“It is an honor to be the presenting sponsor of this event,” said Eric Pfeifer, CFI Board Member and Founder of Pfeifer Realty Group. “When Mary Ellen and I moved to Sanibel, I wanted to coach our kids and get involved in the Sanibel Youth Sports programs. I even started the Sanibel Flag Football program for boys and girls, sanctioned by the NFL. Now, it’s time to engage our new residents, including those who haven’t had the chance to get involved before. With many residents still displaced or not yet back full-time, it’s up to those of us here to step up and deepen our engagement. Mary Ellen and I are committed to bringing our community back together as quickly as possible.”

Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) announces that Bank of the Islands has been named the sponsor for the Opening and Closing Sessions of the 2025 Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program.

“The Bank of the Islands is thrilled to sponsor the Opening and Closing Sessions for the Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program,” says Robbie Roepstorff, President of Bank of the Islands. “Our community’s success hinges upon our engagement with these emerging leaders. The CFI Leadership Program does just that, and it also helps keep the island's history alive and share the community values we all treasure.”

We wish to remind you and impress the importance of Dec. 31 as the deadline to match a generous anonymous donation of $125,000 to the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund. Donations by end of the month are crucial to help local businesses make a comeback after the rigors of destruction from Hurricane Ian in 2022 and now hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024. Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) and the SanCap Chamber administrate the grant program.

Featured Topics

• Executive Director's Message

• CFI Announces Pfeifer Realty Group as the Presenting Sponsor for the Volunteer Expo - January 16, 2025

• $125k Match Almost Completed for Island Small Businesses;

  $44k Remains

• Sand Dollar Bookkeeping Donates to the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund in honor of their Clients

• Meet and Greet Held for 2025 Leadership Sanibel-Captiva

• Leadership Class Member Janice Block Chaddock

• New Women's Giving Circle benefits Island Nonprofits

• CFI and The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company Host Community Conversation with FGCU President & Island Leaders

• CFI Holiday Reception Thanks & Recognizes Donors

• Holiday Traditions From CFI Board Chair

• Helpful Resources for Year-End Giving - It's not too late!

December 2, 2024 (SANIBEL, FL) – Brian Rist, the most recent person to join Charitable Foundation of the Islands’ (CFI) Board of Directors, brings a skill set perfectly suited to the cause.

They include the ability to grow an organization; how to explain complicated concepts in an approachable way; and the desire to take a holistic approach to bettering the community in which he lives.

Sanibel, FL – November 27, 2024 –The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) is honored and excited to present its third class of the Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program.

CFI created the program in 2021 with the mission to connect and inspire the future volunteer leaders of the Islands. Twenty-four members have completed the program thus far with several alumni now serving in leadership roles in local nonprofit organizations and civic groups. Members of the previous classes as well as CFI Board members served on the selection committee and helped select the fifteen 2025 participants.

Featured Topics

• SanCap Recovery Fund Announces Distributions & $125k Match Challenge

• CFI Partners with FISH of SanCap and SanCap Chamber to launch small business support program

• 2025 Volunteer Expo

• CFI chips in to make 'Love Sanibel Back' Flourish

• Annual Seminar Engages Island Nonprofits

• Helpful Resources for Year-End Giving

The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) is pleased to announce the first distributions from the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund in the wake of Hurricane Milton. A generous $20,000 donation from the Shady Rest Foundation has enabled CFI to grant $10,000 each to FISH of SanCap for mental health services and to CHR for equipment replacement.

Additionally, the CFI Grants Committee has awarded $25,000 grants to both FISH and CHR for positive aging projects, funded through the Shady Rest Foundation Fund

Looking ahead, remaining Recovery Fund donations will be dedicated to supporting small businesses, with an initial goal of distributing $250,000. To advance this effort, an anonymous donor has pledged a $125,000 1:1 matching challenge, with a deadline of December 31. CFI has already raised $78,000 toward the match and invites the community to contribute. Those interested in supporting this vital initiative can contact Dolly Farrell, Executive Director, visit MyCFI.org/donate or mail checks to PO Box 1429, Sanibel, FL 33957.

CFI extends its gratitude to key community partners. FISH of SanCap will serve as the administrator for the assistance program, leveraging its expertise to support local businesses. Additionally, Alex Bustamante from the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce is available to guide businesses through the CFI application process and other regional, state, and national funding opportunities.

For more information about CFI grants and other small business recovery resources, visit the Chamber’s website at www.sancaprecovery.org.

Calling all Sanibel and Captiva clubs, nonprofits and community groups! Registration is now open for you to participate on January 16, 2025 at the Volunteer Expo presented by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands and powered by the Pfeifer Realty Group. This is your opportunity to share your mission, highlight your programs, and cultivate valuable opportunities within our community. 

Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund Activated Ahead of Hurricane Milton

Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund Activated Ahead of Hurricane Milton

The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) has activated the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund ahead of Hurricane Milton to support the recovery and rebuild efforts on Sanibel and Captiva islands.

Featured Topics

• A Note of Gratitude: Chip Roach, Chair, Lisa Riordan, Vice Chair, Dolly Farrell, Executive Director

• Special Announcement in Support of SanCap Economic Revitalization Fund

• CFI, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank Offer Small Business Loans

• FISH of SANCAP Featured Article: You Can Help TODAY - by Maria Espinoza, Executive Director

Featured Topics

• Shady Rest Foundation's $50,000 Donation Will Benefit Older Adults

• Charitable Foundation of the Islands Welcomes Melissa Halliburton to Board

• New Nonprofits Added to Directory!

• Halfway to the New Year Webinar

• Let Giving be About You, Not the Holiday Rush

• 2024 Q2 CFI Business Climate Survey

• What People Are Saying

  • Hear From James Evans, CEO of SCCF

  • Dana Souza, City Manager of Sanibel Talks About Planning, People and Progress

• The City of Sanibel Kicks Off Year-Long Celebration of the City’s 50th Anniversary in November 2024!!!

Regional Economic Research Institute Florida Gulf Coast University

The CFI Business Climate Survey was distributed to 318 email addresses provided by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) and the SanCap Chamber of Commerce on November 15th, 2023. The survey remained open until December 22nd, 2023, during which two reminder emails were sent out. Both the CFI and SanCap Chamber provided support in reaching out to various members to encourage participation. The survey received 92 full and partial responses, giving the survey a response rate of 29 percent.

Melissa Halliburton and her family have lived in several parts of the country. In January 2021, about halfway through a month-long COVID-19 “workation” on Sanibel, “we decided we didn’t want to leave,” Ms. Halliburton says.

They bought a house, sight unseen, and moved in May so their son could start sixth grade at The Sanibel School that fall.

 “Best decision we ever made,” she says.

I don’t know about you but every time I feel pressure, I don’t make the best decisions. Or maybe I do but the pressure of making the decision leaves me in doubt. When was the last time you bought a car at the end of the month for example?

June 1, 2024 (SANIBEL, FL) -- Older adults living or working on Sanibel and Captiva Islands will benefit from the generosity of Shady Rest Foundation, which recently established a fund through the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI).

Chip Roach, named 2024 Volunteer of the Year

Learn how volunteerism and community involvement shaped his life, career and the many people and organizations that he’s helped.

• Chamber awards CFI, Board Chair for making an impact

• Volunteer of the Year learned about serving from examples set by his engaged family

• Ken Washuta elected to CFI board, will chair Class of 2025 leadership program

• Second SanCap Business Climate Survey Released

• Celebrating Sanibel’s 50th: Businesses, individuals invited to lend support

• Nonprofit Corner

• In The News

The Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Charitable Foundation of the Islands are proud to share the findings of the Economic Outlook performed by the FGCU Regional Economic Research Institute’s Dr. Amir Neto. This study was based on surveys of on island business members of the Chamber of Commerce, to determine timing of return of our business community.

April 18, 2024 (SANIBEL ISLAND, FL )-- Ken Washuta of Sanibel, one of 13 members of the Leadership Sanibel Captiva Class of 2024, will lead the team that will design the program for the Class of 2025. He also has been elected to serve a one-year term on the Charitable Foundation of the Islands’ (CFI) board as the Chair of the Leadership Sanibel Captiva Program