The Community Foundation of Sarasota County Is Accepting Scholarship Applications From Students Under the Age of 24 Through Feb. 1

Students complete one common application to become eligible for more than 90 scholarship opportunities.

The application period for the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s traditional scholarship program is open through this month for students planning for the 2026-2027 school year. With a single completed application, students under the age of 24 will be considered for more than 90 different scholarships. Applicants must be residents of or graduates of a high school in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto County. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2026.

While academics are considered during the application review process, other important factors include financial need, community service, extracurricular activities, work, home life, life experience, and an essay. The foundation aims to provide access for students to pursue their goals, reducing barriers to ease the financial burden of postsecondary educational attainment.

Last year, the Community Foundation awarded $853,000 in traditional scholarships to 227 students, a 10.2 percent increase in the number of people awarded a scholarship from the previous year. The average scholarship award for the 2025-2026 school year was $3,510, up 34.2 percent from two years ago.

Overall, the Community Foundation awards more than $2 million in scholarships to 500-plus recipients each year, and there are multiple opportunities for students beyond traditional scholarships, including specialized scholarships and an adult scholarship application period for students 24 and up that will open in mid-February.

Applications are reviewed by community volunteers and scholarships recipients will be notified via email by June 2026.