Manasota ASALH Raises $100,000 for Scholarship Program

The Manasota Branch of ASALH raised about $100,000 at its inaugural Black History Month Scholarship Luncheon for the 2026 Manasota Scholarship Program, and several local foundations and groups reported grants and fundraising totaling hundreds of thousands for area nonprofits.

The Manasota Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History recently raised approximately $100,000 for the 2026 Manasota Scholarship Program during its inaugural Black History Month Scholarship Luncheon. The event is part of local efforts to generate scholarship funding for students. Around the same time, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded $191,985 to 15 nonprofits serving wild and domestic animals and also distributed $163,300 in Capacity Building grants to 21 nonprofits across areas such as shelter services and conservation. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund at Manatee Community Foundation approved $92,820 in grants to Bradenton organizations that support public spaces, the arts, and civic engagement. Other local activities included Service Dogs Saving Lives raising more than $47,000 at a fundraising dinner, Church of the Redeemer awarding 100 St. Scholastica grants totaling $25,000 to full-time K-12 teachers in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and a $10,000 grant to Florida Studio Theatre from the Golisano Foundation. Recent funding highlights: - The Manasota ASALH raised approximately $100,000 for the 2026 Manasota Scholarship Program at its inaugural Black History Month Scholarship Luncheon. - The Community Foundation of Sarasota County awarded $191,985 to 15 animal welfare nonprofits. - The same foundation awarded $163,300 in Capacity Building grants to 21 nonprofits across multiple service areas. - The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund approved $92,820 in grants to four Bradenton nonprofits (Realize Bradenton $45,000; Friendly City Foundation $20,000; Reflections of Manatee $15,000; Suncoast Black Arts Collaborative $12,820). - Service Dogs Saving Lives raised more than $47,000 at its "A Night of Hope" fundraising dinner. - Church of the Redeemer awarded 100 St. Scholastica grants totaling $25,000 to full-time K-12 teachers in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and Florida Studio Theatre received a $10,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation. Summary: These local fundraising events and foundation grants contribute to scholarships, nonprofit capacity building, arts programming, and animal welfare in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Undetermined at this time.