Charitable Foundation of the Islands offers grants to help standardize, simplify volunteer management

Island nonprofits and those who seek to volunteer at them may soon find it easier to pair up as organizations implement the POINT Volunteer Platform and App. Funding to adopt the platform comes from grants offered by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI).  

The grants were made possible through a $10,000 donation from Lake Michigan Credit Union. The grant also provided funds to hire a summer intern from Florida Gulf Coast University. Marketing major and Fort Myers Beach resident Brianna Levy assisted the nonprofits with implementing the new platform.

Dolly Farrell, CFI executive director, said, “CFI is grateful to Lake Michigan Credit Union for this grant, which will benefit the islands’ nonprofits. There are many advantages for the nonprofits to use the same platform, including ease of use for volunteers as well as cross-marketing for one another’s’ volunteer needs.”

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) began using the platform in early 2023 and SCCF Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal brought the idea of a uniform volunteer management system to the other nonprofits. McNeal reports that both staff and volunteers find it easy to use and it enables volunteers to see opportunities in every department at SCCF.

Thus far, 10 organizations have adopted POINT, including Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Captiva Civic Association, Children’s Education Center of the Islands, Community Housing & Resources, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, FISH of SanCap, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, the Sanibel Community Association, as well as the City of Sanibel Recreation Center and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.

“We are delighted to be a part of the recovery of our islands in this way,” said Matt Cook, vice president of community relations at Lake Michigan Credit Union. “Some of our staff are residents or frequent visitors to Sanibel and Captiva and look forward to their own volunteer opportunities to help get the Islands back to what they once were.” 

POINT is free for any organization to use within the United States. The CFI grants cover a portion of the annual fee for the platform’s upgraded version.

Those organizations serving Sanibel and Captiva can apply for the POINT grant NOW >

Picture (L to R)

 Lake Michigan Credit Union and Charitable Foundation of the Islands volunteers pause during a recent volunteer project held at FISH’s building on Sanibel. Pictured (left to right): Lake Michigan’s Kathy Stefanski and Matt Cook, FISH Program Coordinator Manuela Martinez, CFI’s Dolly Farrell and Brianna Levy joined by Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club member Logan Lee.

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