Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Contact information:
PO Box 49587
Sarasota, FL 34230
Phone: 941-955-3000
Fax: 941-952-1951
Website: https://www.cfsarasota.org/
Type of foundation: Community
Types of grants: Donor-advised grants, scholarships.
Description: The Foundation has shifted from a "reactive" to a "proactive" approach in its discretionary grantmaking. This means that the Foundation is no longer accepting competitive proposals for unrestricted or discretionary grants. In 2007, it created several focus teams made up of Board members and community experts. The teams looked at specific community issues and identified more targeted grants that enabled the Foundation to "increase its effectiveness" and stay more accountable to donor interests. These focus areas include: arts, culture and the humanities; civic engagement and community capacity-building; education; the environment and animal welfare; healthcare; human services and scholarships.
Some donor-designated funds do accept proposals, including:
- The Kathleen K. Catlin Fund makes grants to support community needs and contribute to the quality of life in Sarasota County.
- The George J. and Alice Pugh Fund makes grants that respond to community needs and contribute to the quality of life in Sarasota County.
- The Leslie and Margaret Weller Fund makes grants to engage students with the arts.
Sample grants:
- Unspecified amount to WAMC/Northeast Public Radio (2008).
- Unspecified amount to WEDU-Florida West Coast Public Broadcasting, Inc. (2008).
- Unspecified amount to WGCU-TV Public Broadcasting (2008).
- Unspecified amount to WMHT Educational Telecommunications, Inc. (2008).
- Unspecified amount to WUSF-FM 89.7 FM/USF (2008).
- $11,487 to the NPR Foundation (donor-advised) (2007).
- $11,100 to WEDU/Florida West Coast Public Broadcasting (donor-advised) (2007).
- $3,400 to WUSF (donor-advised) (2007).
Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation has a track record of supporting public media. The best recommendation for interested applicants is to discuss their organization/project with Wendy Hopkins, Vice President of Grants and Program Services (see How to apply).
Eligibility: For some funds, organizations must be tax-exempt and must serve the residents of Sarasota County, Florida. Donor-advised funds can and do give outside of Sarasota County.
Deadline: See individual funding opportunities for deadlines.
How to apply: The Foundation no longer accepts unsolicited proposals for discretionary or unrestricted grants. However, the Foundation does invite grantseekers to discuss their needs with Wendy Hopkins, Vice President of Grants and Program Services (Phone: 941-556-7152; Email: wendy@cfsarasota.org). The Foundation often advises donors on agencies and programs they might wish to support. As the Foundation says, "With our ever-growing community of donors, you never know just how or when the right funding connection might be made."
Giving range: Wide variation from $100 – $1.5 million.
Assets: $156,767,214
Total giving: $8.3 million including donor-advised grants and scholarships.
View 2009 Annual Report.
