Grassroots Grant Impact Story: Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida

December 18, 2023  |  Community & Social Connection, Education, Grants

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When considering how philanthropic dollars are invested into the community, it’s always important to consider the small but mighty nonprofits. These organizations we call our grassroots nonprofits, and we define this as having an annual revenue of less than $250,000. Oftentimes, this means that our grassroots nonprofits are just starting out or have barriers impeding their growth, such as a lack of resources for grant writing or no paid staff. While these factors exist, it doesn’t stop these organizations from creating innovative, solutions-based programming that is deserving of those philanthropic dollars.

In the Foundation’s 2023 Grassroots Grant cycle, one of the 10 grantees selected was the Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida, a local nonprofit that aims to educate and foster a thriving homeschooling community by empowering children and parents. The outcomes of this grant are equal parts inspiring and changemaking – and a window into what is possible when a community connects with each other.

Grassroots Grants: The Why and The What

Central Florida Foundation values new ways of thinking that fill gaps, creating a better quality of life for our region’s nearly 4 million residents. It’s become abundantly clear that grassroots nonprofits are often overlooked due to their size, yet still provide innovative programming that fills those gaps. Therefore, each year we work to identify those organizations that are small but mighty and make an investment in the work they’re doing that shows promising solutions to our most critical social issues.

While dealing with capacity obstacles, grassroots organizations have their own superpowers that position them in a unique way unlike larger organizations in our area. Oftentimes, they have bottom-up decision-making structures and leaders who are well-connected to the individuals experiencing the problem at hand. The reliance on volunteers, which, of course, comes with downsides, also provides on-the-ground perspective, giving these organizations the potential for perhaps the deepest understanding of the barriers stopping progress.

In other words, this is a group of nonprofits that our community can’t afford to overlook.

In what types of projects do our Grassroots Grants invest? Mostly programs that need a boost to expand their capacity. These grants are smaller in size, therefore our goal is to provide philanthropic dollars that take a promising program and allow it to spread its wings a bit more than it would have been able to if not for the grant. Oftentimes, grantees see a Grassroots Grant as the spark that launched them on to greater accomplishments in the future.

And that’s exactly how Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida felt about its grant that helped a local community connect with nature – and each other.

Grassroots Grant Impact Story: Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida

After an evaluation committee selected Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida as one of the 2023 Grassroots grantees, Founder and President Rasheeda Denning was ready to put their plan into action.

The $5,000 grant was put to use in a variety of ways, but maybe the most interesting way was by investing in their Family Retreat Weekend, which encourages families to try out camping.

“Many families will not try camping and invest in tents and equipment, but with our loan out program for
family tents, cots, etc., families are willing to give camping a try,” wrote Denning in her follow-up grant report, an accountability measure the Foundation takes to learn about obstacles and successes grantees encountered. “Our Outdoor Recreational Program introduces underrepresented homeschooling families to outdoor camping, outdoor skills and activities, including fishing, swimming, safety & survival skills, and fosters a love for outdoor recreation and conservation. This is our way to connect with nature, connect with family, and connect with community.”

Their grant allowed the organization to include four additional families this year.

In the report, Denning was asked if there were any standout moments in the implementation of the grant dollars. That’s when she introduced us to Nora LeBert, a parent who participated in this year’s Family Retreat Week.

A Parent’s Reflection

Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida Family Retreat Weekend

Our homeschool group 5th Annual retreat weekend was a blast. This is just a small view of what happened this trip. I didn’t have my phone most of the time because I tried to stay unplugged.
I say it often but I’m incredibly blessed to the creator for bringing this group into my family’s life. Each year gets better and better. The core memories that are made, the relationships that are cultivated, the confidence built from catching your first fish, cooking food that you caught, starting a fire, building a tent, sleeping in a tent in the middle of the woods and watching your children be wild and free in nature. It makes my heart smile and brings tears to my eyes because we’re literally our ancestors wildest dreams.
The amount of generational trauma that has been passed down with regards to being out in nature as a black person takes a lot to undo. I was legit scared every night and not because of the wild animals that live in nature. If you know, you know.

But seeing my baby girl sleep like a log on a cot for 3 nights made it all worth it. Not a care in the world. These kids really are the best thing to happen to me y’all. I say it often but we’re truly learning and growing together. I hope they remember these moments and share them with their kids one day. Ok, I’m done. I’m teary eyed now!

-Nora LeBert

“The Grassroots Grant from Central Florida Foundation has given us the freedom to
focus our energy in the area that really counts! Engaging our youth in intentional, productive, and
constructive ways while recognizing and enhancing their strengths,” Denning’s continued on the grant report. “Promoting positive outcomes by providing wonderful learning opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and giving the support that is needed to develop youth leaders and prevent risky behaviors. Keeping our youth civically engaged and contributing to their communities.”

Connecting Grassroots Grants to the SDGs

The Sustainable Development Goals (or SDGs) are an international initiative that promotes and organizes the world’s pathway to achieve peace and prosperity for everyone. In Central Florida, we’ve taken the 17 SDGs and created a localized version that fits our community called Thrive Central Florida. When the Foundation awards a grant, we connect that philanthropic investment with a Thrive area to help track the incremental change we, as a community, are making.

For the investment into Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida, this grant touched on two of our Thrive areas: Education and Community & Social Connection. Education is at the core of this nonprofit’s mission, but by this grant supporting the program of Family Retreat Weekend, which fosters connecting to others and the outdoors, it also supports the strengthening of community, especially for the children involved.

The Takeaway on Grassroots Grants and Their Impact

Grassroots nonprofits might be smaller in size, but do not lack in innovation and effectiveness. Investing in these organizations can result in meaningful change in the community and the sparking of new ideas to solve complex social issues. Additionally, these organizations are often the closest to the problem their tackling, giving their leaders unique perspectives that are essential to have at community conversations. The Foundation’s annual investment in these nonprofits is an important component in continuing to make Central Florida an even better place to live, work and play.

Black Homeschoolers of Central Florida and the positive impact it was able to have on local families, in part through funds from its Grassroots Grant, took our community one step closer to achieving a better life for the next generation.

Now, that’s what we call mighty.

Learn about more local nonprofits, all with profiles verified by Central Florida Foundation, through our searchable database, Nonprofit Search.

Interested in learning more about investing your philanthropic dollars into local grassroots organizations?

Contact our philanthropy team by filling out the form below or sending us an email to start the conversation.

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This post was written by Laurie Crocker.