The Gulf Coast Community Foundation approved more than $1.5 million in grants during its final board of directors meeting of the 2023 fiscal year. The funding includes grants provided by legacy donors to support in perpetuity the causes most important to them.
“Our board of directors have approved nearly $40 million in grants to our nonprofit partners this past fiscal year,” said GCCF President and CEO Phillip Lanham. “I am grateful for the board’s support as these contributions will provide nonprofits in our region with meaningful financial resources to create transformative and positive impact.”
The grants include:
- $440,000 to support Venice Theatre and rebuild the Jervey Theatre destroyed by Hurricane Ian. Venice Theatre attracts thousands of visitors each year, generating revenue for local businesses and restaurants, and providing job and educational opportunities. This grant brings the foundation’s total support since last year to more than $600,000 to help in the rebuilding project.
- $150,000 to Bay Park Conservancy to support the operations, maintenance and care of The Bay Park. The foundation has invested more than $1.2 million into The Bay, supported by its Venice Endowment Fund and the Katherine Naismith Witten Fund.
- $50,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast to support year-one staffing of its expanded Mentoring Center. The new center will increase the organization’ reach to hundreds of youth, their families and the community. This grant is supported by the Gould Family Trust Foundation and the foundation’s Venice Endowment Fund.
- $340,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties toward the foundation’s $1 million commitment to support the rebuilding of the Gene Matthews Club in North Port destroyed by Hurricane Ian. The new club will provide services to 575 members annually, approximately 300 youth in the summer and more than 250 during the school year. The grant is supported by the Venice Endowment Fund and the Gould Family Trust Foundation.
- $50,000 to Education Foundation of Sarasota County to provide at-risk students with resources to graduate and to create pathways to move into higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs. This grant will enable the Education Foundation to hire a part-time collaboration coordinator to assist the director of PLANit Sarasota in engaging with more than 40 partners. The grant is supported by the Venice Endowment Fund, the Odile Robertson Field of Interest Fund, and the Arthur E. and Audre B. Smith Charitable Fund.
- $18,000 to Ringling College Library Association to sponsor the 2024 Town Hall Lecture Series, which brings global influencers to Sarasota to expand horizons, stimulate conversation and inspire the community. The grant is supported by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Fund and the Joseph A. Schasney and Marion W. Schasney Endowment.
- $125,000 to Sarasota Chamber of Commerce to continue support for the regional workforce development program, CareerEdge Funders Collaborative. Established in 2010 as its nationally acclaimed workforce and business innovation initiative, the foundation has given more $1.7 million to this program. The grant is supported by the Venice Endowment Fund and the A. Hamilton and Edith T. Gardner Fund.
- $75,000 to State College of Florida Foundation to provide instructional equipment for nursing students to continue to address the shortage of registered nurses in Southwest Florida. Supported by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation Fund, the Venice Endowment Fund and the Ed and Barbara Strobel Fund.
- $710,000 in the foundation’s Arts Appreciation Grants across 13 cornerstone arts organizations. They include Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota Opera, Sarasota Orchestra, Ringling Museum, Venice Theatre, Florida Studio Theatre, Embracing Our Differences, Circus Arts Conservatory, Hermitage Artist Retreat, Venice Symphony and West Coast Black Theatre Troupe.
