By Holly Hargett
Connecting the community has been a long-standing goal of the Pinellas Community Foundation (PCF). Since 1969, they’ve brought together individuals, families, and businesses to support hundreds of Pinellas County non-profits with their financial resources, although finances have not been the main goal of the organization. “Big donations are fantastic, and they can make things happen at a larger scope in the community. But for us, what matters is that people want to do something. That they feel connected,” says Duggan Cooley, CEO of the organization.
PCF has an annual staff of 10 and 50 volunteers. Since their inception, they’ve given more than 400 charities $86 million in donor-funded grants. That money has gone to help health and social services, education, cultural initiatives, scholarship programs, and emergency relief funds. Their annual budget is a mix of grants and donations and varies in the millions. For 2023, the budget was $9.5 million distributed to 250 organizations. One new highlight from last year includes two-year grant funding so that businesses don’t have to reapply every year.
One focus for 2024 will include working with the small business community. PCF can help simplify investments for small businesses and they have a slew of resources to help business owners who want to grow their philanthropy efforts or provide them advice about how and where to make investments.
Some donors want their money used for a short-term project and others want to make a longer-term perpetual gift. Cooley wants people to know that PCF works with all kinds of groups that want to make a difference. They receive gifts from a few dollars to millions of dollars. Cooley says, “There is a place for everyone.”
Cooley has been working in the non-profit sector for over 20 years and says, “I will never underestimate the power of our community’s generosity. People step up. And again, it’s not about generosity by size. It’s about taking action and that they care. Over the years, that’s one thing that I have come to understand is that our community is incredibly generous and to never underestimate that.”
To donate or volunteer, visit www.pinellascf.org or call 727-531-0058.