Philanthropy Partners

Invest Early. Impact Forever.

Right now in Florida:

  • More than half the children enter kindergarten already behind, and closing that gap will take all of us.
  • Too many families in our hometown are forced to choose between paying rent and paying for quality child care.
  • The educators shaping our youngest minds often earn no more than minimum wage, and children bear the cost.

Your gift strengthens our teachers, improves our classrooms, and gives more children a real chance to start kindergarten with confidence.

Want every dollar to go twice as far? The Flanzer Philanthropic Trust may match your individual gift dollar-for-dollar, from as little as $5 up to $500 a month, year-round. No fees. No surcharges. Just double the impact.

Become an Impact Investor

Your Investment in Action

Child care often operates in the shadows.

It’s an industry that is overlooked, underfunded, and running on razor-thin profit margins, even in the best of times. In the world of early education every penny, dime and quarter matters. A single container of Play-Doh. A tube of washable paint. A new rug for circle time. Take one cost off a provider’s plate, or many.

Seed — $25

Books for classroom libraries.
Your gift helps place high-quality books into the hands of little learners and builds early literacy foundations.

Sprout — $50

Literacy learning kits for children.
Your investment provides hands-on materials that strengthen vocabulary, comprehension, and early reading skills.

Bloom — $100

Supports entry-level early educators in the Pre-Apprenticeship program by covering the costs related to class materials and testing.

Your contribution helps educators grow professionally while strengthening the quality of local classrooms.

Blossom — $150

Supplies classrooms with high-quality curriculum and instructional materials.

Your support enhances learning environments and improves kindergarten readiness outcomes.

The early years set the trajectory for everything that follows.

Children who attend high-quality early learning programs are more likely to:

  • Start kindergarten ready
  • Develop strong literacy and math skills
  • Build confidence and social-emotional growth
  • Graduate high school
  • Advance to higher education and start a career 
  • Experience better long-term health outcomes
  • Earn higher wages as adults

It’s no wonder the first five years of life are often called the ‘Golden Window of Opportunity.’

Where We Come In

The Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County works every day to ensure children have access to safe, high-quality early learning environments. We also ensure that the educators who guide them have the tools they need to make every moment meaningful.

We do this by:

  • Connecting eligible families with child care financial assistance so parents can work and children can thrive in safe, reliable, quality care  
  • Investing in educators through free training, apprenticeships, and career pathway navigation 
  • Strengthening classrooms with books, literacy tools, learning materials,  and curriculum supports 
  • Supporting developmental screenings and early interventions so children get help when it matters most

Your gift fuels this work.

When you give, you are not simply making a donation. You are investing in brighter beginnings, stronger families, and a more vibrant future for Sarasota County. 

Because when children have strong starts, entire communities rise. 

Ready To Cultivate Real Change?

A higher-level donation creates an even greater impact.
Your generosity at this level can transform classrooms, support educator careers, and directly enhance children’s learning experiences.

Larger gifts can help provide:

Stories of Impact

Real families. Real educators. Real children whose futures are changing because someone chose to invest early.

Philanthropy Partners

A Special Thanks to Our Partners

Transparency & Accountability

We are committed to responsible stewardship of every dollar invested in our mission.

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