FLORIDA PHILANTHROPIC NETWORK RECEIVES THREE-YEAR GRANT FUNDING FROM HELIOS EDUCATION FOUNDATION AND THE KRESGE FOUNDATION The $1.2M in funding will help create opportunities for success in postsecondary education across the state of Florida

Tampa, Florida (November 15, 2021) – The Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN) has secured $1,205,000 in funding from the Helios Educations Foundation and Kresge Foundation to sustain the Florida College Access & Success Initiative (CASI) Program 2.0. With funding being distributed over a three-year span, CASI 2.0 is designed to build on the success of the first CASI grant program by leveraging local private investment, through community foundations and other philanthropic organizations, and continued support of Local College Access Networks (LCANs).

By deepening the work that began during the first initiative, CASI 2.0 will support development strategies for building LCAN funding and endowments with the goals to increase donor and philanthropic board engagement on education equity and systems change, enhance philanthropic efforts to strengthen scholarship programs and outcomes for traditionally under-served student populations and expand the breadth of leaders at LCAN tables committed to aligning regional higher education ecosystems to better support underserved students.

“The Florida College Access Network is thrilled to partner with FPN on the launch of CASI 2.0. When this collaboration was formed, our goal was to engage more community foundations in the work of the Local College Access Networks,” said Charleita Richardson, Executive Director of the Florida College Access Network. “As a result of the diligent efforts of the teams, we saw the success that led to greater awareness and access to postsecondary options for all Floridians. With this new grant, we are happy to continue this work of helping to ensure that Florida is talent strong and ready for the jobs of the future.”

The FPN will be coordinating the efforts of the CASI 2.0 program and re-granting the dollars to community foundations throughout the state. Their team has recently restructured their staff to support not only the CASI 2.0 program but with the intent to work deeply on similar initiatives in addition to education work in support of the FPN’s members. Bill Hoffman will be an integral part of this initiative as he has signed on as the CASI 2.0 Education and Learning Community Consultant.

“FPN is thrilled to be part of the second iteration of CASI 2.0. This is an exciting opportunity to further engage with our community foundation members and LCANs across the state of Florida,” stated Ashley Heath-Dietz, the President and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network. “This initiative is especially timely in light of the pressures on the economy related to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent need for increased highly skilled workers with these credentials and degrees throughout the state.”

To learn more about Local College Access Networks, please visit www.floridacollegeaccess.org.