The Gulf Coast Community Foundation recently awarded nearly $1 million to 79 nonprofit organizations in Sarasota, Charlotte and DeSoto counties that are serving the foundation's five focus areas – arts and culture; civic and economic development; education; environment; and health and human services.
The foundation awarded $345,000 to organizations that are addressing attainable housing, protecting natural resources, and helping people in times of crisis. These priorities were determined by the results of the foundation's 2025 Regional Scan, which gathered perspectives from more than 1,500 residents across the region.
“There is tremendous possibility within the organizations working every day to make our region a better place,” said Erin Minor,
vice president of community leadership. “Gulf Coast’s role is to help those organizations build on what they do best so their work can reach more people and make an even greater difference in our communities.”
The grants included:
· The Florida Philharmonic ($25,000): To provide third graders with the opportunity to play and sing alongside professional musicians through the Carnegie Hall Link-Up program.
· CreArte Latino ($10,000): To support program and production costs for art-driven community engagement events that foster connection, cultural identity, and emotional well-being.
· Suncoast Searchlight ($12,500): To support of the Searchlight Series, community engagement events aimed to deepen public understanding of local issues.
· CareerSource Suncoast ($23,600): To help prepare rising high school seniors for in-demand careers in banking and human resources through educational courses and paid work experience.
· Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast ($15,000): To provide at-risk Sarasota High School students with career exploration opportunities through the “Beyond School Walls” programming partnership with Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
· School Board of Sarasota County ($20,000): To support the Career Skills Challenge, a multi-grade level competition that encourages innovative thinking and problem-solving for middle and high school students.
· Metamimicry ($5,000): To provide assessment and filtration support to three active local rewilding and stormwater improvement projects.
· Suncoast Waterkeeper ($5,000): To invest in continued water quality monitoring, community education, and advocacy around local water sources.
· Charlotte Behavioral Health Care ($25,000): To expand 24/7 services of the FACT (Florida Assertive Community Treatment) team that provides community-based treatment and support services to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.
· FoodRecovery.org ($15,000): To implement a real-time driver tracking system to facilitate efficient communication and support new nonprofit partner outreach.
Submitted by Alyssa Holcomb
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Gulf Coast philanthropy helps 'make our region a better place'
