Impact
Catalyze 2025: Marlene Spalten (Community Foundation Tampa Bay)

We’re asking thought leaders, business people and creatives to talk about the upcoming new year and give us catalyzing ideas for making St. Pete a better place to live. What should our city look like? What are their hopes, their plans, their problem-solving ideas? This is Catalyze 2025.
As St. Petersburg continues to recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Community Foundation Tampa Bay (CFTB) is looking ahead to a future focused on building a more resilient community.
In the wake of the hurricanes, CFTB mobilized quickly, distributing over $4 million in relief funds. The foundation’s preparedness, including its always-active Critical Needs List, played a crucial role in connecting donors with organizations addressing the most pressing community needs.
Looking forward to 2025, Marlene Spalten, President and CEO of Community Foundation Tampa Bay, emphasizes the importance of long-term recovery and preparedness.
“As we’ve seen this year, disasters don’t just bring destruction – they reveal the strengths and vulnerabilities of our communities. During my tenure at Community Foundation Tampa Bay, I’ve seen it proven again and again that recovery doesn’t stop once the initial crisis has passed. It’s a long journey that requires partnership, vision, and a commitment to building a stronger community together,” Spalten said.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton damaged nearly 16,000 homes in St. Petersburg. Photo: Mark Parker.
CFTB’s focus for the coming year is on fostering a more resilient Tampa Bay, recognizing that recovery extends far beyond the initial crisis response. Central to this effort is a Funders’ Forum on Disaster Resilience.
“To better prepare for the future, we are leading efforts in 2025 to bring Tampa Bay’s philanthropic community together for critical conversations about disaster resilience. To this end, we are committed to hosting a Funders’ Forum on Disaster Resilience, a space where Tampa Bay’s philanthropic leaders can reflect on lessons learned, share best practices and collaborate on innovative solutions,” Spalten explained “Our 2025 goal is to go beyond recovery by fostering the relationships, strategies and resources needed to prepare Tampa Bay for whatever challenges lie ahead.”
Spalten envisions a future where Tampa Bay is not only prepared to respond to crises but is “thriving through unity and collaboration.”
Hurricane preparation, response and recovery efforts have been an ongoing focus for the foundation. Community Foundation Tampa Bay leaders attended a trip to Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach in 2023. The goal was to learn how our area can better prepare for and respond to the massive devastation caused by a Category 5 storm like Hurricane Ian, which pummeled Lee and Charlotte Counties in SE Florida in 2022. One of the major takeaways was how local nonprofits can prepare for their roles as first responders.
Reflecting on the function of organizations like CFTB in times of calm and crisis, Spalten concluded, “Philanthropy isn’t just about reacting to challenges; it’s about shaping the future.”
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HAL FREEDMAN
December 30, 2024at5:50 pm
We are lucky to have 2 active Community Foundations in the Tampa Bay area: Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Pinellas Community Foundation. Support them, so they are there when needed!