CFSC: Community Impact Grants

The Community Impact Grants by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County aim to empower nonprofits working towards economic stability for families and children. Grants up to $25,000 support initiatives that enhance community well-being, with a focus on health, social capital, workforce training, and education. The program also offers capacity-building funding to strengthen organizational effectiveness. Priority is given to projects addressing systemic barriers and fostering holistic support for families, ensuring sustainable community growth.

NOTE: The next grant cycle opens December 1, 2026 and remains open for approximately 30 days from launch.
Community Indicators Dashboard
To help define our funding priorities, we have drawn on insights from our Community Indicators Dashboard, a curated collection of community indicators providing key information and data to drive decision-making in support of our mission to strengthen our community. This data-driven approach not only informs the focus areas of our grantmaking but also plays an important role in our decision-making process, ensuring that investments are aligned with community needs and opportunities for meaningful impact.
We invite applications from organizations that are eliminating barriers and expanding access in the following areas:
Health and Mental/Behavioral Health: Including access to care, mental health supports for youth and adults, and efforts to reduce social isolation and segregation. Please review the ALICE report as a resource for data points.Education and Economic Mobility: Programs that advance access and build supports to opportunities that lead to long-term growth and financial independence. Please refer to the 2025 Regional Education Report.
Fortifying Through Capacity Building Support
Our priority areas may evolve throughout the year in response to new data and emerging community needs.
As part of this grant cycle, nonprofits will have the opportunity to fortify their Community Impact request with additional funding for capacity building. This optional support is designed to strengthen organizational infrastructure, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. An additional application will not be necessary; this option can be selected within the Community Impact grant application.
Please note: If capacity building is selected as part of a Community Impact Grant award, organizations will not be eligible to apply for separate capacity building funding during the remainder of the fiscal year.

Eligibility

In order to receive a grant through this program, organizations must also have:An IRS Letter of Determination that shows the organization is a 501(c)3 public charity. At least one current program with local impact in one of the following counties: Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto.An approved/current profile in The Giving Partner, a powerful, searchable online database with over 700 profiles of charitable organizations serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties.

501(c)(3) public charities with at least one current program serving Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte or DeSoto counties, an approved profile in The Giving Partner, and no outstanding grant reports to the Community Foundation.