Success Stories and News

Orange County’s Capacity Building Seminar Series Helps Local Nonprofits Thrive

Through the skills learned in Orange County’s Capacity Building Seminar Program, Tamisha Major is helping her nonprofit organization take their mission to the next level.

“The seminar was an eye-opening experience for me, personally and professionally,” says Major, who serves as the training manager for Center for Change, Inc., a nonprofit agency providing health education and services to underserved and underinsured populations in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties. “They took us step-by-step through everything from developing a S.W.O.T. analysis, to strategic planning and executive leadership, to the nuances of applying for major grants.”

Since completing the program, Center for Change has partnered with one of the region’s leading health care providers in a new pilot program, providing a range of services for at-risk pregnant and postpartum mothers. In the future, the organization hopes to collaborate directly with Orange County, receiving county grant funding to become a staple in the lives of Central Floridians. Center for Change also expanded its staff, allowing Major to utilize many of the leadership management skills she acquired through the course.

A key recommendation of the Citizens Safety Task Force, the Capacity Building Seminar work to strengthen internal business operations for small, local nonprofits. These agencies are either currently receiving Orange County grant funding or may be county funded in the near future.

By mentoring nonprofit leaders in business best practices, entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership, Orange County seeks to ensure the professional longevity of social services providers that citizens rely upon. The County also is working to ensure that taxpayers receive a premium return on their grant funding investment.

The Capacity Building Seminars are comprised of two separate programs. One conducted by nonprofit practitioners within the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Leadership at the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College. One instructed by faculty members within the University of Central Florida’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Management.

The program within Rollins College is intended for agencies funded through the Citizens’ Review Panel (CRP). These funded agencies will receive customized coaching, opportunities to network with more than 350 nonprofits, and workshops to hone organizational priorities. Areas of coaching may include organizational development, board governance, fundraising, marketing, leadership, and volunteer management.

Tamisha Major took part in the inaugural class to graduate from the University of Central Florida’s program last year. The course prepared them for organizational growth and meeting the demands of a major government contract.

“Because these agencies play such a significant role in people’s lives, we are heavily invested in their success,” says Angela Chestang, division manager for the Citizens’ Commission for Children – a part of Orange County’s Community and Family Services Department – which oversees the seminar program. “Partnering with two of the region’s most respected educational institutions, Orange County is committed to the growth and enduring strength of nonprofit social services providers in our region.”

2022 Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive a Huge Success

The 2022 Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive recently completed its 12th year collecting gifts for the benefit of local youth, and the final numbers are in. During a year where the community faced an increase in the cost of living, the aftermath and cleanup from two major hurricanes and lingering effects of COVID-19, Orange County employees, businesses and residents generously donated more than 9,000 toys.

Donations to the drive were distributed to Orange County Neighborhood Centers for Families, as well as 12 local charity organizations, including OCPS Kid’s Closet, Wraparound Orange and more.

“The power of one toy given can make a huge difference in a child’s life, and this year, like in previous years, Orange County employees and residents really came through in a big way,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings. “We had more than 950 in donations from our online drive and close to 100 in-person donations during the recent Oath of Office event alone, which was incredible.”

All kinds of toys, including books, basketballs, soccer balls, model cars, toy trucks, sporting equipment, craft kits, junior board games, dolls, Barbie sets, LEGO sets, Tonka toys, action figure sets, skateboards, helmets and tea sets were received. Thirty kids from struggling Orange County employee families received gifts, as did more than 120 families from the Neighborhood Centers for Families team.

All told, the County reached 98 percent of its goal by the end of the online drive, as well as more than doubled its total pre-COVID toy collection from 2019.

“The annual toy drive means a great deal to me,” continued Mayor Demings, “and every year, when we receive the final numbers, I continue to be thankful to Orange County employees and the local community for their generosity and kindness.”

For more information about the Orange County Mayor’s Holiday Toy Drive, visit ocfl.net/ToyDrive.

Watch the video of the Mayor's Toy Drive Holiday Shop at Orlo Vista Park.

Orange County Citizens’ Review Panel Delivers Impactful Programs for Local Communities

From programs guarding children from human trafficking, to career development opportunities to crime prevention projects, the Citizens’ Review Panel (CRP) has awarded more than $14.3 million to area nonprofits for 2023.

Every year the CRP selects a small group of proposals from Orange County-based nonprofits, to provide critically needed services to local citizens. In 2023 alone, 32 agencies were chosen to establish 61 unique programs. As a key recommendation of the Orange County Citizens Safety Task Force, the CRP implemented a number of funding-process modifications this year, ensuring a more equitable process and the highest quality results for Central Floridians. Examples of agencies include:

Beautifully Scarred, Inc. aims to empower girls of diverse backgrounds to prevent delinquency, anti-social behaviors and promote a positive reduction in overall risk factors for youth. This will be accomplished through self-care workshops, career development opportunities and group mentorship programming.

Paving the Way Foundation, Inc. will offer programming geared towards protecting children from human trafficking. Programs give children, parents and educators insight into such concepts as grooming, online enticement and support services, among others.

SOS by Urbander, Inc. will partner with a youth mentoring program “So You Want Your Name in Lights” to provide an arts-focused, crime-prevention project designed to encourage underserved youth populations to make sound choices and develop positive life-skills.

“These programs make a real and lasting impact in the lives of everyday Central Floridians,” said Angela Chestang, division manager for the Citizens’ Commission for Children — a division of the Community and Family Services Department, which oversees the CRP. “The CRP welcomed the recommendations of the Citizens Safety Task Force, taking significant steps forward to improve our already strong processes for 2023 and beyond.”

Convened by Mayor Jerry L. Demings following a series of violent, youth-related incidents in 2020, the Citizens Safety Task Force seeks to reduce and prevent gun violence and violent crime in Orange County communities.

As recommended by the task force, the CRP implemented a revised funding strategy to create a more equitable process. This revised strategy allowed smaller and mid-sized nonprofits to compete for funding separate from larger organizations. As a result, 14 of the 32 nonprofit agencies awarded 2023 funding — nearly half — were nonprofits that had not received previous CRP funding. Twelve of the 14 new funding recipients were small, grassroots agencies.

Moving forward, a wide variety of trainings will be provided to funded agencies throughout the year. These trainings will include a capacity-building seminar series — conducted by business faculty at Rollins College and the University of Central Florida — intended to strengthen internal business operations within funded agencies.

“All of these measures, in aggregate, represent the realization of a funding distribution process that will be much more equitable for local nonprofits and impactful for the people of Orange County,” said Chestang.

For more information, visit Orange County Government’s Citizens’ Review Panel webpage.