Fund Description
After Hurricane Ian swept through Southwest Florida, causing an estimated $50 billion in damage, The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund was activated to address the long-lasting impacts on people's lives anticipating the needs that will emerge beyond emergency relief.
The purpose of the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is to support and benefit Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto and Charlotte counties for disaster recovery to improve individual, family, and community resiliency, helping people rebuild their lives beyond initial rebuilding of structures. Successful recovery will support individuals and families to be able to rebound from their losses and sustain their physical, social, economic, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, and restore structures, systems, and services, as well as address sources of inequitable and unjust outcomes.
In the spring of 2023, the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund successfully awarded its first round of grants. Awards ranged from $3,000 to $100,000 and were dispersed to a broad range of organizations throughout our four-county funding area. Some multi-year grants were awarded with the understanding that some programs need support to develop their recovery objectives over time.
Capital requests were supported when the funding allowed the restoration of programming that was still unavailable due to storm damage. These awards did not exceed $50,000.
We are excited to be providing support to our community as we recover from Hurricane Ian. As we open our second grant cycle, the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund will continue to focus on long-term recovery by supporting service agencies working in our priority areas.
Interested in knowing the programs/projects funded by the first round? Learn about these grantees and the programs supported at the link below.
Through research, site visits, and listening sessions with the most impacted communities, the following areas surfaced as both typical disaster recovery funding gaps as well as areas of enduring need throughout the four-county region. In most cases, these challenges existed prior to a hurricane and the crisis amplified them.
Grant proposals focused on these areas will receive priority:
- Case Management
- Children & Youth Services/Education
- Home Repair and Housing Needs
- Legal Services
- Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) and COAD support
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Mental and Behavioral Health
Learn more about Funding Priorities details here.
The Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund is currently accepting applications for emergency capital needs projects resulting from hurricane Helene and Milton. Requests will be considered for the organizations that meet all of the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a 501(c)(3) public charity focused on human services with a location in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto County.
- Have a capital needs request under $50,000 aimed at restoring services to clients or reopening doors to operations.
- Have an approved and current profile in The Giving Partner.
At this time the Community Foundation of Sarasota County cannot support requests for deductibles or a full rebuilding effort of your building or facility.
Any questions about the Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund grants can be directed to mcroft@cfsarasota.org.