When you’re new to town, it helps to find like-minded neighbors and friends. Here’s a partial list of some organizations where you might find them.

Foundations

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County, a foundation that provides innovative community leadership by encouraging permanent charitable giving, cfsarasota.org, (941) 955-3000

Gulf Coast Community Foundation, a foundation that, together with its donors, works to transform the region through bold and provocative philanthropy, gulfcoastcf.org, (941) 486-4600 

Civic, Nonprofit, Athletic and Service Groups

American Legion No-Vel Post 159, novelpost159.org, (941) 488-1157

Arts and Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, sarasotaarts.org, (941) 365-5118

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, bbbssun.org, (941) 488-4009

Boys and Girls Clubs of Sarasota County, Inc., bgcsarasota.org, (941) 366-3911

Easter Seals Southwest Florida, easterseals-swfl.org, (941) 355-7637

Friends of Jacaranda Public Library, friendsofjacarandalibrary.org, (941) 861-1283

Friends of Venice Public Library, venicefriends.org

Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota County, habitatsouthsarasota.org, (941) 493-6606

Historic Spanish Point-Gulf Coast Heritage Association. Dedicated to a 30-acre museum and environmental site in Osprey. historicspanishpoint.org, (941) 966-5214

InStride Therapy, Inc. Nonprofit partners horses with individuals with special needs. instridetherapy.org, (941) 412-9333

Italian American Club of Venice, italianamericanclubofvenice.org, (941) 486-1492

Kiwanis Club of Venice, floridakiwanis.com/clubview2015.asp?club=Venice

Laurel Civic Association, laurelcivic.org, (941) 483-3338

Literacy Volunteers of South Sarasota County, literacy changeslives.org, (941) 488-8994

Loveland Center. Provides education and a variety of human health services for individuals with disabilities. lovelandcenter.org, (941) 493-0016

Sarasota County Croquet Club, sarasotacountycroquet.com, (941) 882-0840

Sarasota Scullers, sarasotascullers.org, (941) 966-2244

Senior Friendship Centers. Provides social events, adult daycare and low-income health care services for people 50 and over. friendshipcenters.org, (941) 493-3065

Sertoma Club of Venice, venicesertoma.com

South County Tiger Bay. A nonpartisan organization with professional men and women who have an interest in politics, local education, and county and municipal government. sctigerbay.com

Special Athlete Boosters, specialolympicsflorida.org/sarasota, (941) 412-0402

St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice, stfrancisarfl.org, (941) 492-6200

Take Stock in Children of Sarasota County. Mentoring program that offers disadvantaged students college scholarships, caring volunteer mentors and hope for a better life. takestocksarasota.org, (941) 358-4407

United Way of South Sarasota County, uwssc.org, (941) 484-4811

Venice Area Beautification, Inc. Dedicated to beautifying the city and the Venetian Waterway Park. vabi.org, (941) 207-8224

Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, venicechamber.com, (941) 488-2236

Venice Area Mobile Meals, Inc., veniceareamobilemeals.com, (941) 488-1889

Venice Area Orchid Society, vaos.org

Venice Cat Coalition, venicecatcoalition.com, (941) 525-4568

Venice Christmas Boat Parade, venicechristmasboatparade.com

Venice Florida Moose Lodge, venicefloridamoose.com, (941) 485-7333

Venice Lions Club, venicelionsclub.com, (941) 486-6065

Venice MainStreet. Organization that enhances quality of life in the community by preserving, protecting and promoting historic downtown Venice. visitvenicefl.org, (941) 484-6722

Venice Musicale, venicemusicale.org

Venice Newcomers Club, venice-newcomers.org

Venice Nokomis Rotary Club, venicenokomisrotary.org

Venice Vikings youth football and cheerleading, venicevikings.com

Venice Youth Boating Association, veniceyouthboating.com, (941) 468-1719

VFW, venicevfw.com, (941) 484-8118

Women’s Resource Center of Sarasota County. Provides support to women, entrepreneurs, employees and retirees on a journey to a career change. thewomensresourcecenter.org, (941) 485-9724

Women’s Sertoma Club of Venice, womenssertoma.com, (941) 416-3132