Community Foundation for Brevard Awards $379,771 in Annual Competitive Grants, Empowering 65 Local Nonprofits

Thank you Community Foundation for Brevard for their support of The Space Coast Art Festival Student Art Show!

The Space Coast Art Festival was recently chosen to receive support for the “Festival’s Student Art Show where young artists learn how art directly impacts the community, both culturally and economically”.

MELBOURNE, Fla., (September 7, 2023) – On behalf of its donors and fundholders, the Community Foundation for Brevard is pleased to announce a total of $379,771 was awarded to 65 local agencies through the 2023 Competitive Grants-Brevard cycle, where nonprofits may apply for both programmatic and general operating expenses. Philanthropic individuals and families who support the cycle are creating a world where everyone has the chance to thrive.

“These grants embody our belief in the power of collaboration and innovation to drive positive transformation,” said Theresa Grimison, President and CEO of the Community Foundation for Brevard. “We encourage everyone to join us in supporting these wonderful organizations, who are driving impact throughout our entire community.”

To determine grantees and grant amounts, fifty community volunteers score the applications, and then a review committee analyzes their feedback. Careful vetting and thoughtful deliberations guide the recommended grant award decisions, with the Community Foundation’s board of directors giving final approval.

The selected nonprofits encompass a wide spectrum of impact areas, aligning with the vision of fundholders who contribute to the cycle; ultimately creating a thriving, interconnected, and resilient Brevard County. The Community Foundation for Brevard has granted more than $27 million in Brevard and beyond over the last 42 years.

Please see a full list of the organizations and programs receiving funding from the 2023 competitive grant cycle below:

2-1-1- Brevard Inc. to raise awareness for the new 988 dialing code for crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
Aging Matters in Brevard to provide food security to seniors by purchasing 10,000 shelf-stable meals that will help 4,500 seniors in the county during the 2023 hurricane season.
AMIkids Space Coast to serve youth who have risk factors for dropping out of school or becoming involved with the juvenile justice system, or who have already had involvement, and may benefit from a significant intervention.
Brevard Achievement Center, Inc. (BAC) to provide students and adult individuals with disabilities from BAC’s Day Program accessibility to creative experiences that include art, music, and physical activities in community settings. This application was a top scorer.
Brevard County Legal Aid, Inc. to provide free legal services to disadvantaged persons in Brevard.
Brevard Cultural Alliance to support artist residencies in at least 13 Brevard Public Schools during the 2023-24 school year, providing 30 hours or more of artistic instructional hours per residency.
Brevard Hispanic Center, Inc. to increase the working hours of staff, furthering the center’s mission to encourage and promote multicultural integration and personalized support so all have equal opportunities.
Brevard Humane Society to provide an agility yard for dogs equipped with artificial turf.
Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition, Inc. to build staff capacity to assemble and connect the many allies of the Indian River Lagoon to work together to save and preserve it.
Brevard Schools Foundation to support a study trip for all Brevard Public School eighth-grade students to a national civil rights museum located in Brevard County.
Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Inc. to broaden the horizon of every fifth-grade student in Brevard County by providing an opportunity to attend a concert by the Brevard Symphony Orchestra.
Brevard Zoo to preserve animal wellness, advance environmental conservation, and educate more than 500,000 Zoo visitors and students a year.
Camp Boggy Creek to offer children of differing abilities and their families a cost-free camp experience in a safe environment with recreation-therapy activities in which they can safely participate.
Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc. to support the Treatment Center Allotment Fund to assist families of children diagnosed with cancer who must travel for medical treatment.
Carrfour Supportive Housing to create an on-site community-based Food Pantry program providing equitable access to food and household items, addressing food insecurities within the community at Heritage Park at Crane Creek.
Central Brevard Sharing Center to optimize the Sharing Center’s volunteer workforce to expand on services and meet the growing needs in the community.
Club Esteem to provide tools, resources, and programming to help high-poverty and minority students achieve academic and personal success.
Cocoa Beach Main Street to support start-up costs for a new monthly Farmers Market, intended to provide healthy, fresh food while encouraging commerce.
Conradina Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society to develop a pilot program for 120 children from a local under-resourced community to learn about native plants and the environment.
Daily Bread to support Daily Bread’s “Pathways Home” program that is successfully housing individuals experiencing homelessness in Melbourne.
Down Syndrome Association of Brevard to overhaul the website and update programs and technologies to further the mission of helping individuals with Down syndrome rise to their potential at all stages of life.
Early Learning Coalition of Brevard County Inc. to support a family engagement service comprised of weekly and monthly family education opportunities and events for those in and near the zip code 32922.
Eastern Florida State College Foundation, Inc. to provide headsets to expose students studying nursing and health sciences to virtual reality (VR) in the context of health and wellness.
Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc. to provide Lifeskills Youth Camps designed to help students develop resilient behaviors and enhance protective factors for at-risk students at Endeavor Elementary and Fairglen Elementary schools.
Family Promise of Brevard, Inc. to sustain the relocation of its base of operations, a repurposed firehouse with a hub of services, in the heart of Cocoa. This application was a top scorer.
Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation to provide financial support to qualified adult cancer patients in Brevard County for essential living expenses.
Florida Odyssey of the Mind: Space Coast Region to cover membership for Title 1 schools that have not participated in the Odyssey of the Mind program since 2020.
Florida Wildlife Hospital and Sanctuary to support the costs of treating, housing, and rehabilitating native wildlife and migratory birds.
Green Gables and Historic Riverview Village, Inc. to keep Green Gables Historic Home standing and continue its constant upkeep to maintain the structure, keeping it safe for volunteers and visitors. This application was a top scorer.
Helping Seniors of Brevard County, Inc. to support the Senior Care Navigation program, which helps low-income seniors and their caregivers get necessary services to avoid homelessness, food insecurity, mental health issues, and poor or inadequate medical care.
Helps Community Initiatives, Inc. (HCI) to support community outreach staff and volunteer efforts who provide wrap-around services for housing stability.
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute to promote dolphin conservation and improve Indian River Lagoon ecosystem health.
LEAD Brevard, Inc. to support IMPACT Brevard, a digital platform service to connect diverse and talented community members with social impact and nonprofit board service opportunities that align around shared purpose and mission.
Links of Hope, Inc. to help individuals successfully re-enter society by funding parenting, anger management, DIGNITY, and GED classes at the Brevard County Jail Complex.
Love INC of Brevard Inc. to help match clients in need with necessary services by offsetting operational expenses of the organization’s call center and mentorship program.
Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts to benefit the King Center’s Titan Youth Theatre and Community Engagement Program’s 2023-2024 season of programming.
Melbourne Chamber Music Society Inc. to enhance the upcoming 2023 – 2024 Chamber Music Season with the International Concert Series.
Native Heritage Gathering, Inc. to support the presentation of the 15th Annual Native Rhythms Festival in honor and celebration of Native American Heritage Month.
Neighbor Up Brevard to support the DOCK program which helps children from low-to-moderate income households be successful in school and dramatically increase their opportunities for future success in life .
North Brevard Charities to renovate a property, turning it into a 5-bedroom men’s facility offering holistic, wrap-around services.
Pineda Presbyterian Church to support the Pineda PC Nature Trail, a natural walking trail through a wetland area with a one-and-a-half acre lake with benches to sit and relax or meditate.
Promise in Brevard to provide affordable, independent housing for individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities utilizing public and private partnerships to develop a model community.
Safe Families for Children to help keep children safe in times of crisis and out of foster care by hiring staff to recruit volunteers and develop local partners.
Sea Turtle Conservancy, Inc. to expand mentorship programs that train students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM career skills necessary to manage and protect sea turtles, the Carr Refuge, and important coastal habitats statewide.
Serene Harbor, Inc. to address the critical needs of vulnerable families and individuals fleeing abuse and their abusers.
South Brevard Sharing Center to provide workshops for job-seekers and strengthen connections with local job placement services, educational institutions, and businesses to provide employment opportunities for clients.
South Brevard Women’s Center, Inc. to support the Sexual Assault Victim Services Program in providing free, confidential support and advocacy services to sexual assault survivors in Brevard.
Space Coast Art Festival, Inc to support the Festival’s Student Art Show where young artists learn how art directly impacts the community, both culturally and economically.
Space Coast Early Steps to provide necessary tools for comprehensive evaluations for infants and toddlers up to age 36 months to determine if there are delays in development.
Space Coast Habitat for Humanity, Inc. to prototype a 3D printed home that will demonstrate the applicability of the technology for Brevard affordable housing. This application was a top scorer.
St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care to expand the NorthStar Child Grief Program, which provides support group sessions and monthly events for children dealing with loss.
Stella Maris Environmental Research to expand public awareness of the impact of pollution on the coastal habitat through guided wildlife encounters, educational programs, citizen opportunities, and coastal research on the barrier island.
The 99^th Squadron, Inc. to provide equipment renewal and replacements for annual curriculum and mobile workshops which expose middle and high school students to the vast opportunities in the aviation industry.
The Children’s Hunger Project to assemble and deliver over 3,900 food packs to children in need of food at Brevard elementary schools each Friday of the school year. This application was a top scorer.
The Community Band of Brevard, Inc. to support rental fees for weekly rehearsals and quarterly performances, designed to provide enjoyable and meaningful music experiences for the community.
The Salvation Army to support a state-certified Domestic Violence Center that serves adult and child survivors of domestic violence, both residentially and non-residentially.
The Salvation Army Melbourne Pridmore Center to provide shelter, food, meals, spiritual comfort, and emotional support to women along with a personalized plan of life-skills training.
Titusville Playhouse Inc. to offset production costs, licensing, and talent fees to reduce the cost per student to the schools attending performances.
Volunteers of America of Florida, Inc. to support the needs of the veterans to combat housing instability for veterans in Brevard County.
Walk on Water Ministries of Central Florida, Inc. to offset the cost of vetting, dental, feeding, and supply services for rescued animals used in animal-assisted therapy.
WAYS for Life, Inc. to provide free wraparound services to at-risk youth, including homeless youth, unaccompanied youth, former foster youth, and those aging out of the foster care system.
weVENTURE Women’s Business Center at Florida Tech to provide scholarships for minority-owned businesses or non-profit organizations to participate in the IGNITE 360 business-mentoring program.
Wheelchairs 4 Kids to provide wheelchair, home, vehicle modifications, and other assistive and therapeutic equipment for children in Brevard who have been denied by Medicaid as well as support the “Wheely Fun Days” inclusion program.
Wings of Grace Ministries, Inc. to support the agency’s key programs including teen aviation, music training, and affordable housing programs in Brevard.
YMCA of Central Florida to support youth development programs in Central Florida including teen programs to build strong futures.

About Community Foundation for Brevard

Since 1981 the Community Foundation for Brevard has served as a leader and resource for philanthropic individuals and organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain Brevard’s quality of life. An independent, 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation provides the expertise, network of partners, and information that empowers philanthropists to maximize their impact in addressing critical needs and building a community where everyone can thrive. For more information, call 321-752-5505 or visit https://www.cfbrevard.org/.

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