Many people who live in Lakewood Ranch choose Manatee Community Foundation as their partner in philanthropy.

There are several ways to give, get better connected to your communities through charitable giving, and serve local nonprofit organizations.

• Your own donor advised fund at Manatee Community Foundation allows you to establish a charitable fund in your name and make recommendations about the nonprofit organizations you wish to support. It’s all based on what is most important to you. You can establish a new fund with a gift of cash or appreciated assets such as stock.
  
• Joining one of Manatee Community Foundation’s giving circles in Lakewood Ranch allows you to join a group of caring people who each contribute a charitable donation to the circle each year and make joint decisions about the grants that will be awarded.
  
• Manatee Community Foundation’s Lakewood Ranch Community Fund was established in 2000 as a field of interest fund to support the quality of life of people who live and work in Lakewood Ranch. A gift to this charitable fund provides broad support for a variety of needs impacting east Sarasota and Manatee counties and Lakewood Ranch. Each year, the board of advisors of MCF’s Lakewood Ranch Community Fund selects grant recipients based on a competitive application process using dollars available from the current spending policy (currently 4.5%).
  
• The Lakewood Ranch Community Fund, Inc. is a distinct charitable 501(c)(3) organization formed in 2021 that is separate from Manatee Community Foundation’s Lakewood Ranch Community Fund.
  

For more information about any of these options, contact Manatee Community Foundation’s Manager of Donor Engagement Alicia Chalmers at AChalmers@ManateeCF.org or (941) 747-7765.