Athena Proposal Statement
About Athena
Mission: The Athena Progressive Giving Circle (Athena) is a community of women funding programs/initiatives that meaningfully improve the lives of women and girls in our community.
Athena Proposal Statement
Athena is a component fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Athena awards grants each year to projects/initiatives that meaningfully improve the lives of women and girls in the local area. For 2025-26, Athena is supporting a local organization that provides vital services for women. No additional funding requests will be considered at this time. Please check back in spring 2026 and see the Apply & Review Process for details.
Grantee Organization Candidates Must:
- Be a 501(c)3 organization or other tax-exempt organization serving Sarasota and/or Manatee counties.
- Show an innovative, holistic, effective, and direct approach to supporting women and girls.
- Show a clear need for the funds and a plan for their use.
- Demonstrate a deep commitment to their work.
Review Process
Athena decides what it will fund by May each year. Following that decision, the Community Foundation provides a grant application to any 501(c)(3) or other tax-exempt organization working in the determined field(s). After reviewing all the grant applications, Athena decides who to fund by October each year. The funds are distributed to the receiving organization(s) by December each year.
The Athena grant application cycle is closed for 2025-26.
Sign up to receieve our Nonprofit News e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming application cycles.
Learn More
- Press Release
- Blogs
- Videos
- Testimonials
- Articles
- Podcasts / Audio Recordings
Please reference our Press Kit to help draft your message and coordinate review with Cooper Levey-Baker, Communications Manager, at cooper@cfsarasota.org
Looking for examples? Check out the Stories of Impact below shared by our Community Impact Grantees.
July 18, 2024
First 1,000 Days Suncoast at SMH Received $7,500 Grant
July 17, 2024
Hermitage Artist Retreat Receives Over $238,000 in National and Regional Grants Toward Artist Programs and Community Initiatives
July 17, 2024
USF researcher's disaster preparedness app wins funding from Sarasota foundation
July 11, 2024
Embracing Our Differences Receives Grant from Community Foundation of Sarasota County to Establish Parent Advisory Council
June 14, 2024
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards $10,000 Grant to Goodwill SWFL
June 27, 2023
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards $120,000 to Area Nonprofits
June 27, 2023
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards nearly $150,000 to Alzheimer's and dementia awareness and support groups
June 22, 2023
Musical Motion Gives Parents a Village of Support, and Children a Place that Fosters Early Learning and Development, Thanks to The Community Foundation of Sarasota County
June 21, 2023
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $1 Million for Hurricane Recovery Efforts
June 20, 2023
A New Mural in the Rosemary District Pays Homage to Leonard Reid, One of Sarasota's Most Important Black Leaders
Eligibility Requirements
Press Kit for Grantees
View Past Information Sessions
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Stephanie Borkowski
Coordinator, Community Impact
941‑556‑7110