Gulf Coast Community Foundation Scholarships

Purpose: Assist students with financial need who plan to continue their education in college or vocational-technical schools

Geographic Scope:

• Sarasota County
• Charlotte County
• DeSoto County
• Boca Grande
• Lakewood Ranch
• Longboat Key, Florida

Eligibility:

• Students from service area
• Students of all ages
• Must be pursuing higher education at accredited postsecondary institutions (universities, two- and four-year colleges, and technical schools)

Program Administration: Administered by Scholarship America®, the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs

Impact (2025-2026):

• $762,000 awarded in scholarships
• 585 scholarships awarded
• 256 students supported
• 65 granting scholarship funds

Total Investment Since 1997: Over $12.9 million invested in promising students

Types of Scholarship Funds:
Over 65 individual scholarship funds reflecting donors' interests and values, including:

• AAUW Venice Endowed Scholarship Fund
• Amy Lee Haffner Scholarship Fund
• Ann Brown Spaulding Scholarship Fund
• Arthur E. and Audre B. Smith Scholarship Fund
• Arthur E. Gulick M.D. Vocational Scholarship Fund
• Charles S. Herron, Jr. M.D. Student Healthcare Scholarship Fund
• Grace Herrmann Nursing Scholarship Fund
• Helen L. Iler/Herbert A. Brobst Scholarship Fund
• Helen Wedding Vocational Scholarship Fund
• Lorraine M. Qualter Nursing Scholarship Fund
• Robert E. Schill Nursing Scholarship Fund
• Richard M. Morrison M.D. Student Healthcare Scholarship Fund
• Wellington Chen M.D. Student Healthcare Scholarship Fund
• And many others supporting specific fields of study, schools, and communities

Contact Information:

• Email: gulfcoast@scholarshipamerica.org
• Headquarters: 601 Tamiami Trail South, Venice, FL 34285
• Phone: 941.486.4600
• Philanthropy Center: 1549 State Street, Sarasota, FL 34236
• Phone: 941.777.1270
• EIN: 59-1052433

Application Process

Current Status: 2026-2027 applications are closed

For Questions: Contact gulfcoast@scholarshipamerica.org

General Application Information:

• Applications administered by Scholarship America®
• Eligibility for individual programs determined at sponsor's sole discretion
• Eligible applications reviewed by Scholarship America's evaluation team

Application Timeline: Program accepts applications annually for upcoming school year