Why Supporting Sarasota’s Educational Nonprofits Drives Real Community Impact

Over the past 30 years, Forty Carrots Family Center has been Sarasota’s leading educational non-profit, growing from a small preschool and parenting center into a cornerstone of support for more than 5,000 local families each year. As both a parent and a former board member, I’ve seen how mission-driven nonprofits fill gaps no other organization can—whether that’s affordable early learning, evidence-based parenting education, or compassionate family therapy. Here’s why strengthening nonprofits is essential, and how your partnership makes an outsized impact.

About Forty Carrots Family Center

As a Sarasota nonprofit, every dollar you give goes straight back into accredited preschool classrooms, free or sliding-scale parenting workshops, and licensed mental-health counseling for children and families— never into profits. That focus on reinvestment is what makes educational nonprofits like ours uniquely capable of responding fast to community needs.

What Makes a Non-Profit Different—and Why Sarasota Needs Them

A non-profit organization is mission-driven, not profit-driven. That means funds from donations, grants, and events go directly back into programs and services—in our case, accredited preschool classrooms, research-based parenting workshops, and licensed mental-health counseling. When gaps appear in community needs—whether it’s affordable preschool slots or grief support for children— nonprofits like Forty Carrots fill them swiftly, drawing on philanthropic partnerships and volunteer energy that government or private-sector programs alone often cannot match.

Our Story: Helping Sarasota Families & Children Thrive for 30 Years

Founded in 1993 by Betsy Kane-Hartnett and Diane Weiss, Forty Carrots began as a small preschool and parenting center with a simple vision: every family deserves expert guidance, a caring community, and a safe place to learn. Under my leadership as CEO, we’ve honored that vision while expanding in key ways:

2014: Launched our Child & Family Therapy department to offer licensed play therapy, trauma support, and whole-family counseling

2015: Completed a capital campaign that doubled our mental-health capacity

2023–24: Kicked off a comprehensive expansion to grow services in all three program areas—regardless of a family’s ability to pay

I’m also proud to serve as a founding leader of First 1000 Days Suncoast and Bosses for Babies, regional initiatives that underscore our commitment to early-childhood well-being.

2023–24 Program Year at a Glance

• 96% of our clients received services free of charge
• 5,598 total clients served
• 1,854 free Community Outreach groups delivered
• 30 active community partners, from county libraries to neighborhood centers

These figures represent parents who found clarity in our parenting workshops, children who healed from trauma in our therapy rooms, and families who forged lasting connections through our outreach network.

Why We Must Expand—Together

Even with a 70% increase in mental-health services since 2020, demand still outpaces our space and staffing. Our current campaign will allow us to:

• Double our therapy capacity and increase parenting-education access by 30% over the next few years

• Build purpose-designed classrooms and counseling suites

• Recruit specialists in Infant Mental Health, Maternal Wellness, and Child-Parent Psychotherapy

• Secure research-based accreditation for Partners In Play® and Welcome to Our World®

• Launch an intern program to cultivate the next generation of early-childhood and mental-health professionals

The Power of Your Partnership

Through a strategic collaboration with STUDIO 4Forty—a national leader in nonprofit consulting whose Wine Women & Shoes® and Farm to Table(aux)® platforms have raised over $400 million for causes across North America—we host signature events like Wine Women & Shoes each November at The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota, and sustainable dining fundraisers that attract hundreds of philanthropic supporters. These professionally produced events not only create memorable experiences but also fuel our capacity to serve more families every year.

When you give to Forty Carrots, you join a legacy of impact:

• Matching Funds: Thanks to the Louis & Gloria Flanzer Trust, personal donations of $5–$500 may be matched dollar-for-dollar.
• Gifts of Stock & Legacy Giving: Options that can maximize your tax benefits while ensuring long-term support.
• Event Sponsorship & Celebration Gifts: Creative ways to honor milestones while strengthening community ties.

Your gift becomes a catalyst for brighter beginnings, healthier families, and a more resilient Sarasota.

Join Us in Building Brighter Futures

Donate to One of Sarasota’s Best Non-Profits Today

Whether you’re making a one-time gift, scheduling a legacy donation, or sponsoring an event, your generosity writes the next chapter in Forty Carrots’ story.

Donate online: Forty Carrots on TheGivingPartner.org

Official registration: Call Florida’s Division of Consumer Services at 1-800-435-7352 or visit FloridaConsumerHelp.com for CH13543 details.

Good beginnings last a lifetime. Thank you for standing with Forty Carrots Family Center—Sarasota’s proven nonprofit powerhouse for families.