Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc
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.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc
Boca Cares Grant
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Empowering Arts Grant Program
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
GCCF Community Grants
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
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
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
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 651 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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
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
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Venice Theatre Inc Venice, FL | Arts & Culture | $2,101,739 |
| The Boca Grande Preschool Inc Boca Grande, FL | Education | $1,915,035 |
| The Bay Park Conservancy Inc Sarasota, FL | Environment | $1,684,292 |
| Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation Sarasota, FL | HEALTH | $1,444,167 |
| Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | OTHER | $1,138,361 |
| The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc Sarasota, FL | Environment | $1,123,261 |
| Safe Children Coalition Inc Sarasota, FL | Children | $1,112,000 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul South Pinellas Inc St Petersburg, FL | Human Services | $1,027,130 |
| Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME | Education | $1,005,000 |
| All Faiths Food Bank Inc Sarasota, FL | Human Services | $957,021 |
Ready to take the next step with Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $533,708,797 | $73,452,871 | $60,228,547 | $44,977,079 | 651 | $23,843,024 |
| 2024 | $482,820,352 | $54,435,281 | $55,630,111 | $40,591,898 | 541 | $14,284,357 |
| 2023 | $443,953,807 | $51,082,837 | $50,505,292 | $36,251,800 | 515 | $3,180,698 |
| 2022 | $411,069,499 | $79,396,677 | $50,084,573 | $38,669,324 | 507 | $18,589,817 |
| 2021 | $441,098,319 | $114,694,883 | $55,749,618 | $36,452,595 | 511 | $67,683,901 |
| 2020 | $357,112,248 | $69,155,332 | $70,647,707 | $49,717,055 | 484 | $16,065,418 |
| 2019 | $370,001,451 | $73,136,498 | $47,174,587 | $22,927,482 | 391 | $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
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
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 19, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 4, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 27, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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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.
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?