The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida is deeply grateful to share that our 2024 request for a $150,000 Assessment Waiver has been approved by the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church. This generous decision, made on October 22, 2025, will be applied to our 2026 fiscal year. The waiver comes as our diocese continues to recover and rebuild after back-to-back Hurricanes
Helene and Milton brought widespread devastation across our communities.
In 2024, we were able to support 37 congregations that sustained damage from these storms by providing $155,623 in grant funding and $148,856 in apportionment relief. We also continued our steadfast work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to secure vital federal assistance. To date, we have distributed $76,803 in FEMA funds to congregations affected by
Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton, and we anticipate receiving more than
$250,000 in additional approved reimbursements. A full breakdown of donations, apportionment relief, grant funding, and additional assistance for Hurricanes Ian, Helene, and Milton can be found here.
We remain especially thankful for our continued partnership with Episcopal Relief and Development. Their Community Resource Grants have brought hope and tangible relief to those who have experienced profound loss in communities such as Arcadia, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral, helping vulnerable neighbors restore their lives with dignity.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Executive Council for this meaningful act of support. Through God’s grace and the generosity of partners across The Episcopal Church, we continue to walk together on the path of recovery, resilience, and renewal.