A headline in the Indian River Press Journal reads, “Affordable Housing Hits Record Low.” An editorial notes, “Indian River County is not the only Florida location where home prices are not affordable to the average wage owner.” To anyone paying even a little bit of...

Gil Plourde might just be the most important county employee you’ve never heard of. Plourde works in the Housing Services Division as Indian River County Housing Inspector for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) programs. Gil Plourde, Housing Inspector These...

Slumlord is an ugly term for landlords who prioritize maximizing profits over maintaining habitable properties. Such people charge excessive rent for substandard living conditions and rely on intimidation to prey on vulnerable individuals who fear retaliation. It’s not a term you’ll find in the marketing...

In partnership with Vero Beach Magazine, Indian River Community Foundation’s President and CEO, Jeff Pickering, writes a monthly column called Indian River Insights. These articles explore the root causes of community needs, celebrate successes, analyze meaningful solutions, and offer insights into persistent challenges. In the February 2026...

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....

On November 18, 2025, IRCF President and CEO, Jeff Pickering, presented the 2025 Community Needs Update to the Indian River County Board of Commissioners. The 14-minute video of this presentation can be viewed below. https://youtu.be/_ReeB-h1zVc In 2019, major funding organizations, donor groups, local government, and...

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,...