Coastal Bend Community Foundation Annual Grants

The Coastal Bend Community Foundation (CBCF) administers its Annual Grants program to support nonprofit organizations that serve the seven-county area of the Texas Coastal Bend region. The Foundation was established to enhance and improve the quality of life in this region, relying on generous donor contributions made during their lifetime or through estate plans. The Foundation draws on unrestricted and other designated funds to issue competitive annual awards. The Annual Grants program specifically targets projects that offer measurable community benefit across a wide range of sectors, including education, youth services, elder care, and cultural and environmental initiatives. The grant is designed to support specific program or project expenses that serve vulnerable populations. It does not fund general operating costs. Acceptable uses of funds include equipment, supplies, or other necessary expenses directly tied to a program’s implementation. The Foundation does not provide support for salaries, indirect costs, fundraising, religious activities, or construction-related expenses. Projects must align with the applicant organization’s mission, demonstrate impact, and be completed by August 31 of the following year. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that have been in existence for at least three years, as well as government and school entities applying for projects beyond their basic services. For tax-supported colleges and universities, funding must directly support students, such as emergency funds or food pantries. All applicants must provide a valid IRS Letter of Determination or Affirmation Letter dated within the last five years. Organizations that participated in the Coastal Bend Day of Giving or are applying through the Arnim Brothers Fund are not eligible to apply. In addition, food pantries and animal service organizations are excluded from this funding cycle due to separate funding initiatives. The 2025 Annual Grants application opens on August 1, 2025, and closes on September 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Applications are only accepted through the online portal, and paper applications will not be reviewed. There are no exceptions to the deadline, and incomplete or late applications are automatically disqualified. Applicants may only submit one application unless they are acting as a fiscal agent for another collaborative proposal. The average grant awarded is $12,000, though organizations may request up to $25,000. The total grant pool available is $375,000, and partial funding is common. Previous recipients must submit a grant report before reapplying. Proposals are evaluated through a competitive review process, beginning with staff and committee analysis and ending with approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Strong applications present practical, sustainable solutions to community problems and show clear leverage of other resources. Collaborative approaches and projects that bring in additional funding are favored. A single Annual Grants application covers eligibility for funds restricted to specific causes, including services for children, the intellectually disabled, the elderly, and cultural preservation. All application instructions and FAQs are available online. After submission, applicants can print their completed forms by logging into the submission portal. For questions or assistance, applicants may contact CBCF at info@cbcfoundation.org or call 361-882-9745. By submitting an application, organizations affirm they have read and agree to the Annual Grants guidelines.

Submit early; ensure application is complete and aligned with guidelines; read FAQs for printing instructions