Best Charlotte County Grants for Nonprofits in Florida

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County offers sponsorship grants to support ticketed events that align with the foundation's mission. This program is designed for organizations that have a local impact in the counties of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, or DeSoto, and hold a 501(c)3 status. The foundation reviews applications bi-weekly from July to December and monthly from January to April, ensuring diverse geographical representation and donor interests are met.

The Charlotte Community Foundation is launching a competitive grant cycle for Fall 2025, focusing on housing insecurity and health care. Through program grants, it aims to support nonprofit organizations in Charlotte County that provide essential services to reduce homelessness and improve health outcomes. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and align with CCF's mission. Special emphasis is placed on programs aiding children and youth experiencing homelessness, fostering a community-driven approach to philanthropy.

The Bank of America Charitable Foundation focuses on supporting organizations that empower communities through basic needs, income creation, and stable housing. By investing in health and job opportunities, they aim to enhance economic mobility for low- and moderate-income families. Their partnerships target vulnerable populations, ensuring equitable access to resources that foster community vitality and resilience. This initiative emphasizes the importance of stable housing as a foundation for personal and communal growth.

About the Daniel R. & Anne M. Harper Foundation

The Harper Foundation has a legacy of caring for the Southwest Florida community, continuing the founding couple’s legacy of quiet compassion and generosity – now and for generations to come.

Harper Foundation Grant

Is your nonprofit passionate about improving the lives of people in Southwest Florida? Apply now to be considered for a grant through the Harper Foundation. Grants range from $5,000 to $30,000.

The Harper Foundation focuses on awarding grants to nonprofits in Southwest Florida that serve the local community. Areas of interest include the advancement of science, education, youth development, and religion.

Adult education, ESOL, and family literacy programs in Charlotte County, Florida can apply for Florida Literacy Coalition’s Florida Financial Literacy Initiative grants, offering up to US $5,000 to integrate financial education with literacy and math instruction. Nonprofit providers serving adult learners and families may use funds to build contextualized financial literacy programming.

The Minnesota Twins Community Fund, established in 1991, has significantly impacted youth sports in Twins Territory by providing over $24 million in support. Through grants and donations, they empower young athletes, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and personal growth. The fund focuses on 501c3 nonprofits in their region, ensuring that initiatives foster both athletic skills and character development. With strict guidelines for donations, the Twins continue to enhance community engagement and inspire the next generation of leaders.

Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program

Overview

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program is a federal program that provides funding for housing and community development activities. Congress created the program when it passed the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.

The program, which is administered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), consists of two components:

FloridaCommerce administers the State Program in Florida through the Small Cities CDBG Program. This is a competitive grant program that awards funds to units of local government in small urban and rural areas. FloridaCommerce receives between 18 and 26 million dollars annually from HUD to award subgrants to eligible units of local government.

The program provides an excellent opportunity for communities to obtain funds for projects that they cannot otherwise afford. CDBG funds can also provide administrative support for local governments that may not have the staffing resources necessary to administer their projects. Examples of CDBG-funded projects include:

• Water and Sewer Improvements,
• Rehabilitation of Substandard Housing,
• Street and Sidewalk Improvements,
• Economic Development Activities that Create Jobs for Low-and Moderate-Income People,
• Downtown Revitalization, including Facade Improvements, Streetscaping, and Underground Utilities,
• Park Facilities and Community Centers, and
• Drainage / Stormwater Improvements.

Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Application Cycle

Funding is available for the Neighborhood Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, and Commercial Revitalization program areas. Non-entitlement units of local government are eligible to apply for funding in any of the three program areas if they have an open CDBG subgrant in one of the three areas.

FloridaCommerce also has funding available in the Economic Development program area for job creation and/or retention activities. Non-entitlement units of local government that have an open Neighborhood Revitalization, Housing Rehabilitation, Commercial Revitalization, or Economic Development subgrant are eligible to apply for Economic Development funding.

Charlotte County, Florida environmental and conservation organizations can access funding through Restore America’s Estuaries to address urgent threats to estuary health, with awards ranging from US $200,000 - US $500,000. Projects may focus on habitat loss, coastal resilience, stormwater runoff, harmful algal blooms, marine mammal mortalities, or invasive species within designated National Estuary Program watershed areas.

501(c)(3) nonprofits in Charlotte County, Florida and eight nearby counties can apply for Rays Baseball Foundation’s Community Fund Grant, awarding US $5,000 to enhance existing programs. Funding supports youth empowerment, education, and critical community needs, including children’s health, mental health, disabilities, and child welfare services.

The GCCF Community Grants, offered by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, aim to enhance community well-being through strategic partnerships with nonprofit organizations. With a focus on health, education, and cultural development, these grants support 501(c)(3) organizations that benefit residents in Sarasota, Charlotte, and Boca Grande. Grant requests are accepted on a rolling basis, ensuring timely support for impactful projects. Individual schools and booster clubs are not eligible for funding, as the foundation prioritizes broader community initiatives.

With a mission to conserve forestlands, Florida Forest Service provides Charlotte County, Florida land and habitat conservation partners with funding for acquiring forest properties or conservation easements. Private landowners and governmental or nonprofit land trusts may be eligible to protect environmentally important forests from development while maintaining sustainable forest management.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations addressing basic needs, income creation, and community development in Charlotte County, Florida can apply for local funding that supports low- and moderate-income residents. Grants from Bank of America Charitable Foundation help with food, shelter, health, job training, small business resiliency, and related economic mobility efforts in eligible markets.

The Jean Griswold Foundation

The Jean Griswold Foundation (JGF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Caregivers through educational opportunities and scholarships. 

Our Mission

The mission of the Jean Griswold Foundation is to support Caregivers by providing educational scholarships* to enable them to further their training, enhance their careers, and better assist the clients they serve.

By offering educational scholarships*, our Foundation will not only make a positive impact on the Caregivers themselves, but also the clients they assist and the home healthcare agencies where they are employed, as well as help advance the overarching home-care industry.

Scholarships will be paid directly to the federally accredited educational institutions of the winning Scholars’ choosing.

Empowering Caregivers Through Education

The Jean Griswold Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships to deserving Caregivers who wish to further their education in a care-related field. Applicants do not have to be associated with Griswold in any way, and the funds will be paid directly to the institution where the caregiver will be receiving education.  

Our Winter 2026 Scholarship Application period is now open! Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm ET August 31, 2026. Join our email list to get the first notice of all Scholarship happenings.  

Where would we be without Caregivers? 

Their selflessness is astounding, yet they are often overlooked and underappreciated. 

The Jean Griswold Foundation is dedicated to supporting Caregivers, the backbone of the care industry. We provide educational scholarships so Care Professionals can further their training, enhance their skills, elevate their careers, and better assist the people they serve.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on affordable housing, skilled trades, clean water, sanitation, or community development in Charlotte County, Florida may be eligible for this funding. Grants from Ferguson help U.S.-based nonprofits within its geographic footprint partner on projects that improve economic wellbeing and quality of life in local communities.

Grants from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation help Charlotte County, Florida nonprofits and conservation partners restore, enhance, and conserve longleaf pine and bottomland hardwood forests, with awards from US $250,000 to US $3,000,000. Eligible on-the-ground forestry and habitat restoration projects must occur within the historical longleaf pine range, including Charlotte County.

Nonprofits and local entities in Charlotte County, Florida working on urban forestry recovery and planning after recent hurricanes can apply for US $5,000 - US $75,000 to restore and strengthen urban tree canopy. With a mission to support resilient urban forests, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services funds planting, pruning, and planning in 56 eligible Florida counties.

Charlotte County, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on economic mobility, workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, or affordable housing can access funding through Bank of America Charitable Foundation’s Neighborhood Builders Program. Selected organizations join a two-year leadership development program and receive capacity-building support to advance income creation or stable housing in eligible local markets.

Charlotte County, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking in-kind items to raise funds for their causes can access support through Tampa Bay Rays. Eligible organizations in nine surrounding counties may request one donation per calendar year by completing the online form and later reporting funds raised to remain eligible for future requests.

The Brinker International Charitable Giving Program focuses on giving back to communities through support for kids, hunger, and education. Organizations eligible for funding must be 501c(3) non-profits and submit requests at least six weeks prior to events. The program does not support individuals, political or religious organizations, or explicit discrimination policies. Funding is provided through monetary donations or in-kind contributions like dining certificates.

The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation Grant Program aims to enhance the education, health, and emotional well-being of children within the community. Funded entirely by the Suncoast Credit Union, it supports local initiatives through a unique program where every debit or credit card purchase contributes to the foundation. Since its establishment in 1990, it has allocated over $53 million in funding and scholarships, emphasizing measurable results and compliance with anti-discrimination laws for eligible organizations.

501(c)(3) public charities serving animals in Charlotte County, Florida can seek funding for emergency veterinary treatment and major medical equipment purchases through the Community Foundation of Sarasota County’s Animal Welfare Grants, with awards up to US $25,000. Eligible organizations must also have local impact and a current profile in The Giving Partner.

501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting animal welfare in Charlotte County, Florida can seek funding for spay/neuter, shelter care, adoptions, foster care, emergency relief, and related programs. With a mission to improve the lives of dogs and cats, B. Thomas Golisano Foundation provides US $5,000 - US $10,000 grants, including for small ‘mom & pop’ operations in underserved and rural areas.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with budgets over $300,000 serving Charlotte County, Florida can apply for capital grants of US $10,000 - US $50,000 to fund buildings, renovations, technology, vehicles, equipment, or websites. The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation awards these traditional grants twice yearly; applicants must schedule a required pre-grant meeting before applying.

The Union Home Foundation Grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that promote economic self-sufficiency through financial literacy and housing initiatives. Established in 2015, this grant has awarded over $2 million to various nonprofits across the U.S. Grants typically start at $1,000 and are available for a one-year period. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and can only apply once per year, following specific eligibility criteria.

Focused on culinary, nutrition, and arts education, this program invites Charlotte County, Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofits to seek Community Grant support for youth life-skills development. Eligible organizations delivering education tied to life skills, employment readiness, and basic needs may be considered after submitting a concept paper to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation.

The PNC Foundation's Grow Up Great Grant is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for children from birth to age 5. With a commitment of $500 million, this program focuses on improving school readiness through support in vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, and the arts. By partnering with community-based nonprofits, PNC aims to foster stronger, smarter, and healthier communities, ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

The Suncoast Scholars program, managed by the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation, offers three $2,000 scholarships to deserving high school seniors in Charlotte County. Established in 1990, the Foundation has awarded over $3.1 million in scholarships to support local students in their pursuit of higher education. Eligible candidates must be high school seniors with strong academic performance and leadership skills, planning to attend accredited colleges or technical schools in Florida.