MAKE YOUR DONATION GO FURTHER WITH THRIVE.
When you donate to Thrive Central Florida, your dollars make an impact beyond the reach of a single nonprofit.
DONATE NOW
CENTRAL FLORIDA DOES SMARTER, MORE IMPACTFUL WORK TOGETHER.
Developed by Central Florida Foundation, a trusted steward for our community’s philanthropy dollars, Thrive Central Florida gives nonprofits, government officials, business leaders, educators, community members, and other key experts a chance to join forces — putting their heads and hearts together to truly transform our community.
Download the Guide to Thrive now.
Learn more about the Thrive initiative by downloading our White Paper.
Download Our White Paper:
HOW THRIVE MAKES CHANGE HAPPEN.
1
Community leaders, members, and subject matter experts across Central Florida come together as a work group to discuss the issues weighing most heavily on our community.
2
Together we identify shared goals and create an action plan to solve them.
3
Members discuss solutions that lead to recommendations for grants aligned with their Impact area.
WE FOCUS ON AND FUND FIVE CRITICAL AREAS OF IMPACT.
Thrive Central Florida’s five Impact Funds are rooted in research and designed to drive monumental change. We merged the United Nations Global Goals and elements “vital to community health” with the issues our local nonprofits identified as most critical to create our funds.
ECONOMIC STABILITY
Pull families and individuals out of poverty, eliminate hunger, promote economic growth, drive employment and more. The Economic Stability Focus Area works to disrupt the patterns that lock our community into hardship.
LEARN MORE
HEALTHCARE
Good health is essential to building a thriving community. This Focus Area focuses on providing quality healthcare, physical activity and nutritious food to everyone in Central Florida, regardless of income.
LEARN MORE
LIVABILITY
Safe, clean, sustainable neighborhoods are vital to a secure community. Sanitary water, affordable energy, walkability, low crime rates and support for the arts are just a few of the initiatives this fund supports.
LEARN MORE
EDUCATION
Education opens doors to the world. Our Education Focus Area works to increase graduation and job readiness rates, address education inequality and support programs that promote emotional learning and literacy.
LEARN MORE
COMMUNITY & SOCIAL CONNECTION
The goal of the Community & Social Connection Focus Area is to make Central Florida a safe space for people of all ethnicities, races, backgrounds and cultures to call home. The fund fuels efforts that promote gender equality, fight racism, and increase volunteerism and civic engagement.
LEARN MORE
COMMUNITY LANDSCAPE REPORT
Read a comprehensive report on challenges and opportunities in each Thrive Focus Area.
READ MORE
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR REGION?
Visit our East Central Florida Community Resilience dashboard for more information on our community’s health, capital and social barriers.
VISIT DASHBOARDTHRIVE CENTRAL FLORIDA KEY CONTRIBUTORS
FLORIDA BLUE
KELLY FAMILY CUIDIÚ FOUNDATION
ANONYMOUS DONOR
HEATHER & DAVID TORRE
LAGNIAPPE FUND AT CENTRAL FLORIDA FOUNDATION
PANEPINTO FAMILY FUND
JEFFERY JONASEN
MIKE DIVELY
ROBERT NEWLAND
JOHN & DEDE CARON
THE DESAI FAMILY FOUNDATION
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT
LOURDES MOLA
WAYMON & FRANCES ARMSTRONG
JCB CONSTRUCTION/BRIAN AND CATHY BUTLER
KELLY FAMILY CUIDIÚ FOUNDATION
General Information
Why did Central Florida Foundation start Thrive?
Before Thrive was established, Central Florida Foundation began to bring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to Central Florida. The initial goal was to familiarize the community with the SDGs and find a way to make them more approachable to the average resident or nonprofit. This evolved into Thrive Central Florida. Thrive uses data, convenings, and grants to better our community – all within the framework of the SDGs. A grassroots process will be used to identify problems and actionable solutions, and the five new funds will provide grants to bring those ideas to life.
Is Thrive based on any research or global initiatives?
Thrive is based on over two years of research, data, and discussions with experts all over the United States including the Brookings Institute, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Southwest Florida Community Foundation and several jurisdictions and Universities. The work is divided into five focus areas tied to the Social Determinants of Health with outcome measurements tied to the Sustainable Development Goals indicators.
How is Thrive connected to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
Thrive uses the indicators from the SDGs to show where we stand at a local level within the overall larger goals. We are asking the questions:
- Are we moving in the right direction as a community?
- Do we have a specific focus or plan in order to meet the goals?
- Who is accountable for the goals?
I am not a nonprofit, but my organization is a social enterprise, would I qualify for a grant?
It will depend on several things including showing charitable purpose. Religious organizations, government entities, schools, and some social enterprises may qualify.
Will the impact funds be endowed?
The first $250,000 received will be available immediately to grant to qualifying nonprofits based on the outlined criteria. Upon exceeding $250,000 and up to $500,000, donations will be split with 50% made available for immediate use, and 50% to endowment to ensure lasting impact. Once the fund has reached $500,000 in donations, all donations exceeding this point will support endowment, ensuring that your contribution can sustain the needs of the community long-term.
Who is making the decision on how grants are made? What is the oversight in place?
The staff of CFF with guidance of advisors will make recommendations to the board for approval. Grant agreements will be in place with reporting requirements. The process will be documented and transparent.
For Donors
At what level of gift are you recognizing donors on your website and other collateral?
Gifts of $1,000 or more will be recognized on the website and through other digital communications, unless donor would prefer to remain anonymous.
I am part of a private family foundation. Can my foundation support Thrive Central Florida?
Yes! We welcome other philanthropic entities to join us and we will keep you connected as to how the funds are used. Contact Nicole Donelson at NDonelson@cffound.org for details on how to direct a grant to one of the Impact Funds.
Is there a minimum amount to give to one of the funds?
The minimum amount to give is $25.00.
May I target my donation to a specific organization?
Donors may not restrict their gifts to an individual grantee. If you have a specific organization you would like to support, we encourage you to give directly to that organization and suggest providing a general operating grant. If you have a Fund at the Central Florida Foundation or are interested in establishing one, our staff can help you navigate the needs across our community. Please contact Nicole Donelson at NDonelson@cffound.org for more information.
For Nonprofits
How can I apply for a grant?
For 501(c)3 organizations, there is no formal grant application. Organizations must have a viewable profile in Nonprofit Search and are encouraged to participate in convening discussions. Central Florida Foundation cannot make grants to individuals.
If I can't apply for a grant, how will you decide where the money goes, and how soon will grants be made?
Once enough funds are available and a project is identified, the grant-making process will begin. This is the grant process Thrive Central Florida and Central Florida Foundation follow:
- Identify the problem(s) we are trying to solve
- Use data to determine the scope of the problem
- Have a dialogue about what is being done or needs to be done
- Identify solutions (models, best practices, invent new wheels)
- Determine who can do the work
- Negotiate with and partner with potential grantees
- Measure the work and progress towards solving the problem
Can I be involved with the convenings?
Yes, the convenings will be open to nonprofit partners and their constituents. Announcements will be posted in Nonprofit Search as well as sent out via email.
Who will be convened and for what purpose?
Multiple convenings will be held that intentionally cross-connect sectors and leadership levels. We will include individuals from community leadership to individuals receiving services, and aim to break through industry silos in these conversations. Data will be used to guide the conversations and come to decisions. We call this process 3D: Data, Dialog, Decisions.
