Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Sarasota, Florida. Its stated mission is to conduct educational, training, workforce, and leadership development programs in Sarasota County, and its filings show grants supporting workforce training, internships, and business assistance.
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc gave $346K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Florida. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $346,465
- -6.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +8.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,832
- -13.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $1,099,260
- -0.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Florida (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc
- Contact
Mailing address: 1945 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34236
Phone: (941) 955-8187
Website: https://sarasotachamber.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc
Bridges to Careers
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Internship Employer Wage Reimbursement Program
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to $1,500 per intern
Deadline
Deadline not published
On-The-Job Training (OJT)
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Sarasota Memorial Hospital ($40K). Together the top 10 received $210K.
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 98 grants of 103 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mission refers to Sarasota County. Its 2025 grant dollars went entirely to Florida recipients. The Chamber’s described programs serve the Sarasota/Manatee region, including employer and workforce programs in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
How Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc gives
- 33% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−16%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $40K (2019) to $412K (2022). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $346K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Sarasota Memorial Hospital Sarasota, FL | Upskill Training | $40,000 |
| American Vocational Academy LLC Nokomis, FL | Workforce | $31,780 |
| Sun Hydraulics Sarasota, FL | Upsill Training | $30,000 |
| Meridan West Central College Sarasota, FL | Workforce | $25,600 |
| Air Products Palmetto, FL | Upskill Training | $25,000 |
| Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerc Sarasota, FL | Intern Reimbursement | $12,907 |
| Minorities in Shark Science Sarasota, FL | Intern Reimbursement | $12,000 |
| Jeldwen Sarasota, FL | Upskill Training | $11,646 |
| Badger Bobs Sarasota, FL | Upskill Training | $11,404 |
| Margwine Organization Inc Sarasota, FL | Business Assistance | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,099,260 | $947,901 | $936,358 | $346,465 | 27 | $15,531 |
| 2024 | $1,102,768 | $1,073,885 | $1,032,348 | $371,597 | 25 | $13,207 |
| 2023 | $1,005,955 | $484,842 | $825,886 | $279,602 | 16 | $12,866 |
| 2022 | $1,374,527 | $947,385 | $947,426 | $412,026 | 21 | $434 |
| 2021 | $1,351,995 | $807,466 | $839,342 | $308,294 | 14 | $2,698 |
| 2020 | $1,386,533 | $618,250 | $621,423 | $111,591 | 6 | $7,745 |
| 2019 | $1,383,103 | $1,642,811 | $361,080 | $39,997 | 3 | $1,766 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “to conduct educational, training, workforce, and leadership development programs in Sarasota County.” Its filing describes leadership development for adults and youth; CareerEdge internships, fast-track training, and soft-skills training; and Opportunities For All support for small and minority-led businesses.
The 2025 grants included workforce and upskilling training, internship reimbursements, and business assistance. Among the supported organizations, New College Child Center describes its work as providing child care to assist working parents. Resilient Retreat describes its mission as helping survivors of trauma, first responders, and helping professionals build resilience through accessible programs and education. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $346,465. Grants ranged from $5,200 to $40,000, with a median of $10,000. The filing lists the largest grants as $40,000 to Sarasota Memorial Hospital for upskill training, $31,780 to American Vocational Academy LLC for workforce purposes, $30,000 to Sun Hydraulics for upskill training, $25,600 to Meridian West Central College for workforce purposes, and $25,000 to Air Products for upskill training. Other listed awards included $12,907 for intern reimbursement to Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, $12,000 for intern reimbursement to Minorities in Shark Science, and $10,000 each for business assistance to Margwine Organization Inc, Bradenton Gladiators Football Inc, and Kinsey 5 Media LLC.
The Chamber’s Opportunities For All Business Assistance Funds Program is designed to assist culturally diverse small-business owners and nonprofit organizations. Its stated eligibility requires at least 51% ownership of a small business by individuals from underrepresented communities and service or products in the Sarasota/Manatee region. The website says the current enrollment window is closed. The program description says small grants and funding are available, and that the initiative is funded by a grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation; that funding received is distinct from the foundation’s grants given.
The CareerEdge Internship Employer Wage Reimbursement Program offers eligible employers up to $1,500 per intern, with a maximum of two reimbursements per organization per calendar year. Employers must be in Sarasota or Manatee County, pay interns at least $15 per hour, meet the listed industry requirements, provide a meaningful skills-based experience, and receive approval before the internship begins. The Chamber also describes its OFA Summer Internship Program as fully funding participating employers, but says the application period is closed and a waiting list is available. These employer reimbursements and internship placements are program support, not evidence of grants to individual interns.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Heather Kasten as president; Dan Sidler as vice president; Joe Hembree, Robert Lane, and Dennis Murphy as directors; Emily Walsh as past chair; and Teri Hansen as chairman.
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc is led by Heather Kasten, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heather Kasten
President
On filings since 2019
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Teri Hansen
Chairman
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joe Hembree
Director
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Murphy
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Lane
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dan Sidler
Vice President
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Emily Walsh
Past Chair
Chairperson → Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (6)
- Former: Rob Lane (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Carol Probtsfeld (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: Pam Truitt (2019–2023) — Chairperson
- Former: Robert Messick (2019–2023) — Secretary
- Former: John Cranor (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Mireya Eavey (2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc
How much does Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc give each year?
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc gave $346K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $372K across 25 grants.
What is Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,832, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc give grants?
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sarasota, FL (19 grants), Bradenton, FL (3 grants) and Venice, FL (2 grants).
Does Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Business Assistance" (8 grants), "Intern Reimbursement" (6 grants) and "Upskill Training" (6 grants).
Who are Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Sarasota Memorial Hospital ($40,000), American Vocational Academy LLC ($31,780) and Sun Hydraulics ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc?
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $948K.
What does Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “to conduct educational, training, workforce, and leadership development programs in Sarasota County.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc?
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check sarasotachamber.com for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's EIN?
Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1563145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 6, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 12, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
Live grants for the work Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Leveling-Up Award $1,000 · Due October 25, 2026
- Arnold F. Keller, Jr. Grant for New Initiatives/Program Expansion $25,000 · Due October 27, 2026
- Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants (Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin) $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project · Due October 27, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/greater-sarasota-chamber-of-commerce-foundation-inc-morg_c19ae98b7b9c40a392a55efa4f770836
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261563145_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/greater-sarasota-chamber-of-commerce-foundation-inc-morg_c19ae98b7b9c40a392a55efa4f770836},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-24. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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