Organization Name: The Circus Arts Conservatory
Date Survey was Submitted: August 18, 2025 at 5:26 pm
Contact Name: Angel Hayes
Contact Phone: 941-355-9335
Contact Email: angel@circusarts.org
Were the funds spent with a year of grant receipt? Yes
If no, please explain why not below:
How was the money used?
Submitted by: The Circus Arts Conservatory
Program: Sailor Circus Arts Summer Camp
Grantor: The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle
Grant Awarded: $2,000
Matching Funds Secured: $2,000
Total Funding Leveraged: $4,000
Number of Students Impacted: 10
Grant Period: Summer 2025
Overview and Purpose of Grant
With the generous support of The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle, the Circus Arts Conservatory (CAC) successfully provided full-tuition scholarships for 10 economically disadvantaged students from Title 1 schools in Sarasota and Manatee Counties to attend our Sailor Circus Arts Summer Camp. Each scholarship fully covered a student’s week-long immersive experience, allowing them to participate in a transformative arts education program at no cost to their families.
Your contribution was matched dollar-for-dollar by a private donor, doubling the impact of your philanthropy and enabling us to reach even more children in need. This type of partnership exemplifies the ripple effect that intentional giving can generate.
Outcomes and Impact
The students selected for scholarships faced significant financial and social barriers. Thanks to this grant, they gained access to a structured, nurturing environment designed to promote personal growth, confidence, and creative discovery.
Key Outcomes:
Enhanced Confidence & Self-Esteem: Each student participated in a final costumed performance, showcasing their newly acquired skills to a cheering audience of family and friends. Several parents shared how this experience “lit up” their child in ways they hadn’t seen before.
Creative & Physical Development: Through circus disciplines like aerial silks, acrobatics, and juggling, students developed physical strength, balance, and perseverance — all while exploring their own creative expression through performance art.
21st-Century Skills: Students practiced teamwork, problem-solving, and time management — skills that extend beyond the circus ring and into their academic and future professional lives.
Safe Summer Enrichment: For many families, this program provided essential daytime care in a positive, structured environment during summer break — a critical support for working parents.
Parent Testimonial:
“We are especially grateful to the donors who make this scholarship possible. Your investment in young performers is a gift that reaches far beyond the circus ring. Thank you for believing in and helping them continue to grow in confidence, strength, and joy.”
Alignment with The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle Mission
The impact of your investment echoes your core values of Service, Compassion, Teamwork, Diversity, and Integrity. This partnership:
Delivered direct educational and developmental support to local children from underrepresented and underserved communities
Strengthened community engagement and awareness through visibility at public performances and promotional recognition
Modeled how philanthropic collaboration can drive sustainable, positive change in our region
Recognition Provided
In appreciation of your support, The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle received recognition across multiple platforms:
Press release and feature in our email newsletter to over 10,000 subscribers
Donor listing on 55” digital donor walls at Sailor Circus Arena and Circus Sarasota performances
Acknowledgment in the 2025 Impact Report program book
and Circus Sarasota
On-screen video wall recognition during public performances
Private behind-the-scenes tour of our facility offered to members of your Giving Circle
These acknowledgments were designed not just to recognize your generosity, but to inspire others to follow your example.
Looking Ahead
This grant did more than fund camp scholarships — it opened doors, sparked dreams, and reminded these children that their community believes in them. It is with deep appreciation and optimism that we express our hope for continued partnership with The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle.
Thank you for your trust, your vision, and your investment in a more inclusive and vibrant future for our youth.
With Gratitude,
Angel Hayes
Development Associate
The Circus Arts Conservatory
Was there an unexpected benefit or a special outcome from this grant that you would like to share? No
If yes, please explain:
How many people were impacted by this grant?
10
Please indicate the number of women, children, and/or families residing in Sarasota and/or Manatee County who were directly impacted by this grant.
Number of Individuals Directly Impacted by This Grant: Children (ages 6–15): 10 Families: 10. These individuals all reside in Sarasota and/or Manatee County and were directly impacted by the grant through their child’s participation in the Sailor Circus Arts Summer Camp. Each child received a full scholarship thanks to the $2,000 grant from The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle and matching donor funds. The grant not only supported the children’s growth and development through circus arts education but also provided their families—especially mothers and caregivers—with peace of mind, knowing their children were engaged in a safe, enriching, and empowering program during summer break.
Do you have any suggestions to improve our grant process.
We deeply appreciate the thoughtful structure of your grant application and reporting process. Given The Lake Club Women’s Giving Circle’s strong emphasis on transforming and improving our communities, we believe that providing the option to upload a short video or a few photos could further enhance the storytelling component of the application or final report.
In our case, the transformation experienced by the 10 students supported through your grant—culminating in their costumed final performance—was truly powerful. Being able to share a short video clip of their showcase or a few photos from parents and participants would have brought the impact to life in a deeper, more personal way.
This optional feature would be especially meaningful for youth-focused and arts-based organizations, where outcomes are often best communicated through the joy, confidence, and connection visibly present in our students’ faces and voices.
Did you find the grant process succinct and easy to submit? Yes
Comments:
Would a representative from your organization be willing to speak to our group about the impact of your grant? Yes
Additional information: