In keeping with its mission, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice funds grants and programs that are designed to contribute to improving the quality of life of the citizens and the communities it serves. The Foundation values its role as a receiver of grant application concepts that significantly advance its mission.

The Foundation also recognizes that community needs and opportunities may be served through proactively convening and collaborating with agencies and funders to create programs that could never have been conceived in isolation. The Foundation is committed to acting both responsively and strategically by funding integrated solutions to community opportunities and needs. The Foundation also recognizes that partnering to analyze and leverage funding improves the impact of scarce resources while also increasing action and adding value to all our communities.

The process of Foundation grantmaking and program initiatives may occur in a variety of ways:  

• Responsive Grantmaking – A federally tax-exempt agency initiates a request for support of a project that falls within the Foundation’s program areas. An application is written by the agency for review and response by volunteers, Foundation committees, and staff.

• Initiative-Based Grantmaking – The Foundation regularly seeks to identify opportunities for positive regional change and to address community issues through initiatives and partnerships. Examples of past and current Foundation initiatives and their goals can be found in our Strategic Initiatives section.

• Donor Grantmaking - Donors and recipients have a common goal in giving and receiving – improving the quality of life in their communities of interest. The Foundation matches these interests, bringing donors together with causes that matter to make a difference in our communities.