REAL HELP - Southwest Florida Community Foundation

HoW To APPLY FoR GRANTS
SWFLCF grant applications are available online through
our E-Apply tool. Interested organizations should visit
our website at www.floridacommunity.com where you
will find detailed instructions about filling out our online
applications. Paper applications are no longer accepted
by SWFLCF, but we are confident that you will like the
online process; it’s fast, easy, and saves a lot of trees!
GooD SAMARITAN FUNDS
Several funds have been established in which the donors
requested their funds’ earnings be used to help those less
fortunate who may be in dire or immediate financial
need. Funds are dispersed for the benefit of a person
or family in need of emergency funding such as rent,
electric or other utilities, burial or medical expenses, or
other emergencies.
• SWFLCF has entered into a partnership agreement with
United Way 211 to oversee the distribution of funds
from the Good Samaritan Fund. At the beginning of
each month, SWFLCF makes a $2,500 grant out of the
Good Samaritan Fund to United Way 211 to help with
these types of emergency financial needs. United Way
leverages our grant with other funding to potentially
stretch our funding further for the greatest community
impact. To ensure accountability, the United Way
provides a monthly report on the expenditure of funds,
which is reported to the SWFLCF Board of Trustees.
• SWFLCF also has an established fund to help Sanibel
Island and Captiva Island residents and workers.
Requests for assistance are made to various agencies on
the islands and are then forwarded to the Community
Foundation.
• The James Harper Marshall Good Samaritan Fund has
been established for the benefit of those in the Greater
Bonita Springs area who need assistance. Requests are
received from nonprofits serving residents who then
submit requests to the Community Foundation.
Unity throUgh oUr grants
REAL PEoPLE | REAL HELP
Jake* is an operation Iraqi Freedom combat
veteran who recently finished active duty in the
Middle East. Returning home to ohio, Jake supported
his wife and three small children with his
savings while searching for work. Unsuccessful in
ohio, Jake was eventually offered a construction
job in Fort Myers, Florida. He packed all of the
family belongings into and onto the family van
and happily headed to Florida.
When the family arrived in Florida, Jake found
that the job had fallen through. With no home and
very little money left, Jake searched frantically for
help, living in hotels and even out of the family
van.
one day, while driving past the local Red Cross
building, Jake felt compelled to stop in and ask
for help. Fortunately, the Red Cross had recently
hired an Armed Services Coordinator to handle
cases like Jake’s, a position that was created with
the help of a $20,000 grant from the Southwest
Florida Community Foundation.
Jake received some cash to get food for his family
and fuel for their van. Then, the Red Cross was
able to get him plugged in to other services to
keep him afloat while he searched for work.
Today, Jake and his wife both have full-time jobs
and a home here in Florida.
(*Name changed to protect privacy)
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