Central Florida Foundation’s History 1994-2003
This blog post is one of a 3-post series as we celebrate Central Florida Foundation’s 30th Anniversary.
1994-2003: How a visionary idea became a catalyst for change in our community
In in the early 1990s, a group of civic leaders had a bold vision: to create a permanent endowment fund that would support the diverse and evolving needs of Central Florida. The concept, called a community foundation, was a new idea starting to gain traction in the region, and they believed that by pooling the resources of generous donors, they could make a lasting impact on the quality of life in our region. They also wanted to empower local nonprofits with the tools and resources they needed to fulfill their missions. Thus, the Central Florida Foundation, then called the Community Foundation of Central Florida, was born.
Central Florida Foundation’s History: 1994-2003
The Foundation started with just a handful of passionate community members and organizations that believed in the mission. A handful of initial grants were made, including grants from Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation and local banks Barnett Bank and SunTrust Bank. With Richard “Rick” Hurt spearheading the way, an inaugural board was established.
After a nationwide search, Diane Sandquist, then serving as president of the Greater Harrisburg Foundation, was named the first president of the Foundation. Now with leadership in place, the Community Foundation of Central Florida prepared for its first grant cycle, which was underway by 1995.
Our History: Hear It from Someone Who Was There
Our inaugural Board Chair, Rick Hurt, shares his memories of how the Foundation got started.
Over the next ten years, the Community Foundation of Central Florida grew to become a respected community foundation, stewarding hundreds of charitable funds and developing a systems-level strategy for long-term positive impact on the community.
In collaboration with community partners, the Foundation had many notable accomplishments in its first decade, including:
- In 1996, the Winter Park Community Trust and its funds were transferred to the Foundation, with some of the grants supporting CFF’s current Winter Park Community Grant program.
- Also in 1996, the Foundation helped Hospice of Central Florida Foundation (HCFF) secure its legacy in Central Florida when the operations were sold to Vitas, a for-profit hospice.
- In 1998 and 2001, respectively, the Foundation coordinated philanthropic dollars through community funds during the aftermath the Central Florida tornadoes and the September 11th terrorist attacks.
With Diane Sandquist retiring after six years of leadership, the Foundation board appointed Mark Brewer, a merger and acquisition strategist for cross-sector initiatives, as President/CEO in 2000. During this time, the Foundation focused on establishing its plan for growth and a more developed grantmaking framework. It also made its first official home in College Park.
The Foundation also established itself as a trusted partner and leader in the independent sector, providing grants, scholarships, grantmaking consulting, and capacity building to hundreds of organizations and individuals. Some of the areas that the Foundation supported included arts and culture, education, health and human services, environment, and civic engagement.
As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Central Florida Foundation in 2024, we look back with gratitude and pride at the first decade of our history. We thank every community member who proposed the idea of a community foundation in Central Florida – and following through with it, making history in the process. We look forward with optimism and hope to the next decade and beyond, as we continue to serve as a catalyst for change and a champion for good in Central Florida.
Check out more of our collective history with community well wishes.
Hear from Diane Sandquist, Avani Desai, Beverly Paulk, Achal Aggarwal, and Ed Timberlake.
Stay tuned for the 2nd and 3rd installments of the 3-part blog series celebrating Central Florida Foundation’s 30-year anniversary.
Tags: about, cfcf, cff, community foundation of central florida, diane sandquist, history, mark brewer