Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc logo

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Venice, FL EIN: 59-1052433 Website

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc is a public charity based in Venice, Florida. Created in 1995 with proceeds from the sale of Venice Hospital, it supports charitable work through grants and regional initiatives.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc gave $45.0M across 651 grants in 2025 (avg $69K), mostly in Florida. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$44,977,079
+10.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
651
+20.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$69,089
-7.9% vs 2024
Median grant
$16,251
Total assets
$533,708,797
+10.5% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (150 of 609, 2025)
Primary geography
Florida (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc

Invitation Only

The website directs applicants to submit a letter of inquiry for Community Grants. Catalytic and Initiative Grants are by invitation. First-time applicants are encouraged to consult the foundation’s grant guidelines before applying.

Review Cycle
The website lists a 2027 Fall Community Grants cycle with applications scheduled to open July 15 and close September 30; award notifications are scheduled for November.
Deadline
The website lists a 2027 Fall Community Grants cycle with applications scheduled to open July 15 and close September…
Contact

Mailing address: 601 Tamiami Trail South, Venice, FL 34285
Phone: (941) 486-4600
Website: https://gulfcoastcf.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Venice Theatre Inc: $2.2M across 2 grantsVenice Theatre Inc$2.2M · 2 grantsThe Bay Park Conservancy Inc: $1.9M across 2 grantsThe Bay Park Conservancy Inc$1.9M · 2 grantsThe Boca Grande Preschool Inc: $1.9MThe Boca Grande Preschool Inc$1.9MSarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation: $1.4MSarasota Memorial HealthcareFoundation$1.4MThe Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc: $1.2M across 2 grantsThe Marie Selby BotanicalGardens Inc$1.2M · 2 grantsBank of America Charitable Gift Fund: $1.1MBank of America CharitableGift Fund$1.1MSafe Children Coalition Inc: $1.1M across 2 grantsSafe Children Coalition Inc$1.1M · 2 grantsSociety of St Vincent De Paul South Pinellas Inc: $1.0MSociety of St Vincent De PaulSouth Pinellas Inc$1.0MBowdoin College: $1.0MBowdoin College$1.0MAll Faiths Food Bank Inc: $957KAll Faiths Food Bank Inc$957K

The largest 2025 recipient was Venice Theatre Inc ($2.2M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $13.9M.

Grant Size Distribution

2,725 grants across all recorded years

2102<$50K236$50–100K227$100–250K80$250–500K53$500K–1M26$1–5M1$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,102 grants of 2,725 (77%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s stated service area includes Sarasota County, Charlotte County, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, Florida. In 2025, 81% of grant dollars went to Florida recipients; the other leading recipient states were Massachusetts (3%), Maine (2%), New York (2%), and Illinois (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

42states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 651 itemized grants.

Cities

SarasotaVeniceNew YorkWashingtonBradentonTampaEnglewoodBoca GrandeSaint PetersburgPort CharlottePunta GordaChicagoFort MyersMount CarmelBostonOspreyPhiladelphiaAtlantaLongboat KeyColumbus

Is Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 150 of 609 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $57K; repeat grants $79K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $19K repeat.

  • 63% 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 (2019–2025). 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

$0$20M$40M$60M391 grants2019 484 grants2020 511 grants2021 507 grants2022 515 grants2023 541 grants2024 651 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $22.9M (2019) to $49.7M (2020). In 2025 it made 651 grants totaling $45.0M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Venice Theatre Inc Venice, FLArts & Culture$2,101,739
The Boca Grande Preschool Inc Boca Grande, FLEducation$1,915,035
The Bay Park Conservancy Inc Sarasota, FLEnvironment$1,684,292
Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Sarasota, FLHEALTH$1,444,167
Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MAOTHER$1,138,361
The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc Sarasota, FLEnvironment$1,123,261
Safe Children Coalition Inc Sarasota, FLChildren$1,112,000
Society of St Vincent De Paul South Pinellas Inc St Petersburg, FLHuman Services$1,027,130
Bowdoin College Brunswick, MEEducation$1,005,000
All Faiths Food Bank Inc Sarasota, FLHuman Services$957,021
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$533,708,797$73,452,871$60,228,547$44,977,079651$23,843,024
2024$482,820,352$54,435,281$55,630,111$40,591,898541$14,284,357
2023$443,953,807$51,082,837$50,505,292$36,251,800515$3,180,698
2022$411,069,499$79,396,677$50,084,573$38,669,324507$18,589,817
2021$441,098,319$114,694,883$55,749,618$36,452,595511$67,683,901
2020$357,112,248$69,155,332$70,647,707$49,717,055484$16,065,418
2019$370,001,451$73,136,498$47,174,587$22,927,482391$15,020,328

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is: “Together with our donors, we transform our region through bold and proactive philanthropy.”

Its funding areas include arts and culture, civic and economic development, education, the environment, and health and human services. Its website also identifies disaster response as an area of focus. The foundation describes its initiatives as addressing challenges including affordable housing, behavioral health, and protection of the natural environment.

The 2025 grants illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Bay Park Conservancy, which received $1,684,292, says it works with the City of Sarasota to conserve and develop a 53-acre public park along Sarasota Bay. Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, which received $1,444,167, describes itself as the philanthropic partner of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, recipient of $1,123,261, says its mission is to connect people with air plants, native nature, and regional history. Safe Children Coalition, recipient of $1,112,000, says it works to protect children and youth, strengthen families, and build community. All Faiths Food Bank, recipient of $957,021, says it works with partners to end hunger through healthy solutions.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 651 grants totaling $44,977,079. Grant amounts ranged from $5,030 to $2,101,739, with a median of $16,251.

Among the largest reported grants were $2,101,739 to Venice Theatre for arts and culture; $1,915,035 to The Boca Grande Preschool for education; $1,684,292 to The Bay Park Conservancy for the environment; and $1,444,167 to Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation for health. Other large awards included $1,138,361 to Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund and $1,123,261 to The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

The foundation describes Community Grants as program and event support for nonprofits in its service area, capped at $25,000 per nonprofit per fiscal year across those grant types combined. Catalytic Grants typically exceed $25,000 and support collaborative projects; these are by invitation. Initiative Grants are also by invitation. The foundation’s guidelines say eligible applicants are IRS-classified public charities serving Sarasota County, Charlotte County, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, or Longboat Key, Florida. Individual schools, booster clubs, and classrooms are not eligible. The foundation also describes its Empowering Arts Grants as unrestricted support for cornerstone regional arts and cultural organizations.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists David Sessions as board chair and Anand Pallegar as board vice chair. Directors listed are Anne Essner, Ping Faulhaber, Rose-Anne Frano, John Giglio, David Green, Rod Hershberger, Keith Johnson, and Deb Kabinoff, whose listing notes “as of 4/25.”

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc is led by Phillip P. Lanham, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 11 of 29 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Phillip P. Lanham

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2023

    50 hrs/week

    $253K (2024) → $400K (2025)

  • David Sessions

    Board Chair

    Director → Chair, 2023

    Chair → Board Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jennifer Johnston

    Director of Community Leadership

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    $126K (2025)

  • Kameron Hodgens

    Director of Community Leadership

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    $132K (2025)

  • Anne Essner

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • David Green

    Director

    Director → Vice Chair, 2021

    Vice Chair → Director, 2023

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Peter Soderberg

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rod Hershberger

    Director

    Director → Chair, 2021

    Chair → Director, 2022

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Susan Sofia

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Tracy Knight

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ping Faulhaber

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Giglio

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rose-Anne Frano

    Director

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Frank Martucci

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Pete Petersen

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Keith Johnson

    Director

    On filings since 2024

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Deb Kabinoff

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Elizabeth Moore

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gail Morrison Morganroth

    Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jon Thaxton

    Vice President of Community Leadership

    Senior Vice President for Community Investment → Senior Vice President for Community in, 2023

    Senior Vice President for Community in → Vice President of Community Leadership, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    50 hrs/week

    $114K (2019) → $259K (2025)

  • Kristin A. Prince

    Secretary

    On filings since 2022

    50 hrs/week

    $17K (2022) → $78K (2025)

  • Kelly D. Carlstein

    Vice President of Brand Strategy

    On filings since 2024

    50 hrs/week

    $130K (2024) → $162K (2025)

  • Carol Martin Brown

    Treasurer & CFO

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    $89K (2025)

  • Christine S. Stobaugh

    Treasurer & CFO

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    $201K (2025)

  • Joseph W. Carter

    Vice President of Philanthropy

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    $113K (2025)

  • Martha Goodwill

    Controller

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    $134K (2025)

  • Sasha Pyatte

    Phil. Advisor & Fmr. Interim Vice President

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    $146K (2025)

  • Anand Pallegar

    Board Vice Chair

    Director → Vice Chair, 2023

    Vice Chair → Board Vice Chair, 2025

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erin Minor

    Vice President & Committee Leadership

    New on the 2025 filing

    50 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (18)
  • Former: Chris Stobaugh (2019–2024) — CFO
  • Former: Mark Pritchett (2019–2024) — Former President & CEO
  • Former: Veronica Thames (2019–2024) — Former COO
  • Former: Dave Sessions (2024) — Chair
  • Former: Joe Carter (2024) — Vice President for Philanthropy
  • Former: Kirstin Fulkerson (2024) — Former Senior Vice President of Philanthropy
  • Former: Kristin M. Fulkerson (2020–2023) — Senior Vice President for Philanthropy
  • Former: Joe Stephan (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Lisa Krouse (2019–2022) — Director
  • Former: Pauline Wamsler (2019–2022) — Chair
  • Former: Gregory Luberecki (2020–2022) — Former Director of Communications
  • Former: William L. Mehserle Jr. (2020–2021) — Director
  • Former: Judy Cahn (2019–2020) — Chair
  • Former: Michael Saunders (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Veronica Booth Brady (2019–2020) — Senior Vice President for Philanthropy
  • Former: Bayne Stevenson (2019) — Director
  • Former: Scott Collins (2019) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Tommy Taylor (2019) — Director

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Phillip P Lanham — President/CEO: $400KPhillip P LanhamPresident/CEO$400KJon Thaxton — VP of Community Leadership: $259KJon ThaxtonVP of Community Leadership$259KChristine S Stobaugh — Treasurer/CFO (Thru 8/24): $201KChristine S StobaughTreasurer/CFO (Thru 8/24)$201KKelly D Carlstein — VP of Brand Strategy: $162KKelly D CarlsteinVP of Brand Strategy$162KSasha Pyatte — Phil. Advisor, FMR. Interim VP: $146KSasha PyattePhil. Advisor, FMR. Interim VP$146KMartha Goodwill — Controller: $134KMartha GoodwillController$134KKameron Hodgens — DIR of Community Leadership: $132KKameron HodgensDIR of Community Leadership$132KJennifer Johnston — DIR of Community Leadership: $126KJennifer JohnstonDIR of Community Leadership$126KJoseph W Carter — VP of Philanthropy (As of 7/24): $113KJoseph W CarterVP of Philanthropy (As of 7/24)$113KCarol Martin Brown — Treasurer/CFO (As of 8/24): $89KCarol Martin BrownTreasurer/CFO (As of 8/24)$89KKristin a Prince — Secretary: $78KKristin a PrinceSecretary$78K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $400K, to Phillip P Lanham (President/CEO). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc

How much does Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc give each year?

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc gave $45.0M across 651 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $40.6M across 541 grants.

What is Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's typical grant size?

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $16,251, and its average grant was $69,089, across 651 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc that year got $57K on average.

Where does Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc give grants?

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc gives mostly in Florida: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Sarasota, FL (192 grants), Venice, FL (49 grants), New York, NY (27 grants) and Tampa, FL (19 grants).

Does Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 651 grants with a stated purpose on Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Services" (206 grants), "Education" (111 grants) and "Religious" (82 grants).

Who are Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's largest grantees?

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Venice Theatre Inc ($2,161,739 across 2 grants), The Bay Park Conservancy Inc ($1,924,818 across 2 grants) and The Boca Grande Preschool Inc ($1,915,035), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc?

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc reported $533.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $73.5M.

What does Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is: “Together with our donors, we transform our region through bold and proactive philanthropy.” See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc?

The website directs applicants to submit a letter of inquiry for Community Grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's EIN?

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-1052433. 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

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 16, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 19, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 6, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 27, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 4, 2025)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 27, 2020)
  7. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gulf-coast-community-foundation-inc-morg_a97c6d9b337f4a928389941930a77ac4

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_591052433_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/gulf-coast-community-foundation-inc-morg_a97c6d9b337f4a928389941930a77ac4},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-08. 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 Gulf Coast Community 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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