Florida — Gulf Coast Community Foundation FY2027 Spring Community Grants (Up to $25,000 Annual Combined; March 30)

Gulf Coast Community Foundation offers Community Grants for qualifying nonprofit organizations serving Sarasota County, Charlotte County, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, Florida. Eligible mission-aligned activities include health and human services, education, arts and culture, the environment, and civic and economic development. Applicants may seek Program Support for local programs or Event Sponsorship for qualifying community events.

The officially announced FY2027 Spring Community Grants application window opens January 15, 2027, and closes March 30, 2027. This is a future application cycle and is not open as of November 7, 2026. The funder’s schedule expects decisions in May 2027. The current public calendar does not specify a closing hour or time zone.

Eligible nonprofits may receive up to $25,000 in total Community Grant funding during the July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 fiscal year across Program Support and Event Sponsorship grants combined; this is an organizational annual combined ceiling, not a guarantee of a $25,000 award for each application. Community Grants can be sought in multiple grant cycles but remain subject to that cumulative limit. The funder publishes no fixed matching-fund percentage for this spring Community Grants cycle.

Generally eligible applicants are IRS-recognized tax-exempt public charities delivering services within the foundation’s Florida service area. Individual schools, classrooms and booster clubs may not apply independently; qualifying school-district requests must come from authorized district representatives. Faith-based nonprofits can qualify for nonsectarian projects when religious participation is voluntary; funds cannot support religious worship, instruction or proselytization.

Program Support excludes medical research or disease-specific services, pass-through funding distributors, outside-area projects, and new regional programs without local partners. Event Sponsorship excludes sporting tournaments, events with limited community reach, individual-school activities, and fundraising for another nonprofit. Applicants should review the full current program guidance, prepare measurable outcomes and a budget, establish a profile in the new grantee platform, and apply once the spring portal opens.

Controlling official sources: FY2027 application dates; current eligibility and exclusions; funding limits and process FAQs. Verified November 7, 2026. Recheck funder amendments and final portal requirements when the spring application window opens.