$13 Million in Grants from Gulf Coast Donors

Gulf Coast Community Foundation awarded $13.1 million in grants on behalf of donors to the foundation from September through November.

“Our donors have been amazingly generous to our community this year,” said Kirstin Fulkerson, senior vice president for philanthropy. “They’ve seen the escalating needs caused by the pandemic, and have increased the amounts they are granting from their funds by literally millions of dollars in response.”

The total included $10.9 million in grants from donor advised funds held at Gulf Coast. These are charitable funds the foundation administers on behalf of donors, who may recommend grants from them to qualified charities locally and nationally.

Fulkerson noted that many Gulf Coast donors also are asking for help identifying where their charitable dollars can have the very greatest impact right now.

Area nonprofit organizations that received significant support through donor advised funds at Gulf Coast over the past few months include:

•  All Faiths Food Bank – 29 grants totaling $162,100

•  Asolo Repertory Theatre – 18 grants totaling $201,592

•  Jewish Family and Children’s Service of the Suncoast – 10 grants totaling $182,100

•  Children First – 10 donor grants totaling $57,000

“We are so grateful for the leadership and collaboration of Gulf Coast Community Foundation especially during these challenging times," said Sandra Frank, CEO of All Faiths Food Bank. "Since March, the Food Bank has seen a 48% increase in new clients. The generosity of our philanthropic community has made it possible for us to serve more people than we have in the history of All Faiths Food Bank.”

More grants

Other grants awarded by Gulf Coast from September through November included:

•  $1.57 million in grants from designated funds, which are established by donors to benefit specific nonprofit organizations.

•  $160,954 in Community and Sponsorship Grants awarded from endowed funds at the foundation to support smaller projects and fundraising activities at regional nonprofits.

•  $387,954 in grants from project funds, which the foundation oversees on behalf of initiatives and partnerships with a charitable purpose, so donations from the community can be pooled and efficiently administered to support them.