Fifty years ago, Collaboratory was founded on generosity. In 1976, two visionary leaders, Tom Smoot and John Sheppard, came together with a simple but powerful idea: that endowed funds, thoughtfully stewarded, could create lasting local impact. From that belief, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation was born.
Just one year later, Leonard Santini, a local farmer and philanthropist, made an extraordinary gift to that vision, donating his shopping center, valued at $2.5 million, to the foundation, which was later rebranded to “Collaboratory.” That act of trust helped set in motion a legacy of giving that continues to shape our region today.
Since then, hundreds of philanthropists have stepped forward, contributing millions of dollars and touching nearly every nonprofit across Southwest Florida. What began as one bold idea has grown into a vibrant, forward-thinking foundation, shaped by dedicated leaders, trustees, donors, staff and volunteers. For 50 years, their passion and commitment have helped us meet, and anticipate, the evolving needs of our community.
As we mark this golden anniversary, we are inspired by the heart and generosity of a region that consistently shows up for one another. What started with a $2.5 million gift is now approaching $150 million in awarded grants, with more than $184 million in assets stewarded for impact.
In honor of our 50th anniversary, we are sharing another bold idea. We have launched a partnership with the Philos Foundation through a leadership grant they have provided. The Philos Foundation has committed a generous $250,000 gift to support Collaboratory’s work with a matching challenge, doubling the power of each dollar and helping it go further, faster. Funds will be directed to the SWFL Resilience Fund, established to respond to critical needs following natural disasters.
This new effort will focus on closing critical funding gaps in existing initiatives while also underwriting innovative new projects that strengthen both environmental and community resilience across Southwest Florida.
As we move forward with this fund, and other funds focused on solving community challenges, we will need your help. Because here’s the truth: There is no Collaboratory without donors. Not historically. Not today. And certainly not in the future.
Since 1976, thousands of students have had the opportunity to pursue their education because of robust scholarship funds. Jose Reyes is one of them.
He received the Shanley Memorial Scholarship, $5,000 a year to attend Florida Gulf Coast University. Recently he shared, “You may not always see the full impact of your generosity, but I promise you, it’s real. You are not just funding education. You are changing lives.”
Brittany Curley is a scholarship student who faced homelessness and financial instability. The scholarship from Collaboratory didn’t just help her go to school, it gave her stability. It gave her the space to breathe and to dream. Today, she wants to become a teacher. She said, “I want to be the teacher that looks at the student in hardship and reminds them they are more than their circumstances … because someone once did that for me.”
Think about that ripple. Your investment didn’t just support Brittany. It will shape every student she teaches for the rest of her life. That is generational impact. John Sheppard, who helped establish this organization in 1976, understood generational impact and how generosity and kindness could transform one’s community.
As he once said, “We cannot all do great things or make great contributions … but we can all do little things … and our little things said or done with love can change one life … and change the world.”
Thank you for being part of this extraordinary journey. Your generosity, your belief in community, and your commitment to Southwest Florida have shaped 50 years of impact — and will continue to inspire and guide the next 50 years.
by Dawn Belamarich, president and CEO of the Collaboratory.
