The Southwest Florida Community Foundation offers competitive grants for programs and projects in eight focus areas:  animal welfare, arts and culture, community development, conservation and preservation, education, the environment, health, and human services.

Due to the number of requests for funding the Foundation receives, grants are awarded using the following funding parameters:

While the Foundation and its affiliates may award more than one grant within a 12-month period to the same organizations, they do not make recurring grants to the same program/project.

Agencies may receive grants for two consecutive years from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. They must then wait a year before applying again.

Consideration is given to the following in determining the merits and priority of an application for funding from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation or one of its affiliates. 

• Degree of potential benefit to the community to be derived from the program/project
• Programs for new ventures, one-time projects, and innovative responses to community needs that do not duplicate other efforts
• The capacity of the organization to achieve the program’s/project’s expected results
• The degree to which the organization uses measurable outcomes to evaluate its program/project
• Programs that are likely to attract additional funds, resources and community support
• The organization’s ability to obtain continued funding
• The amount of available funds the Foundation has to award

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Chief Program Officer to determine if the proposed program/project is consistent with the goals and interests of the Foundation or one of its affiliates.