with interest in funding faith-based programs.
Register to attend the Faith & Generosity Conference on Thursday, May 11. At this new seminar sponsored by Center for Generosity at Cape Coral Community Foundation & WAY-FM, you will learn how to start your own church or ministry foundation, grow the financial and ministry support your organization needs, discover how to understand and respond to donor motivations, view fundraising as a ministry and understand the role of ministry leadership in fundraising.
Executive directors, pastors, planned giving directors, board members, elders, nonprofit staff and volunteers should attend. The conference will be held at Cape Christian Fellowship in Cape Coral, 2110 Chiquita Blvd., Cape Coral, Florida, from 8:30am to 12:30pm. Drinks and refreshments will be served.
$25 Donation (seminar underwritten by generous donor from Cape Coral Community Foundation). For more information, call (239) 542-5594.
Foundation announces two new funds
Two new funds have been established with Cape Coral Community Foundation.
For more information about establishing a fund, give us a call at (239) 542-5594.
- Kirby Giving Foundation – Brian and Karen Kirby established this fund to simplify their charitable giving. The grants will provide support to nonprofits in education, health and social services sector.
- Michel Doherty Friends of the Foundation Fund – Michel Doherty, an informed philanthropist with a vision for the future, established this fund to help the Cape Coral Community Foundation increase its community impact and leadership work in Cape Coral and Lee County. The fund will help area nonprofits with capacity building, leadership development and creating sustainable fundraising models.
Diane Remin to attend National Delegation of Foundation Leaders, hosted by Cape Coral Community Foundation
Topics include: Major Gift Fundraising for Smaller Nonprofits, Building the Board You Need Now, and Keeping your Donors.
The Cape Coral Community Foundation would like to express its appreciation to the outgoing members of the Board of Directors, who were recognized at the Generous Cape Reception on March 30.
John G. Bobb, Finemark National Bank & Trust
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MerriBeth Farnham, President, HD PR Group
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Steve Pohlman, City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation
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 Steve Riggs, Retired Executive, PricewaterhouseCoopers |
 Martha Warchol, Estate Planning Attorney |
Foundation welcomes new board chair, Dennis Gingerich
Dennis was born in Salem, Ore. where he grew up on a grass seed farm. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work and Bible and a Master of Divinity degree at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 1979. After pastoring in Elmira, N.Y. from 1979 to 1986, he moved his family to Cape Coral, FL to lead a team of six to launch the city's first contemporary church, Cape Christian Fellowship in 1987. Now, worship attendance in four services each weekend is over 2,500.
Dennis has been married to wife Linda for over 42 years. He is the father of three children, Grandpa of four grandchildren, and founding pastor at Cape Christian. He is also a blogger, police chaplain and nature photographer. Dennis will become the new board chair starting July 1, 2017.
- April 23-25
Philanthropy Experts & Leaders Academy. Private event for national funders from private, family and corporate foundations. Register now >>
- May 11
Faith & Generosity Seminar: Cultivating Generosity in the Faith Community, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Cape Christian Fellowship. $25 Donation. To reserve your space, email us at [email protected].
- May 22
Investment Advisory Board, 10:30 a.m., Barton Insurance.
- June 7
Fundraising Institute/ Nonprofit Grantee Information Meeting. Guest Speaker: Christin Collins. Free Admission. Grace United Methodist Church, 13 SE 21st Pl., Cape Coral, Fla.
