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,...

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 January 2026...

No one likes talking about evictions. If you’re a renter struggling to pay the rent, an eviction draws an indelible line between being housed and unhoused. If you’re a landlord, it’s an unpleasant but necessary part of doing business. For the sheriff’s deputies tasked with...

In Indian River County, many streams—the high cost of rent, the scarcity of affordable housing, and the growing numbers of people living in poverty amidst plenty—have converged into a relentless river sweeping too many individuals and families into homelessness. Even with shelters like The Hope...

Economists talk about barriers to entry to discuss how difficult it is for an entrepreneur to break into a competitive market. How much capital will they need to get started? Are there complicated licensing or other legal requirements that have to be overcome? It’s helpful...