Photo by Joshua Kodis Indian River Community Foundation is making history with a bold investment in the future of arts and community access in Vero Beach. In what leaders are calling a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” the Foundation has awarded a $2 million discretionary grant—its largest ever—to...

McKee Botanical Garden is Vero Beach’s first and oldest award-winning attraction. Founded in 1932, the Garden was created to preserve Florida’s native hammock and showcase rare tropical plants from around the world. This month, the community foundation staff visited McKee Botanical Garden. They learned about...

Indian River Community Foundation finished a strong fiscal year on June 30, 2025 by reaching $100 million in assets, a historic milestone that coincided with Indian River County’s centennial. This is an aspirational goal our entire community deserves credit for achieving, made possible by generations...

The time you put into your Candid nonprofit profile pays off. Research shows that nonprofits with a Seal receive, on average, 62% more in donor contributions than organizations without a Seal. The takeaway is clear: When donors can easily access information about a nonprofit, they’re more likely...

Indian River Community Foundation awarded grants totaling $116,000 to five nonprofit charitable organizations serving Indian River County. The grants were reviewed by a Grants Committee comprised of volunteers Suzanne Bertman, Pat Brier, Jake Fojtik, Dawn Michael, and Ken Mindt. The grants were awarded from the...

Jeff Pickering, Kevin Barry, David Cicco, and Shayla Macias Established in 2021, Octavian Village was created to increase educational equity throughout Florida's Treasure Coast and beyond. The organization focuses on developing and maintaining high-quality, low-cost, and replicable interventions to address educational gaps for our future...

Holly McLain, Jeff Pickering, Beata Brewster, Jeff Powers, and Denver Float Hope of Indian River County operates with the mission to advantage children, adolescents and teenagers in our community, without adequate financial means to participate on a year-round basis in swimming. Indian River Community Foundation...

Founded in 2002, Dogs For Life, Inc. is a non-profit organization devoted to improving the quality of life for veterans and other individuals in need through training hearing and service dogs, providing therapy dogs for first responders and school resource programs, and owning an off-leash dog park....

Tara Wright, Leslie Bowen, Heather O'Shea, and Jeff Pickering Founded in 2009, The Buggy Bunch is dedicated to building relationships and meeting the needs of Indian River County moms and their families. Their vision is that all Indian River County moms and families are thriving emotionally, financially,...

Founded in 2006, Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) works to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems and the life that they sustain through innovative technologies, applied research science, education, and citizen science with particular emphasis on the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Indian River Community Foundation recently awarded...