The Beaches Community Fund, a collective giving initiative of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida, recently made $319,000 in grants donations to 19 nonprofits that address critical needs facing the local beaches area.
With the latest grants, the collective giving circle has now invested more than $2.5 million in grants to nonprofits since the fund began making annual grants in 2015.
It is now comprised of more than 35 families, who pool resources to support nonprofits from Mayport to Guana.
“Our Grants Committee made 26 site visits to nonprofits in our area. The committee was not only impressed by the quality and commitment of each of the nonprofits selected this year but also humbled by the reality of their ongoing need for support,” said Caroline Fitzgerald, a member of the fund who presented the 2025-26 grants on behalf of the Grants Committee. “We wish to congratulate this year’s grantees and thank them for their service to the community.”
The Beaches Community Fund continues its focus on financial, food and housing assistance, supports for students and youth, as well as care for older adults.
Members of the fund supported capacity building of local nonprofits through a partnership with the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, and as in years past, the Beaches Community Fund received many strong applications for support and was pleased to make substantial investments to improve the quality of life for all Beaches-area residents.
The following grants were awarded:
- Beaches Council on Aging – $20,000 – Expand Dial-a-Ride senior transportation by offsetting increased insurance and staffing costs.
- Beaches Habitat for Humanity – $20,000 – Support home repairs for seniors and veterans to remain safely housed.
- BEAM – $40,000 – Sustain emergency assistance programs including food, financial aid, and care coordination.
- Boys & Girls Club of NE FL – $5,000 – Enhance Project Learn with updated tech and staff support for after-school academics.
- City Year Jacksonville – $20,000 – Support Whole School Whole Child program at Mayport Elementary to boost student outcomes.
- Communities in Schools – $20,000 – Fund case manager at Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle to support student success.
- Feeding Northeast Florida – $30,000 – Fund food distribution programs serving Beaches communities.
- First Coast Blessings in a Backpack – $25,000 – Provide weekend meals to students at four Beaches-area schools.
- Girl Scouts of Gateway Council – $2,500 – Expand Girl Scout troops at Anchor Academy and McKenzie's Boys & Girls Club.
- I.M. Sulzbacher Center for The Homeless – $25,000 – Support staffing for mobile outreach bus serving the unhoused at the Beaches.
- Mission House – $30,000 – Sustain Intake Coordinator role to expand client support and meal services.
- Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida – $18,500 – Develop Indicators Dashboard and offer workshops to strengthen nonprofits.
- PossAbilities Plus – $5,000 – Support first-year costs of free transport for students with disabilities to internships.
- READ USA – $10,000 – Promote literacy through book fairs and workshops for families and educators.
- Safety Shelter of St. Johns (Betty Griffin Center) – $4,000 – Continue violence prevention programming at Ponte Vedra Beach High.
- St. John's Emergency Assistance Ministry – $10,000 – Provide food and financial assistance to Atlantic Beach and Mayport residents.
- St. Vincent dePaul Beaches – $10,000 – Offer crisis assistance including housing, food, and basic needs support.
- The Young Men's Christian Association – $15,000 – Enrich middle school program with STEAM, mental health, and leadership workshops.
- WJCT – $9,000 – Expand PBS Kids learning workshops for young children in the Beaches community.
The Beaches Community Fund was established in 2015 by charitable Beaches-area families to address concerns about the issues affecting their neighbors between Mayport and Guana.
To learn more about the initiative residents can go to www.jaxcf.org/beaches or contact Wanda Willis, vice president of civic leadership by emailing wwillis@jaxcf.org or calling 904-356-4483.
