Traditional Grant Program

The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation offers “Traditional Grants” twice per year to support capital needs for nonprofit organizations that primarily serve the four-county region of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties in Florida. This foundation emphasizes tangible investments that enhance an organization’s capacity to fulfill its mission and achieve measurable community impact. Organizations with annual budgets exceeding $300,000 are eligible to apply under this category, while smaller organizations are directed to the Foundation’s “Small and Mighty” grants program. The purpose of the Traditional Grants program is to fund capital expenditures that help nonprofits achieve operational effectiveness, enhance service delivery, and contribute to long-term sustainability. Eligible costs under the program include construction and renovation expenses, equipment purchases, technology upgrades, vehicle acquisitions, and the implementation of significant software systems or website development. However, the Foundation explicitly excludes funding for operating or program costs, projects that are already complete or underway, endowments, debt reduction, travel, advertising, marketing, research, and similar non-capital expenditures. To initiate the application process, all potential applicants must first contact the Foundation's Grants Manager for a required preliminary discussion. This pre-application contact is mandatory and serves to ensure alignment between the applicant’s project and the Foundation’s funding priorities. Returning grantees must wait at least one year following final report approval from a previous grant before reapplying. Additionally, all prior grant conditions must have been met to the satisfaction of the Foundation before a new proposal will be considered. The grant program operates on a biannual cycle, with applications opening on December 1 and closing on January 15 for the spring cycle, and opening on July 1 and closing on August 15 for the fall cycle. A strict submission deadline of 3:59 p.m. EST on the final day is enforced. If the closing date falls on a weekend, it advances to the next business day. Applicants are advised to submit early to allow Foundation staff time to provide feedback or request missing information. The minimum grant request is $10,000, and organizations without an audit may not request more than $50,000. The average grant award is $50,000. After submission, applicants meet with the Foundation’s President and CEO, along with one of their board members, to discuss the proposed project. The final decision rests with the Foundation’s Board of Directors, which evaluates proposals based on the project’s value, organizational soundness, and plans for future project maintenance and funding. Award decisions are communicated by mid-April for spring applicants and mid-November for fall applicants. If selected, the organization must sign a Grant Acceptance Contract and submit a Final Report of Grant Expenditure within one year of award. Only after approval of this report may the organization be eligible for future funding. Questions about eligibility or the final report approval timeline can be directed to the Foundation office. For further assistance, interested parties may contact EPower@SelbyFdn.org or call 941-957-0442.

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