Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc

TOGETHER WITH OUR DONORS, WE TRANSFORM OUR REGION THROUGH BOLD AND PROACTIVE PHILANTHROPY.

IN ITS ROLE AS A REGIONAL LEADER, GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IDENTIFIES PRIORITY ISSUES THROUGH QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH, CREATES AND FUNDS CATALYTIC COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT TARGET THOSE PRIORITIES, AND ALSO CONNECTS DONORS TO THESE ISSUES AND OTHER CHARITABLE CAUSES THEY CARE ABOUT. GULF COAST'S INITIATIVES TYPICALLY INVOLVE CROSS-SECTOR COLLABORATION AND LEVERAGE ADDITIONAL PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING FROM WITHIN AND BEYOND OUR REGION.INITIATIVES IN WHICH GULF COAST AND OUR DONORS INVESTED THIS YEAR INCLUDED:1) RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN OUR REGION WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.2) SUPPORTING ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC AND NECESSARY CONTAINMENT STRATEGIES IMPLEMENTED DURING THEIR CRITICAL FUNDRAISING AND PERFORMANCE SEASONS.3) CONVENING STAKEHOLDERS TO BUILD A SYSTEM OF ACCESSIBLE, INTEGRATED, AND TRAUMA-INFORMED SERVICES AND FAMILY SUPPORTS TO MEET THE MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND YOUNG ADULTS IN SARASOTA COUNTY. 4) CONVENING, LEADING, AND FUNDING STRATEGIC PROJECTS TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN THE GULF COAST REGION AND EDUCATE CITIZENS ON THE BENEFITS OF A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.5) INVESTING IN SUSTAINABLE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE SARASOTA BAYFRONT THROUGH THE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP CREATING THE BAY PARK.6) COORDINATING WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS ON OPPORTUNITIES TO REFORM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.7) ADDRESSING THE REGION'S SUBSTANCE-ABUSE CRISIS BY DECREASING REPEAT OVERDOSES AND OTHER RISKY BEHAVIORS AND IDENTIFYING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION.8) IMPROVING AND BETTER COORDINATING SERVICES FOR CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS AND UNACCOMPANIED HOMELESS YOUTH IN SARASOTA COUNTY.9) STRENGTHENING THE BOARD GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT OUR REGION (INVEST IN INCREDIBLE).10) HELPING FIRST-GRADERS IN SARASOTA COUNTY SCHOOLS WHO STRUGGLE THE MOST WITH READING AND WRITING THROUGH INTENSIVE LITERACY INTERVENTION (READING RECOVERY).11) FOSTERING CIVILITY THROUGHOUT OUR PUBLIC-SCHOOL DISTRICT (BECAUSE IT MATTERS).GULF COAST ALSO FUNDS A VARIETY OF GRANTS TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION. GRANT PROGRAMS INCLUDE LEVERAGED GRANTS, WHICH FUND COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT TARGET REGIONAL PRIORITIES IN MEASURABLE WAYS; COMMUNITY GRANTS, WHICH FUND SMALLER PROJECTS AND NEEDS AT REGIONAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN HAVE SIGNIFICANT IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY; SPONSORSHIP GRANTS, WHICH HELP OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS MAXIMIZE FUNDRAISING AND AWARENESS ACTIVITIES; AND ARTS APPRECIATION GRANTS, WHICH PROVIDE UNRESTRICTED FUNDING TO CORNERSTONE ARTS AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION.