Funding Priorities
Grants focus on increasing an organization's capacity in the following ways:
- Data Gathering, Evaluation, and Learning: tools, technology, and training to assist with monitoring, evaluation, and collection of data
- Leadership: board development, professional development, advocacy or strategic planning
- Assessment, Planning, Evaluation: strategic planning and impact measurement or program tracking
- Emergency Needs: unexpected expenses for which an organization was unable to prepare
- Fundraising: purchasing a donor database or other CRM tool, hiring a fundraising consultant, or developing online giving
When proposing work with a consultant, most requests will be considered at 50% of the consultant’s fee.
If you have an emergency need outside of our regular grant calendar, please reach out to your point of contact on the Community Impact team.
Organizations may receive up to $15,000 through this grant cycle within a 365-day period.
In order to receive a grant through this program, organizations must also have:
- An IRS Letter of Determination that shows the organization is a 501(c)3 public charity
- At least one current program with local impact in one of the following counties: Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto
-
An approved/current profile in The Giving Partner, a powerful, searchable online database with over 700 profiles of charitable organizations serving
Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties
Organizations are not eligible to apply if they have received a capacity building grant within the last 365 days or have an outstanding grant report with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. We also require organizations to have a physical presence in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte or DeSoto County.
Any organization that is not sure if they meet the criteria should direct their questions to impact@cfsarasota.org
Eligibility
Review Process
The next application opens February 1, 2025. Applicants will be notified with the results of a cycle within a month of the deadline. Upcoming cycles for the current fiscal year open on the following dates:
- February 1, 2025
- May 1, 2025
If your request is extremely time-sensitive, please email us details at impact@cfsarasota.org and one of our team members will get in touch.
Learn More
- Press Release
- Blogs
- Videos
- Testimonials
- Articles
- Podcasts / Audio Recordings
Please reference our Press Kit to help draft your message and coordinate review with Rebecca Abrahamson, Senior Manager of Communications and Marketing, at rabrahamson@cfsarasota.org.
Looking for examples? Check out the Stories of Impact below shared by our Community Impact Grantees.
July 18, 2024
First 1,000 Days Suncoast at SMH Received $7,500 Grant
July 17, 2024
Hermitage Artist Retreat Receives Over $238,000 in National and Regional Grants Toward Artist Programs and Community Initiatives
July 17, 2024
USF researcher's disaster preparedness app wins funding from Sarasota foundation
July 11, 2024
Embracing Our Differences Receives Grant from Community Foundation of Sarasota County to Establish Parent Advisory Council
June 14, 2024
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards $10,000 Grant to Goodwill SWFL
June 27, 2023
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards $120,000 to Area Nonprofits
June 27, 2023
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards nearly $150,000 to Alzheimer's and dementia awareness and support groups
June 22, 2023
Musical Motion Gives Parents a Village of Support, and Children a Place that Fosters Early Learning and Development, Thanks to The Community Foundation of Sarasota County
June 21, 2023
Community Foundation of Sarasota County Awards Nearly $1 Million for Hurricane Recovery Efforts
June 20, 2023