Grant Eligibility 

Organizations serving Sarasota County, Charlotte County, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, Florida that are classified as tax-exempt public charities by the Internal Revenue Service are eligible to receive funding.

Regarding education related grants: Individual schools, booster clubs, and/or classrooms are not eligible for funding. Only grant requests submitted by the Sarasota County, Charlotte County, and DeSoto County School Districts will be considered.

Preference will be given to projects addressing Gulf Coast’s current priorities of Affordable Housing, Water Quality & Access to Green Space, and Mental Health. Learn more about Gulf Coast's priority areas in our 2023 Regional Scan.

First-time applicants, please contact us for guidance prior to completing an application at communityleadership@gulfcoastcf.org

Complete Grant Guidelines

Our Grant Opportunities

Community Grants

December 1 marks the launch of our new Grants Lifecycle Management (GLM) program. You're going to love it. This new system offers efficiency, transparency, and familiarity. 

Your Next Steps: If you have not submitted a grant application to Gulf Coast this fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026), you may still apply for a Community Grant. When you visit the new GLM platform for the first time, you will be required to create a profile for your organization. You can find instructions on how to create your profile, common application questions, and additional information below. 

Apply Now      How to Create Your Profile

Winter Grant Cycle Dates You Need-to-Know
Opens: December 1
Closes: January 19

If you have applied for a grant from Gulf Coast this fiscal year (July 1 – present) no action is required at this time. Your organization is eligible to apply next fiscal year which begins July 1, 2026 at which time you'll need to create your profile.