The Southwest Florida Foundation, established in 1976, administers more than 320 endowed funds through the generosity of its donors. As a result, we are able to provide support to nonprofit organizations throughout Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties.

The Community Foundation and its divisions support a wide range of activities designed to enhance the quality of life for Southwest Florida residents. These activities include:

These grants are made through designated funds and donor-advised funds established by individuals, companies, and community groups that support the interests and philanthropic goals of the donors as well as the Community Foundation's mission and operating principles.

The Community Foundation awards grants for project-specific, capital, and technical assistance purposes to nonprofit organizations and governmental agencies to support a broad range of services in the Southwest Florida region. The Community Foundation is particularly interested in supporting efforts that improve the capacity of organizations to deliver services to their clients.

Project grants are primarily for new or expanded programs and pilot or demonstration projects. Project grants have explicit objectives, predetermined time frames and costs, support the mission of the recipient organization, and address a documented community need.

Capital Grants support the construction, acquisition, and renovation of facilities, as well as the purchase of equipment by an organization. Capital grant requests for construction projects may also include the costs of related technical services such as legal, architectural, and engineering activities.

Technical Assistance grants support organizational development activities to address such issues as board governance, strategic planning, resource development, and interagency collaboration.

Major Annual Grant Cycle

In the Major Annual Grant Cycle, the Community Foundation provides grants of up to $25,000 to organizations in seven different program areas: Animal Welfare, Community Development, Conservation and Preservation, Education, Environment, Healthcare and Human Services.

Arts and Attractions Grant Cycle

The Arts and Attractions Grant Cycle was established to use existing resources to assist arts and attractions agencies with both marketing and operational expenses. The two types of grants offered are Marketing and Visitor Enhancement Grants and Basic Operationg grants.

Capacity Grants

The Community Foundation's new quarterly Capacity Grants of up to $1,500 support training seminars and other staff development activities, the hiring of organizational development consultants, small equipment expenditures, and emergency needs of local nonprofits. Qualified organizations are limited to one award per year.

Good Samaritan Grants

A limited amount of funding is available each year to assist individuals with one-time financial emergency needs that cannot be covered by other sources. Charitable organizations must request funding on behalf of individuals needing assistance after verifying that the need is legitimate. Grants of up to $200 are available for organizations to disburse to their clients after approval by the Community Foundation.

For information on the Community Foundation's grantmaking programs, please contact Anne Douglas, Director of Programs, at 239-274-5900.