Quarterly Newsletter – January 2021

Dear friends,

The year 2021 marks the Community Foundation’s 10^th anniversary! We’re proud to have been a vital part of this community over the last ten years and are excited for what the next decade shall bring.

As we ring in the new year and, for us, the new decade, we would like to share with you a glimpse of the Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County’s hard work providing nonprofits with COVID-19 relief over the past few months.

In this edition of Living Through Giving, you will see some of the things we’ve been up to over the past quarter. Most of our focus has been to provide nonprofits with CARES Act assistance via the Stronger Marion Nonprofits grant program, in collaboration with Marion County. We have been ensuring nonprofits receive the assistance they need to cover their yearly expenses. While it remains to be seen how much COVID will impact 2021, we know that at least some of the financial strain our community’s nonprofits endured last year will continue into this year as well.

We also look ahead to what we have coming up in Q1 2021. It’s a great time to get involved with your local Community Foundation. Contact me to learn how!

Thank you so much for your continued support! 

Sincerely, 

Lauren B. Deiorio 

President & Executive Director

Throughout 2020, the grants team at the Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Resource Center worked with dozens of Marion County nonprofits to apply for CARES Act grant funds in partnership with Marion County government. By the end of December, more than $4.2 million was either granted or in the final review stage to be awarded to nonprofits with significant COVID-19-related financial needs. This is just another way we continue to build a stronger community!

Starting Monday, January 11, the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) re-opened to new and certain existing PPP borrowers. PPP loans can be used to cover expenses related to operations, property damage, supplier costs, and worker protection. Certain existing borrowers can apply for a Second Draw PPP loan. If you received funding in the first round, please contact your lender for more details. Eligible organizations are 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, direct marketing organizations, and others that may include your organization. For more information, click here.

Our partnership with Rollins College and The Edyth Bush Institute for Nonprofit Leadership continues with the first Nonprofit Academic Series installment on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 presenting the “Benefits of Assessment and Evaluation.” Register here. 

Our partnership with Rollins College and The Edyth Bush Institute for Nonprofit Leadership continues with the first Nonprofit Academic Series installment on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 presenting the “Benefits of Assessment and Evaluation.” Register here. 

COX Communications’ Manager of Communications, Devon Chestnut, APR, CPRC, is offering free video training sessions at the Nonprofit Resource Center. Nonprofits will be taught how to use our in-house Cox Video Suite, which comes complete with lighting, backdrops, microphones and more, to produce their own videos. Availability is limited to six nonprofits per session with new sessions available each month. Email us to learn how to get scheduled soon.

Other services offered at the Nonprofit Resource Center include financial counselling, grant services, strategic planning, and professional development seminars. To learn more about each of these services, click here.

We are proud to announce Mr. Joseph Bullard, CPA, staff accountant at Duggan, Joiner & co. has been approved as the new president of the EPCMC. We would also like to thank Mr. Tim Dean for all of his work as President in 2020, and congratulate him for moving into the Immediate Past President’s role. The Estate Planning Council of Marion County is set to resume, with the first of their quarterly meetings scheduled for Wednesday, February 17th.

To learn more about the EPCMC, click here.

The NonProfit Business Council is set to resume on Tuesday, January 19th, with their first General Meeting of the new year at 8:15 a.m. Register here.

Also in the end of 2020, the third edition of the NonProfit Business Council’s Guide to Charitable Giving printed guide became available to the community. Have you seen it? Click here to view a digital copy. Want a printed copy of your own? Visit the Community Foundation offices Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we can give you one or a few.

To learn more about the NPBC, click here.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act has been extended through 2021.

This means that taxpayers who do not itemize deductions may deduct $300 in so-called “above-the-line” deductions. Couples filling together may deduct the first $600.

It also means that the increased limits on deductible charitable contributions for individuals and for corporations have been extended through 2021 as well.

For more details, contact your tax planning professional, or to view a copy of the 5,000+ page Consolidated Appropriations Act, click here.

The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County is proud to announce our newest staff member!

Please join us in welcoming JIM HILLEBRANDT, our new Director of Donor Services!

As the Community Foundation’s Director of Donor Services, Jim meets and interacts with both potential and current fund holders at the Community Foundation. Jim’s role is help business and individuals with philanthropic interests establish ways to grow their means of giving back.

To learn more about Jim, click here to read his bio.

The Community Foundation for Ocala/Marion County and the Florida Public Relations Association are proud to announce a brand new partnership!

FPRA will provide Communications, PR, and Marketing Counseling to nonprofit organizations in need of those supports through this program of the Foundation’s Nonprofit Resource Center.

These services will be provided from FPRA as a no-charge community service.

FPRA will also provide Communications, PR & Marketing Counseling to no more than three requested nonprofits per month. Beginning with the initial introduction meeting, additional meetings may be requested by the FPRA member-counselor. FPRA member-counselors can set strategic priorities, goals and requirements of each participating nonprofit and may provide Community Foundation with a culminating report following the conclusion of counseling services to each nonprofit. Additional parameters of the program are at the discretion of FPRA.

For more information, contact us with questions.