The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co
The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is a 501(c)(3) public charity and community foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. Founded in 1979 by the Southwest Florida Estate Planning Council, the organization serves as a philanthropic intermediary connecting donors with charitable causes throughout the region. The foundation manages nearly 1,600 charitable funds and operates with a mission centered on facilitating meaningful community impact through strategic philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$464.6M
+12.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$50.6M
+60.1% YoY
Grant Count
882
+89.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$57K
-15.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Community impact powered by philanthropy.
Organizational Philosophy: The foundation's motto, "Be the One," reflects the belief that anyone can be a philanthropist and give back to their community regardless of means.
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education (including school readiness, grade-level reading, summer learning and enrichment, arts integration, and higher education/workforce development)
- Health and human services
- The arts
- Animal welfare
- Environmental protection
- Civic engagement
- Youth development
The foundation works with donors to ensure their philanthropic intentions are carried out through investments in effective nonprofits. Beyond grantmaking, the organization provides capacity-building support to local nonprofits through workshops, trainings, and volunteer consulting services.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** Typical awards range from $5,010 to $4,102,690.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Sarasota County region and surrounding communities throughout the area. Historical giving has also extended to organizations in Florida, New York, and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $464.6 million (2024); $544 million in charitable funds across nearly 1,600 funds
Total Revenue: $80.7 million (2024)
Total Expenses: $63.3 million (2024)
Total Liabilities: $41.3 million (2024)
Historical Impact: Since its founding, the foundation has invested more than $542 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves.
Financial Oversight: The organization is audited annually and maintains high standards of transparency and accountability. Audited financial statements include two supporting organizations (Manatee Community Foundation and Wetherington Foundation) and two subsidiary organizations (Community Foundation Trust of Sarasota County and CFSC Asset Company, LLC).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $464,554,636 | $412,504,444 | $386,793,850 |
| Revenue | $80,655,057 | $45,774,904 | $71,031,554 |
| Expenses | $63,272,758 | $44,909,207 | $51,746,037 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $17,899,723 | $11,946,014 | $21,097,794 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
18 open opportunities from The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co
2Gen Parent Scholarship Grant
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA CO
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
A. Lamar Matthews Jr. Memorial Fund
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA CO
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Adult Full-Year Scholarship Grant
THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA CO
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include All Faiths Food Bank Inc ($661,079), Agape Flights Inc ($185,707), Art Center Sarasota ($122,329).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 21ST CENTURY MINISTRIES INC (DBA INSPIRATION ACADEMY) BRADENTON, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $21,253 |
| 52ND STREET PROJECT INC NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL SUPPORT | $15,000 |
| ABILITY TO INCLUDE INC SARASOTA, FL | CAPITAL PURCHASES, GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM SUPPORT | $44,580 |
| ACADIA UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | GENERAL SUPPORT | $8,958 |
| ADVENTURE FOR ALL CORPORATION SARASOTA, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM SUPPORT | $79,118 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR MUSEUM WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM SUPPORT | $84,000 |
| AGAPE FLIGHTS INC VENICE, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT | $185,707 |
| AGASSIZ VILLAGE NORWOOD, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $14,341 |
| AGAWAM COUNCIL FALMOUTH, ME | GENERAL SUPPORT | $14,341 |
| ALL 4 THE MEMBERS INC SARASOTA, FL | GENERAL SUPPORT, PROGRAM SUPPORT | $9,211 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
President and CEO: Jessica Muroff
Staff Size: 37 employees (as of 2024)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DANIEL DELEO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KAREN HAMAD | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DAVID JOYNER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATRICIA MATHEWS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR LAURA MATTIA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MERCEDES SOLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| DR JANET E TAYLOR | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEFFREY TROIANO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| TERRI VITALE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CHARLES E WILLIAMS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARY LOU WINNICK | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAUL HUDSON | VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| MARILYN THOMPSON | CHAIR | 1 | — |
| FELICE SCHULANER | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| T ANDREW STULTZ | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH PENNEWILL | GENERAL COUNSEL | 40 | $203,517 |
| MISCHA KIRBY | VP, STRATEGIC COMM. & MARK | 40 | $170,573 |
| KIRSTEN RUSSELL | VP, COMMUNITY IMPACT | 40 | $168,110 |
| JAY YOUNG | VP, PHILANTHROPY | 40 | $149,433 |
| ROXANNE JERDE | CEO/PRESIDENT | 40 | $372,878 |
| ERIN JONES | CFO | 40 | $210,016 |
| NICOLE COUDAL | VP, HUMAN RESOURCES | 40 | $96,312 |
| RINA ALVAREZ | DIRECTOR, PHILANTHROPY | 40 | $114,556 |
| JULIE AVINS | CONTROLLER | 40 | $101,479 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Capacity Building Grants Program (2026):** New grants launched to improve nonprofit operations and boost organizational self-sufficiency
New Community Foundation of Sarasota County Grants Will Improve ...**$1.4 Million Grant Awards (August 2025):** Major grant distribution to local nonprofits
Parenting Matters Awarded $8,000 Grant from the Community ...**Parenting Matters Grant (March 2026):** $8,000 awarded to support strategic planning initiatives
Parenting Matters Awarded $8,000 Grant from the Community ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co fund?
**Mission:** Community impact powered by philanthropy. **Organizational Philosophy:** The foundation's motto, "Be the One," reflects the belief that anyone can be a philanthropist and give back to their community regardless of means. **Primary Funding Areas:** • Education (including school readiness, grade-level reading, summer learning and enrichment, arts integration, and higher education/workforce development) • Health and human services • The arts • Animal welfare • Environmental protection…
How do I apply for a grant from The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co?
**Grant Range:** Typical awards range from $5,010 to $4,102,690. **Active Grant Programs Include:** • 2Gen Parent Scholarship • Adult Full-Year Scholarship • Andrew Monroe Memorial Scholarship • Andrew Vincent Messina Scholarship and Elsie Bird Davies Memorial Scholarship • Animal Welfare Grants • Capacity Building Grants • Community Impact Grants **Recent Grant Activity:** • Awarded $1.4 million in grants (August 2025) • Parenting Matters received an $8,000 grant to support a strategic plannin…
Where does The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in the Sarasota County region and surrounding communities throughout the area. Historical giving has also extended to organizations in Florida, New York, and Massachusetts.
What size grants does The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co award?
In 2024, The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co awarded 882 grants totaling $50.6M — an average of about $57K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co's EIN?
The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 59-1956886. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Community Foundation of Sarasota Co's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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