CCAL Board – Judy Biddle, Marian Borneman, Carmen Sprague, Marjorie Ewell, Linda Wildman, Pat Gilbert, Monica Rahman, Susie Nelke and Suzanne Sims
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 16, 2015) – The Cape Coral Art League (CCAL) recently established an endowment fund through the Southwest Florida Community Foundation to continue to grow and maintain its mission of promoting the advancement of art throughout Southwest Florida.
Incorporated in 1966, the CCAL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers year-round classes for adults, youth and children, eight major art exhibits each year in addition to its annual art fair in January and other art shows, workshops with world-renowned arts, and scholarships programs.
“The Cape Coral Art League has provided our community access to the visual arts for almost 50 years, and it is our hope that this newly established fund will continuing giving back to the community by sustaining our beautiful facility and hardworking volunteer organization for another 50 years,” said Suzanne Sims, president of the CCAL.
Nonprofit agency endowment funds allow an agency to take advantage of the Community Foundation’s financial management, administrative resources and expertise on planned giving. The funds are owned and managed by the foundation on behalf of the nonprofit and provide a simple and effective way for charities to build endowment and sustainability. Agencies can opt to receive annual proceeds as a source of income for operations and programs or roll over the amount to increase future endowment.
“We support the efforts of the CCAL and their strategic leadership who have an eye on today’s needs and a plan for the future of the organization,” said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the SWFLCF. “Their endowment fund is a great tool for their members and supporters to use to maintain and strengthen the organization that they care so much about.”
As leaders, conveners, grant makers and concierges of philanthropy, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation is a foundation built on community leadership with an inspired history of fostering regional change for the common good in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Community Foundation, founded in 1976, connects donors and their philanthropic aspirations with evolving community needs. With assets of more than $80 million, the Community Foundation has provided more than $60 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves. Last year, the Foundation granted more than $2.8 million to nonprofit organizations supporting education, animal welfare, arts, healthcare and human services. The Foundation granted $782,000 in nonprofit grants including more than $400,000 in regional community impact grants and additional $450,000 in scholarship grants. For more information about the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com.
The Cape Coral Art League is located at 516 Cultural Park Boulevard in Cape Coral and is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 239-772-5657 or visit www.capecoralartleague.org.
