Giving back — it is at the heart of what Greater Gainesville stands for. The area’s nearly 300 nonprofit organizations underline their dedication to this practice, with charities and foundations for everything from elder care to equine therapy. The community of caring and compassionate residents, along with universities, museums and private businesses, all do their part to lift others up. From spending time through volunteer effort to donating a few dollars, there are many opportunities in Greater Gainesville to get involved with wonderful local nonprofits and philanthropic organizations inspiring hope and instituting real change.
Education Nonprofits in Greater Gainesville
University of Florida Advancement
One of the area’s biggest employers and businesses, the University of Florida, has a long history of giving back to the community. U of F Advancement is the university’s giving and fundraising sector, which was originally founded in 1934 as the University of Florida Endowment Corp. The foundation has several branches that accept donations for causes such as bladder cancer research, Parkinson’s research, memorial scholarships and sports endowments.
The nonprofit Santa Fe College Foundation accepts donations that primarily go toward scholarships, but also fund facilities and program enhancements. SFC students have received more than $20 million in scholarships since 1973. The community benefits from the Spring Arts Festival, fine arts programs, community cultural enrichment programs, innovative facilities and events and performances through the foundation.
Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship
This scholarship is also part of the University of Florida and aims to help first-generation, low-income students to cover the costs of their education. It covers all tuition, living expenses and books for students who are the first in their family to attend college.
Having plenty of support and resources to succeed is crucial for guiding children toward a bright life into adulthood. The PACE Center for Girls is designed to help young “at-promise” women find the guidance and tools to help them reach their maximum potential. For nearly 25 years, PACE has helped more than 1,500 girls ages 11-17 overcome various risk factors and succeed academically, socially and emotionally.
Striving to provide tomorrow’s life lessons today, Junior Achievement shows millions of students across the nation each year how to succeed in the global economy of the 21st Century — no small feat. Through community volunteers in classrooms, JA instructs kids in financial literacy, entrepreneurial skills and career readiness, to inspire enterprising young minds and lead by example.
This nonprofit, which celebrated its 100th birthday a few years ago, provides a plethora of programs from elementary to high school students. It has encouraged and educated Alachua County students through many of its annual events.
Cultivating Relationships for Lasting Change
How Infotech Invests in the Greater Gainesville Community
Greater Gainesville is supported by a robust and collaborative community of nonprofit organizations working together to improve the lives of our youth, families, Veterans and more. It’s what makes North Central Florida one of the best places to call home – and it’s all supported by businesses who choose to prioritize giving back. For 45 years, Infotech has been a leader in this area, cultivating relationships that bridge the gap between the business and nonprofit sectors.
For Infotech, supporting the community and giving back involves much more than writing a check for a fundraiser or program. It’s about creating space for nonprofits to express their needs and feel supported by a donor who understands their work and goals – and that takes so much more than a transaction. It takes a true relationship.
“For us, giving back isn’t something we do to check a box. We work directly with our nonprofit partners to create lasting impact for the individuals they serve,” shared Lacey Jones, Director of Marketing and Communications for Infotech. “Many times we accomplish this simply by meeting our partners for coffee to really understand their goals and brainstorm ways we can help them get there. They come to us because they know they can count on us as more than a financial supporter – we’re an advocate.”
Infotech also looks to their own employees for a voice in their philanthropic efforts, empowering them to volunteer their time with missions that are closest to them, lead donation drives to support the tangible needs of nonprofit partners, and voice their opinions on what nonprofits they’d like to see the company support. Giving back is critical, but doing so in a way that ensures ripples of positive impact across the Gainesville area is exactly how Infotech chooses to give back.
To learn more about Infotech’s work in the community, visit infotechinc.com/community.
Tech Nonprofits in Greater Gainesville
Innovation is at the core of any successful bustiness venture, and startGNV makes fostering this its mission. They are heavily involved in the tech community and help startups get their feet off the ground to promote small business’ success. They host events like the Startup Sprint — think “Shark Tank” — where attendees can pitch their startup ideas for prizes.
Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention
Think. Meet. Be. These are the foundational themes of Gainesville’s Cade Museum for Creativity & Innovation, a hands-on science museum located by Depot Park.
Named for the eponymous founder of Gatorade, the Cade Museum, in addition to hosting exhibits, offers summer camps, virtual lectures and opportunities for low-income and underserved communities. With a core mission centered around inspiring the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries, this unique museum helps to pass along the lifelong passions of Gainesville’s own Dr. Cade.
Community Outreach
GRACE Marketplace’s mission is to end homelessness in Greater Gainesville. They provide shelter, job resources and permanent housing solutions to the people who need it the most. They also offer the GRACE Boutique, which provides job-appropriate clothing through donations for their clients, as well as a 10-week-long culinary training program. The training program thus provides more than 400 meals per day through their cafe.
With an impressive name to accompany their impressive mission, Bread of the Mighty Food Bank serves more than five counties to sort, collect and distribute food and necessities to those in need. Their network includes more than 170 nonprofits, ranging from churches to food shelters to food pantries.
The Food on the Move program ensures nonperishable items stay fresh and delivered in a timely manner. As an official Partner Distribution Organization under Feeding America, on top of 35 years of experience and proven service, Bread of the Mighty is both feeding the hungry while staying hungry to do more.
Animals
Equine therapy is becoming more popular across the country, and North Central Florida is no different. HOPE: Horses Helping People is located in Archer and was founded in 2000. This organization provides therapy through horses to enrich the lives of people with disabilities. They also have programs for people who are recovering from drug or alcohol addiction, veterans, senior citizens and breast cancer survivors.
Humane Society of North Central Florida
The Humane Society of North Central Florida is actually a collaboration between the Alachua County Humane Society, Gainesville Pet Rescue and Helping Hands Pet Rescue. They joined forces for the greater good of animals in 2018, but have been a community partner for more than 40 years prior.
The Humane Society is a no-kill shelter, meaning that animals that do not get adopted are not euthanized. They hold adoption events throughout the area and fundraising events such as Woofstock and the Bourbon Fundraiser. They also offer a thrift store, with all proceeds going back to the Humane Society.
Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary
The State of Florida has a high rate of illegal exotic pet trade, which is the reason behind Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary. Many exotic pet owners give up their pets, such as monkeys, when they realize how much work they are. Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary offers these former pets and lab animals a safe place to spend their lives. Donations are accepted, and residents can also sponsor a monkey. This Sanctuary is accredited by the American Sanctuary Association and The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.
Health Care
Sometimes, seeing the face behind the cause makes it all the more real. In the case of dystonia, a seldom discussed neurological disorder, the face is that of Gainesville resident Tyler Staab.
Diagnosed with this affliction at the age of 7, Tyler, with the support of his family, established Tyler’s Hope for a Dystonia Cure to aid in the research and potential eradication of dystonia. Through various fundraising events, Giving Days and tight association with the nation’s top dystonia doctors and researchers, Tyler’s Hope has made and continues to make significant progress in its quest for a cure. Donating, volunteering or even just spreading awareness of this lesser-known disorder are all welcomed and encouraged.
A familiar name with an important mission, the American Heart Association of Alachua County promotes and educates on all things health and heart related. Offering extensive educational information about heart conditions, prevention techniques, lifestyle tips and other resources, the AHA is the heavyweight champion in the fight against heart disease and stroke.
According to its website, the AHA has invested nearly $5 billion in research funding since 1949 and trains on average 22 million people in CPR. Their methods work. Since February 2018, they have reported a 13.6% decrease in stroke deaths and a 15.1% decrease in heart disease deaths. With options to get involved or donate, the AHA is always looking for help.
The Helping Hands Clinic of Gainesville provides free health care to low-income residents and the homeless. It is made up of 140 health professionals including social workers, physicians and registered nurses who volunteer their time to offer their services. They offer Monday and Thursday evening clinics for the low-income and homeless, as well as eye care and mental health services.
Planning for end-of-life or palliative care is not an easy process, and Haven Hospice understands this well. Renowned for its high-quality level of care in this matter, this nonprofit performs their services for any patient, regardless of their ability to pay.
With locations in over 18 Florida counties, Haven Hospice is locally run and supported by their respective communities. Volunteers of all sorts are welcomed, from those performing music, to bringing along pets, to administrative support and donations, fundraisers and memorial gifts are accepted. Haven Hospice is true to its name, providing a warm, safe place for those in need.
ElderCare of Alachua County goes above and beyond in their mission to care for the senior population. They offer adult daycare for people ages 18+ who have Alzheimers or memory issues, home-delivered meals for seniors, a senior activity center, training for adults with vision problems to be independent, a Parkinson’s exercise program and more.
Environmental Nonprofits in Greater Gainesville
Keep Alachua County Beautiful is a proud member of Keep America Beautiful and has been a positive force in the community for 30 years. Multiple projects throughout the year include graffiti abatement, adopt-a-road, community gardens and an after-school environmental program.
Every year since they have been part of Keep America Beautiful, they have earned the KAB President’s Circle Recognition Award.
With more than 1,600 farms and 340,000 acres, the Alachua County Farm Bureau is dedicated to supporting local farmers and ranchers. It provides a bridge between county, state and national farm bureaus to help preserve farmland and property rights for those who grow food for residents. It offers youth programs to increase awareness for farmer and ranchers’ rights and inspire future generations of farmers.
With hundreds of wonderful nonprofits and philanthropic organizations in Alachua County, this barely scratches the surface. To find more information about these and other organizations, there is a website designed specifically for residents to search for local nonprofits in North Central Florida at thephilanthropyhub.org.
By Ryan Walsh