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This episode explores maternal health disparities, highlighting the challenges local women face and the opportunities for meaningful change. Hear from Jennie Joseph, midwife and founder of Commonsense Childbirth, and Kim Nguyen Gray, Chair of 100 Women Strong.

Kim shares how 100 Women Strong arrived at its 2026 grantee decision of investing in maternal health through Commonsense Childbirth.

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As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

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Mark and Laurie talk through three charitable giving trends they expect to see in 2026. Plus, Mark breaks down the generations and their typical giving behavior.

You'll hear from:

Mark Brewer, President/CEO, Central Florida Foundation

Laurie Crocker, VP of Strategic Communications, Central Florida Foundation

Mentioned in episode:

• 100 Women Strong giving circle
• Magical Dining Press Release
• Addition Financial Press Release
• A deeper dive into collective giving data and trends
• Philanos

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

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This episode of First You Talk re-examines housing from new angles: landlord engagement, private sector affordable housing development, and updates on housing trends and data.

Guests:

• Mark Brewer, President/CEO | Central Florida Foundation
• Sandi Vidal, VP of Community Strategies and Initiatives | Central Florida Foundation
• Niki Wilkerson, Co-Founder | Connections Ministry Nikhai's Closet
• Ryan von Weller, COO | Wendover Housing Partners
• Brian Postlewait, COO | Homeless Services Network
• Anna Ashie, Director of Housing Operations | Homeless Services Network

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

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Season 3 of Central Florida Foundation's First You Talk podcast is back on January 7th!

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

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This episode of First You Talk wasn't on our schedule of episodes...but after GoFundMe published nonprofit pages in October without the knowledge or consent of millions of organizations, we had to talk about it and its impact on trust and transparency in the nonprofit world.

Laurie discusses discovering Central Florida Foundation's nonprofit page and CFF's subsequent actions, then Steve (a newcomer to our team!) and Sandi talk about the implications.

Guests:

• Sandi Vidal, CFF's Vice President of Community Strategies and Initiatives
• Steven J. Jerina, CFF's Vice President of Philanthropic Strategies and Partnerships

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

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In this episode of First You Talk: Navigating Generosity, we explore the endowment fund - how it works, considerations, and best practices.

How does an endowment work? Is it really meant to last “forever”? What happens if the nonprofit selected for an endowment closes? What are best practices that can make the most of an endowed fund?

Two philanthropic advisors dive into these questions and more!

You'll hear from:

• Mark Brewer, CAP® | President/CEO, Central Florida Foundation
• David Torre, J.D., CEPA®, CFP®, AEP®, TEP®, CAP® | Wealth and Philanthropic Strategist

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

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LGBTQ+ is an acronym we all recognize—but how much do we really understand about the people, the history, and the evolving community it represents here in Central Florida?

In this episode, we explore the LGBTQ+ landscape through stories of personal resilience, community impact, and forward-looking change. From the legacy of the Pulse tragedy to new models of care and what it means to be an ally, you’ll hear from voices shaping the region today.

Whether you’re part of the community or simply want to better understand your neighbors, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and a fresh perspective on a vital part of Central Florida’s story.

Guests:

• Tom Dyer, Watermark
• George Wallace, The Center
• Yasmin Flasterstein, Peer Support Space

From CFF:

• Sandi Vidal, VP of Community Strategies and Initiatives
• Neil Rios Laverde, Philanthropic Relationship Manager

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

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In this episode of Navigating Generosity, Nicole Donelson sits down with David Torre to explore how charitable gift annuities (CGAs) can enhance the value you bring to client conversations. From retirement income strategies to charitable tax deductions, CGAs offer a unique way to align financial planning with philanthropic goals.

You’ll walk away with practical talking points, planning considerations, and a better understanding of how the Central Florida Foundation can serve as a trusted partner—not just for executing CGAs, but as an extension of your advisory team in philanthropic planning.

🎧 Whether you’re guiding clients through retirement or legacy decisions, this episode will equip you with the tools to introduce CGAs with confidence.

Guests:

• David Torre, CEPA®, CFP®, AEP®, TEP®, CAP® | Wealth & Philanthropy Strategist
• Nicole Donelson, CAP® | Director of Community Engagement, AdventHealth

Navigating Generosity is an off-shoot of First You Talk, Central Florida Foundation's podcast focused on breaking down complex social issues. Navigating Generosity episodes are designed for professional advisors and anyone who wants to be better informed when discussing charitable giving with their advisors. Our hosts include Chartered Advisors in Philanthropy® and other professionals in this field, including wealth and financial advisors.

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

Send us a text

On this episode of Navigating Generosity, dive into a popular charitable giving tool: the donor-advised fund (DAF). With this broad overview, you'll learn the differences between a DAF and a private foundation, understand what a DAF can and cannot do, and why a DAF might make sense for a client. You'll walk away from this episode feeling more confident in your knowledge of this powerful philanthropic tool.

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.

Send us a text

Conservation is a word we all grew up knowing, but what does it really mean and how does it relate to other big topics we've discussed on the podcast?

Lean into a conversation that covers an array of conservation issues and projects, from Eastern Indigo snakes and land acquisition to Florida's aquifer and efforts to create a Florida Wildlife Corridor, this episode will bring clarity to an overwhelming word, equipping you to talk knowledgably on the topics and engage in additional learning if something piques your interest.

Guests:

Mark Brewer, Central Florida Foundation

Dr. James Bogan, Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Orianne Center for Indigo Conservation

Jay Exum, Wildlife Biologist, Consultant, Nonprofit Board Member and Philanthropist

Traci Deen, Conservation Florida

Visit the First You Talk website.

Visit Central Florida Foundation's Instagram.

As our region’s community foundation, Central Florida Foundation serves as a launchpad for high-impact philanthropy. Championing the collective power of head, heart and dollar, we coordinate the commitment and investment of philanthropists, nonprofits, and community partners to target today’s most critical challenges and those on the horizon to truly transform our community. The Foundation also offers expert giving advice, a personalized approach to managing charitable funds, and the capacity to convene collaboration across sectors. Learn more at cffound.org.