The Thriving Together Collaborative is a cohort-based initiative, led by Central Florida Foundation, that will engage five communities within Orange County identified by the Neighborhood Opportunity Index as areas with limited opportunity.
Together, participants will engage in a two-part experience: first, a six-month series of classroom-style trainings and workshops focused on design thinking and community problem-solving, followed by a hands-on implementation phase where each team will apply their learning to develop and launch a locally grounded, impact-driven project.
To facilitate an experiential learning collaborative for small to mid-sized nonprofits, partners and their community that fosters problem-solving through a design thinking approach, empowering participants to develop community-driven programs that address economic stability and opportunity gaps with a focus on underserved communities.
Each participating nonprofit and its partners will produce and implement a community project by the end of the cohort that offers a new perspective, approach, or path forward for addressing economic-related community issues.
Central Florida Foundation’s Economic Stability Focus Area and Impact Fund are powering this Collaborative. Community projects may focus on these areas, or a related area.
Central Florida Foundation is currently attending and/or facilitating several Listening Tour sessions around Orange County.
Our goals include:
So far, we’ve had sessions in:
Five Orange County nonprofits will be selected via RFP in the fall of 2025 to participate in the Thriving Together Collaborative.
The five lead nonprofits will be awarded a two-part $10K project-based grant. Lead nonprofits will assemble a team of up to 4 people/entities to help make the project a success. The team can include another nonprofit, a community member, staff or anyone you believe would be an asset to your project development and implementation. Each organization will work with a mentor assigned to them by Central Florida Foundation throughout the entirety of the project.
Eligibility Criteria for the Thriving Together Cohort Experience
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Developed by Central Florida Foundation, Thrive Central Florida (Thrive) is a comprehensive framework for creating a healthy and thriving community. Based on global goals, local initiatives and community issues, Thrive offers the opportunity to collaborate around shared goals and make our region an even better place to call home.
There are five focus areas that intertwine with one another: Economic Stability, Health and Well-Being, Education, Livability, and Community & Social Connection.
You can learn more about Thrive here.
As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors.
Learn more here.
SANDI VIDAL
Vice President of Community Strategies and Initiatives
svidal@cffound.org
Vice President of Community Strategies and Initiatives
svidal@cffound.org
ALISSA MAHADEO
Community Investment Manager
amahadeo@cffound.org
Community Investment Manager
amahadeo@cffound.org
SUSAN PONCE
Community Investment Coordinator
sponce@cffound.org
Community Investment Coordinator
sponce@cffound.org
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