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Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$45.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $6.4M

Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $45,000,000 (FY24)
  • Total Assets: $482,820,352
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Varies by grant cycle
  • Grant Range: $5,022 - $6,412,277 (typical awards)
  • Geographic Focus: Sarasota County, Charlotte County, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, Florida

Contact Details

Address: 601 S Tamiami Trail, Venice, FL Phone: 941-486-4600 Website: www.gulfcoastcf.org Grant Support Email: communityleadership@gulfcoastcf.org Grant Portal: grantinterface.com (Grants Lifecycle Management platform)

First-time applicants are encouraged to contact communityleadership@gulfcoastcf.org for guidance prior to completing an application.

Overview

Gulf Coast Community Foundation was created in 1995 with proceeds from the sale of The Venice Hospital, a community hospital founded by local citizens more than four decades earlier. Headquartered in Venice, Florida, with a second office in downtown Sarasota, the foundation has surpassed $625 million in grants awarded since inception. With total assets of approximately $483 million and annual giving of $45 million in FY24, Gulf Coast operates with the mission: "Together with our donors, we transform our region through bold and proactive philanthropy." The foundation has earned a perfect 4/4-Star rating on Charity Navigator with a 100% score. Under President and CEO Phillip Lanham's leadership since 2023, the foundation emphasizes listening, collaboration, and action while maintaining three strategic priorities: Affordable Housing, Mental Health, and Water Quality & Green Space.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants (Under $10,000)

  • Rolling basis acceptance
  • Streamlined online application through GLM platform
  • Organizations may request up to $25,000 per fiscal year total

Leveraged Grants (Over $10,000)

  • Pre-application deadlines: August, December, and April
  • Requests should clearly target regional priorities
  • Must utilize creative strategies and provide measurable data to assess impact
  • Organizations may request up to $25,000 per fiscal year total

Empowering Arts Grant Program

  • Annual program supporting cornerstone arts organizations
  • Recent cycle: $785,000 awarded to 13 organizations (2025-2026 season)
  • Previous cycle: $710,000 in FY23
  • Unrestricted funding allowing organizations flexibility in use

Sponsorship Grants

  • Rolling basis acceptance
  • Application available online

Priority Areas

The foundation funds in five broad areas with three current strategic priorities:

Strategic Priorities (preference given to projects addressing these):

  • Affordable Housing
  • Mental Health
  • Water Quality & Access to Green Space

Funding Areas:

  • Health and Human Services
  • Arts and Culture
  • Civic and Economic Development
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Disaster Response (demonstrated through Hurricane Ian recovery efforts)

What They Don't Fund

Education-Related Exclusions:

  • Individual schools
  • Booster clubs
  • Individual classrooms
  • Only grant requests submitted by Sarasota County, Charlotte County, and DeSoto County School Districts are considered

Geographic Exclusions:

  • Organizations outside the service area (Sarasota County, Charlotte County, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, Florida)
  • The foundation is "laser-focused" on its Gulf Coast service region

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Phillip Lanham, President and CEO (joined 2023)

  • Previously served in other community foundation leadership roles
  • Leadership philosophy: "I wake up and think about what type of leader I want to be and how I want to show up, and I always want to be authentic, growth-minded, and collaborative."
  • On philanthropy: "Community foundations exist to inspire philanthropy and make an impact in the region they serve. I want to grow both of those through strong partnerships with our donors."
  • On mission: "We have to stay true to our vision and our mission, which is creating a vibrant community with opportunities for all."
  • Values: "The best leaders are humble, hungry, and smart."
  • Key insight: "Research shows people with lived experience create the best solutions to the problems that they're experiencing."

Board of Directors

Anand Pallegar, Board Chair (elected July 1, 2025)

  • Founder and CEO of DreamLarge
  • CEO of Sarasota Magazine
  • CEO of ATLARGE marketing and branding firm
  • Served on Gulf Coast board of directors for nearly a decade
  • Previously chaired the foundation's Community Leadership committee

Rose-Anne Frano, Vice Chair (elected July 1, 2025)

  • Partner at Williams Parker Attorneys at Law
  • Served on Gulf Coast Board since 2022
  • Chairs the Governance Committee
  • Member of the Finance Committee

The Board comprises visionary volunteers who set the organization's agenda.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Platform: All grant applications are submitted online through the foundation's Grants Lifecycle Management (GLM) platform at grantinterface.com. The platform launched December 1 and provides a streamlined application process.

First-Time Applicants:

  • Must create an organization profile on the GLM platform
  • Profile creation tutorials and FAQs are available
  • Contact communityleadership@gulfcoastcf.org for personalized assistance before applying
  • One application per organization for each fiscal year (may include multiple programs/events for funding consideration)

Application Structure:

  • Single application per fiscal year
  • May include multiple programs or events for consideration
  • Must review FY25 or FY26 Grant Guidelines before submitting

Grant Cycles:

  • Community Grants: Rolling basis
  • Leveraged Grants: Pre-application deadlines in August, December, and April
  • Sponsorship Grants: Rolling basis
  • Winter Cycle: Opens December 1, closes January 19

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by grant type and cycle. Board approval meetings occur periodically throughout the fiscal year, with nearly $40 million in grants approved in FY23 and $45 million in FY24. Notifications are provided through the online portal system.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or approval percentages. In 2024, the foundation made 541 awards totaling $42,576,073.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication restrictions or waiting periods were identified in available sources. Organizations may submit one application per fiscal year, which can include multiple programs for consideration.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The foundation gives preference to projects addressing its three current priorities: Affordable Housing, Water Quality & Access to Green Space, and Mental Health. This is explicitly stated in their guidelines.

Measurable Impact (for Leveraged Grants): Requests should "provide measurable data to assess impact" and "utilize creative strategies." The foundation values evidence-based approaches and clear outcome metrics.

Regional Focus: Applications must clearly demonstrate service to the foundation's geographic area. CEO Phillip Lanham has emphasized the foundation's commitment to the Gulf Coast region specifically.

Organizational Readiness: First-time applicants benefit from pre-application consultation. The foundation offers resources including nearly 40 fundraising resources available through their I3 Digital platform.

Recent Funded Examples:

  • Hurricane Ian Recovery: $440,000 to Venice Theatre to rebuild the Jervey Theatre (bringing total support to over $600,000); $340,000 to Boys & Girls Clubs (part of $1 million commitment) for rebuilding
  • Arts Organizations: $785,000 across 13 organizations including Asolo Repertory Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Venice Symphony, Venice Theatre, and others
  • Parks & Environment: $150,000 to Bay Park Conservancy for operations and maintenance
  • Education & Workforce: $50,000 to Education Foundation of Sarasota County for at-risk student support; $125,000 to Sarasota Chamber of Commerce for CareerEdge Funders Collaborative workforce development
  • Youth Services: $50,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast for expanded Mentoring Center staffing

Community Leadership Philosophy: Lanham's insight that "people with lived experience create the best solutions" suggests the foundation values input from those directly affected by community challenges. Applications that incorporate community voice and lived experience may resonate.

Collaboration and Partnerships: The foundation emphasizes "listening, collaboration, and action." Applications demonstrating partnerships and collaborative approaches align with this philosophy.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Contact before applying: First-time applicants should reach out to communityleadership@gulfcoastcf.org for guidance before submitting—this is explicitly encouraged
  • Align with strategic priorities: Projects addressing Affordable Housing, Mental Health, or Water Quality & Green Space receive preference—state this alignment clearly if applicable
  • Know your grant type: Understand whether you're applying for Community Grants (under $10,000, rolling) or Leveraged Grants (over $10,000, cycle deadlines)
  • Geographic specificity matters: The foundation is "laser-focused" on its service region—demonstrate clear impact in Sarasota, Charlotte, or DeSoto counties, or Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, or Longboat Key
  • One comprehensive application: Submit a single application per fiscal year that may include multiple programs, rather than multiple separate applications
  • Leverage available resources: The foundation offers nearly 40 fundraising resources through I3 Digital and provides tutorials for the GLM platform
  • Review grant guidelines thoroughly: The foundation explicitly requires familiarity with FY25/FY26 Grant Guidelines before applying—read these carefully

References

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