Charlotte Community Foundation Grant Program

The Charlotte Community Foundation (CCF), headquartered in Punta Gorda, Florida, is a private philanthropic organization dedicated to fostering local impact through strategic grantmaking and donor engagement. In 2026, CCF is continuing its commitment to strengthen the nonprofit sector in Charlotte County by offering its Spring 2026 Grant Cycle focused on unrestricted operational support. This initiative builds upon a pilot launched in 2025 and reflects the foundation's growth and renewed approach to competitive grantmaking. Under the leadership of Grants Manager Whitney Stout and Board Secretary JoAnn Tompkins, the foundation has doubled its funding allocation for this cycle, now offering a total of $160,000 in awards. The Spring 2026 Grant Cycle will distribute funding in two tiers based on an organization’s staff and budget size. A total of $120,000 will be allocated across sixteen grants of $7,500, while another $40,000 will be distributed as sixteen smaller grants of $2,500. These awards are intended to provide general operating support, enabling nonprofit organizations to apply funds flexibly toward staffing, programming, infrastructure, or other strategic needs. The structure of these awards recognizes that nonprofits require autonomy to direct resources where they are most urgently needed. Applications will be accepted from February 9 through March 2, 2026, closing precisely at 4:59 PM on the final day. All applications must be submitted through CCF’s online portal, which includes a simple, user-friendly interface with detailed instructions. While attendance at an informational session is not mandatory, applicants are encouraged to either participate in one or review a pre-recorded Zoom session to fully understand the process. The application itself focuses on assessing organizational strength through questions about financial sustainability, leadership capacity, program quality, board engagement, and other fundamental indicators. Only organizations with 501(c)(3) status that have received a tax-exempt determination letter from the IRS are eligible to apply. Applicants must either be located in Charlotte County or demonstrate that all awarded funds will be used within the county. An organization's headquarters may be elsewhere, provided that the proposed impact area lies entirely within Charlotte County. This ensures alignment with the foundation’s mission to enhance quality of life locally. CCF supports nonprofits across diverse sectors, including but not limited to arts and culture, health care, and social services. Applications will be reviewed by a Grants Committee comprised of community volunteers who represent a cross-section of Charlotte County. This volunteer-led approach promotes fairness and community relevance in funding decisions. Awards will be evaluated primarily on the strength of the organization and the proposed use of funds in relation to the applicant’s mission. Notification timelines and performance period details have not been specified in the materials, but updates are expected following the submission window. Another grant cycle will be held in fall 2026, focused on donor-designated funding for specific populations such as seniors. Additional details about this cycle will be announced during the summer. Questions regarding the current or future cycles can be directed to Whitney Stout, Grants Manager, at [email protected] or via phone at 941-637-0077.