FY2027 Winter Community Grants
Gulf Coast Community Foundation is accepting nonprofit applications for the 2027 Winter Cycle Community Grants from October 15 through December 31, 2026. The foundation has not stated an exact submission hour or time zone. Funding decisions are expected in February 2027. This is a charitable financial-assistance competition, not procurement.
Funding amount and application tracks
Each eligible nonprofit may receive up to $25,000 in aggregate during Gulf Coast fiscal year 2027 (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027) across both the Program Support and Event Sponsorship grant types. This is a combined annual ceiling, not an additional $25,000 award per application or project. Applicants may submit one Program Support application covering as many as two programs, and one Event Sponsorship application covering up to four events. Prior 2027 awards reduce remaining availability under the combined annual limit.
Eligible applicants and locations
Applicants must be IRS-designated public charities actively serving Sarasota, Charlotte, or DeSoto Counties, or Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, or Longboat Key in Florida. The funder supports the arts and culture, civic and economic development, education, the environment, and health and human services. Faith-based organizations may qualify when activities align with these aims and participation in religious practice is not required. Individual schools, classrooms, and booster clubs are not eligible; school district applications must come through authorized superintendent offices.
Restrictions
Program Support does not cover medical research or disease-specific services, pass-through organizations, projects outside the service area, new-to-region programs without local partners, or religious worship, instruction, or proselytization. Event Sponsorship excludes sporting tournaments, events with limited community reach, individual schools or booster clubs, and fundraising on behalf of other nonprofits. This Community Grant is distinct from the separate invitation-only Initiative Grants and the Catalytic Grants letter-of-inquiry process.
Application preparation and submission
Review the foundation’s official FY27 Grant Guidelines and the current application page. Prepare a current Giving Partner nonprofit profile, organizational eligibility and service-area information, the program or event description, documented community needs, measurable outcomes and success metrics, organizational track record, and relevant budgets. New applicants must create a profile on the foundation’s Grantee Platform. Submit a complete application through the official online grantee portal by December 31, 2026. Match or cost-share requirements and all account-specific upload requirements were not stated in the reviewed public guidelines; verify them in the application before submitting.
Official controlling sources: Current grant application windows and FY27 Grant Guidelines. Research checked October 18, 2026. The preceding FY2027 Fall 2026 cycle ended September 30 and is a separate funding window; do not mistake its closed status for this open winter cycle.