Growth by giving

Susie Bowie has become an expert on giving.

But her job as vice president of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County involves more than just raising money for nonprofits. It's also about increasing transparency for donors to find a good place for their donations.

For the last four years, the 39-year-old Bowie has led the foundation's Giving Day Challenge, a 24-hour spree to encourage individuals to become philanthropists for 400 nonprofits in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and Desoto counties. Since 2012, the annual event has raised more than $15 million.