Grant Opportunities for Nonprofits

Grants offered through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County are fulfilling the philanthropic legacies of our donors who have entrusted our team and board of directors with their charitable dollars. Based on the passions and interests of those individuals and families, grant funding is provided to make the greatest impact possible to improve lives and enhance community. 

Grant Programs

Community Impact Grants 

Community Impact Grants (up to $10,000) are designed to address community needs by helping local organizations transform innovative ideas into successful programs or partnerships.

Applications are reviewed monthly. 

Please Note: Applications will not be reviewed in December (due to the holidays) or June (due to the close of our fiscal year). Application will reopen July 2021.

Capacity Building Grants

Capacity Building Grants (up to $10,000) respond to organizational needs and are designed to help improve a nonprofit's ability to fulfill its mission.  

Applications are reviewed monthly.

Please Note: Applications will not be reviewed in December (due to the holidays) or June (due to the close of our fiscal year). Application will reopen July 2021.

Equity and Access Grants

Grade-Level Reading and Family Success Grants 

As part of our Empowerment & Success philosophy, we work with community partners to close the achievement gap for our most vulnerable students. Our three focus areas include improving school readiness, preventing summer learning loss, and parent success through postsecondary education and workforce training. This two-generation approach woven throughout our education investments and other initiatives aims to bring families to a place of economic stability.

Grant requests are invitation only on a rolling basis throughout the year from organizations that focus their efforts on closing the achievement gap, helping students achieve reading proficiency by 3^rd grade and/or implementing programs that are whole-family focused. Our aim is to partner with nonprofit organizations providing programs and services that align with the Community Foundation's Campaign for Grade Level Reading areas of focus. 

Animal Welfare Grants

Animal Welfare Grants ($10,000 - $50,000) support organizations that serve domestic animals and promote their humane care in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties

APPLICATION CLOSED: Application opened on January 26, 2021. Deadline passed on March 5.

Health Care Grants

Health Care Grants ($10,000 - $50,000) support organizations providing direct health care assistance to individuals. This program is exclusively for services in Sarasota County.

APPLICATION CLOSED. Application opened on March 23, 2021. Deadline passed on May 7.

Strategic Partnerships 

Requests for support for events and/or public programs not meeting other grant opportunities are considered by submitting an inquiry.

These requests should represent the diversity of our region and uphold and promote activities that ensure accessibility for all. They should also bring awareness to community needs and opportunities as well as demonstrate our area’s culture of philanthropy and strive to connect people with causes.

Updates for events taking place for July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 will be made mid-summer 2021.