Local collective giving organization Impact100 SRQ announced on Nov. 18 that WSLR+Fogartyville is one of 10 nonprofit finalists for eight $108,000 grants to fund “transformative, high-impact initiatives across Sarasota and Manatee counties.”
WSLR+Fogartyville’s proposed initiative, Built for Belonging, falls under Impact100 SRQ’s Arts, Culture & History focus area. It calls for upgrades to convert Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center, known as Sarasota’s favorite listening room, into a fully-equipped, flexible, community-driven space for creativity and participation. This would be achieved through targeted technology, furniture, and infrastructure improvements.
“We are incredibly honored and humbled to be chosen as a finalist for a grant that, if awarded, will dramatically grow the impact we can have as a center for creative expression,” said Jesse Coleman, executive director of WSLR+Fogartyville.
Coleman was accompanied by Fogartyville Director Ariel Aparicio-Jerro at the Nov. 18 gathering at the Sarasota Garden Club, where the finalists were announced.
Built for Belonging upgrades include lighting, sound, and hybrid streaming equipment, mobile video displays and presentation technology, and integrated floor-based electrical infrastructure to maximize flexibility. The initiative also calls for new seating and tables that are modular, adaptable and lightweight.
“These technology and furniture upgrades will support in-person, virtual, and hybrid gatherings for educational workshops, nonprofit meetings, and cultural events,” Aparicio-Jerro said. “They will also provide a higher-quality concert and film screening experience for our listening room audience.”
Impact100 SRQ’s 864 voting members will gather on Jan. 20 at their Annual Celebration and Awards Ceremony at the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium at the Bay. At this signature event, WSLR+Fogartyville and the other finalists will present their initiatives to attendees, after which members will vote for the eight nonprofits to receive funding. The eight grant recipients, each awarded $108,000, will be announced at that time.
For more information about the women-led Impact100SRQ and the 2025 grant finalists, visit impact100srq.org