Learn about grants for Florida by browsing our curated list of top Florida funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.
Giving Trends in Florida
Grantmaking in Florida has accelerated since the early 2010s, when Florida’s population influx began to explode. Home to over 5,300 grantmakers (Candid 2015), more than $1.9 billion dollars in grants have been awarded to Florida-based organizations. This number continues to grow as business thrives in several tech hubs located between Miami, Orlando and Gainesville, thanks in part to the state’s tax structure.
The Florida Philanthropic Network, the leading statewide association of grantmakers in the state, further identifies major shifts in Floridan giving. Grants for education continue to dominate Florida grantmaking. A recent FPN report reveals that religious giving, climate change, poverty, and human services have outpaced giving for education, which clashes with Candid’s raw data. Typical of regional funding, several community foundations, as well as religious affinity groups, like funders of Jewish culture, dominate in the Florida giving landscape, but so do arts and culture funders, funding most of Florida’s major museums, like the Perez Art Museum in Miami.
That said, Florida’s top funders are a mix of private, public and community foundations, which have raised Florida’s grantmaking profile by millions as more people move to the state. Major funders of Florida grants include the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which has given over $110 million in grants and also conducts grants nationally; the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida; the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation; Public Super Market Charities; the Miami Foundation; and the Ted Arison Family Foundation, among several others.
Beyond foundation grants for nonprofits, Floridans themselves have given over $15 billion in philanthropic dollars. This trend shows no sign of slowing as human needs increase due to climate change pressures.
TED ARISON FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Ted Arison Family Foundation supports projects in Israel and abroad in the areas of education, children and youth, vulnerable peoples, disability and health. Grantmaking occurs at the local (Florida), national and international levels respectively.
CHARLES AND MARGERY BARANCIK FOUNDATION
Supports goes to the Sarasota and Chicago areas for education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, and the environment. Unsolicited grant requests are not accepted.
BAY BRANCH FOUNDATION
The Bay Branch Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, the arts, health, and children, youth, and social services.
BEAR FAMILY FOUNDATION
This funder supports a wide range of topics in Northwest Florida, including childhood disease, autism, food pantries, youth sports, and arts and culture. The annual grant application deadline is November 1.
BENCOMO FOUNDATION
The Bencomo Foundation supports free funeral services and burial resources for low-income families in Miami-Dade County, Florida.
CAPITAL BANK FOUNDATION
The Capital Bank Foundation is a bank funder that supports Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia communities in the areas of arts and culture, education and leadership, environment, financial literacy, and health and human services.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES FOUNDATION OF VENICE, FLORIDA
The Catholic Charities Foundation of Venice, Florida supports early education, senior services, affordable housing, foreclosure prevention, financial assistance during personal crises, immigration services, refugee services, homelessness, HIV/AIDS and professional counseling in Florida.
CENTRAL FLORIDA FOUNDATION
This community funder is home to over 400 charitable funds and has a nonprofit database to connect donors with organizations. Top funding causes include the arts, homelessness, and human services.
COBB FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Cobb Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, international affairs, health, human services, and the arts.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF BROWARD
This community foundation supports 31 cities in Broward County, Florida, in 10 issue areas. Each issue area has its own guidelines and deadlines; unsolicited applications are accepted.
COLLIER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This community funder supports Collier County, Florida, in the areas of human services, education, community, health, art, environment, religion, veterans, senior citizens, and economic development. However, it also makes funds nationally and globally.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA
This funder provides competitive grants in early childhood and the arts in Northeast Florida counties. It also funds initiatives related to education, aging, neighborhoods, and nonprofit capacity building.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES
This funder awards grants in affordable housing, arts and culture, basic needs, and more. It has a competitive grant process and donor Field of Interest funds that accept proposals by invitation only.
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY
For grants that can be accessed through unsolicited applications, this funder prioritizes homelessness, poverty, literacy, and education. These grants are limited to Florida counties Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and DeSoto.
CONSERVATION FOUNDATION OF THE GULF COAST
The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is an environmental funder that supports land and water conservation on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
CONTIGO FUND
The Contigo Fund supports LGBTQ+, racial and other social justice causes in Central Florida.
COUCH FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Couch Family Foundation supports local efforts that address poverty, religion, education and health in the Tampa area of Florida.
WALLACE H. COULTER FOUNDATION
The Wallace H. Coulter Foundation supports science, medicine, quality of medical care, research, innovation and Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations in Florida and beyond.
DAELANSA FOUNDATION
The Daelansa Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to human services, youth, health, the environment, animals, and arts and culture.
JESSIE BALL DUPONT FUND
The Jessie Ball duPont Fund’s grantmaking areas of interest include affordable housing, higher education, racial justice, civic engagement and leadership development.
DUKE ENERGY FOUNDATION
This funder supports programs for education, the environment, economic and workforce development, and community impact in select counties in the Southeastern states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida.
EAGLE FOUNDATION
The Eagle Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to religious causes, human services, health, and the arts.
EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY
The Education Foundation of Sarasota County supports in college, career, and life readiness, art and innovation, and excellence in teaching in Sarasota County, Florida.
EVERGLADES FOUNDATION
This funder exclusively supports protection and conservation efforts for the Florida Everglades. Grants are awarded yearly, and unsolicited applications are accepted.
FELTEL FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Feltel Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to human services, education, health, and religious causes.
FLORIDA BLUE FOUNDATION
This funder awards grants for health, education, human services, arts and culture, and community development in Florida. It is based in Jacksonville and has different deadlines for the various grant programs.
FLORIDA COUNCIL AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE
The Florida Council Against Sexual Violence supports efforts that fight sexual violence and abuse in Florida.
FOUNDATION FOR A HEALTHY ST. PETERSBURG
The Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg supports South Pinellas County, Florida in the areas of healthy behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors of health, and physical environment.
GIVE WELL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This is a combined community funder that supports the Florida Counties of Polk, Hardee, and Highlands. One foundation program accepts unsolicited grant requests in Polk County, related to education, arts and culture, community, environment, health and human services, and animal welfare.
GLAZER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Glazer Family Foundation supports children’s health and education programs in the Tampa Bay area.
GLOBAL VILLAGE CHARITABLE TRUST
Global Village Charitable Trust primarily funds grantmaking related to the arts, education, health, human services, Jewish causes, and policy.
GROSS FOUNDATION
The Gross Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish organizations, causes in the arts, human services and education.
GULF COAST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This funder supports Sarasota County, Florida, its immediately surrounding communities, and Boca Grande. It funds civic and economic development, education, health and human services, and the arts. Unsolicited grant requests are accepted.
LEE F. AND CLAIRE E. HAGER FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Lee F. and Claire E. Hager Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to religious causes, education, and health.
JAGUAR FOUNDATION
The Jaguar Foundation supports youth, families, military veterans, health, cancer human services, animals, and other community needs in and around Jacksonville, Florida.
WILLIAM R. KENAN JR. CHARITABLE TRUST
This private family funder supports education (mostly higher ed), arts, arts education, and basic human needs in North Carolina, as well as in Kentucky, St. Augustine, Florida, and Lockport, New York.
SHAHID AND ANN KHAN FOUNDATION
The Shahid and Ann Khan Foundation supports education, youth, arts, health, and community needs in and around Jacksonville, Florida.
SAM W. KLEIN CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Sam W. Klein Charitable Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to medical research, the environment, Jewish causes, education, and the arts.
JOHN S. KNIGHT AND JAMES L. KNIGHT FOUNDATION
The Knight Foundation broadly funds community development initiatives across the United States. As part of its journalism program, the Knight Foundation awards grants for First Amendment rights in the digital age and the use of technology to advance journalistic excellence. This funder invests in journalism education and arts programs that aim to engage broad audiences. Local grants concentrate on Florida, specifically Miami-Dade.
FANNY LANDWIRTH FOUNDATION
This funder supports basic needs services in Northeastern Florida and Western North Carolina, including food, shelter, clothing, and education for the underserved.
LATTNER FAMILY FOUNDATION
This funder supports efforts in the arts and humanities, education, environment, health and social services, especially when provided by Christian organizations. In the Southeast, LFF supports Palm Beach County, Florida, and the state of Georgia.
LORDS FOUNDATION
The Lord’s Foundation aims to glorify God by serving those with Christian spiritual, emotional, or physical needs.
MALCO CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Malco Charitable Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, arts and culture, and health.
MANATEE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This funder supports Manatee County, Florida and the surrounding region with grants in the arts, human services, education, animal welfare, environmental, civic engagement, and health.
OLGA AND DAVID MELIN FOUNDATION
The Olga and David Melin Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to the arts, education, the environment, animals, and human services.
MIAMI FOUNDATION
This funder focuses on Miami, Florida, and has various grantmaking partnerships. Interests include arts and culture, healthy lifestyles, housing and affordability, human services facilities, and well-being of children and youth.
JOSE MILTON FOUNDATION
The José Milton Foundation supports education, research and health in Miami and throughout South Florida.
MOURNING FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Mourning Family Foundation supports youth development, youth advocacy, education, and youth enrichment in South Florida.
THE JIM MORAN FOUNDATION
This Florida-focused family organization, located in Gainesville, supports education, elder care, family strengthening, and youth transitional living, primarily in three counties. Unsolicited letters of inquiry are accepted.
NAPLES CHILDREN & EDUCATION FOUNDATION
This funder is known for its annual wine festival; it awards grants to Collier County, Florida, nonprofits in the areas of children, education, early learning, child advocacy, and children’s healthcare.
OCEAN REEF COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
This community funder supports Ocean Reef, Homestead, Florida City, and the Upper Keys in the areas of education, youth and families, art and culture, and the environment.
OUR FUND FOUNDATION
The Our Fund Foundation supports LGBTQ causes and advocacy for vulnerable populations in South Florida.
PATTERSON FOUNDATION
Patterson supports a wide range of initiatives and prioritizes the Sarasota area of Florida. Patterson’s source of wealth traces back to former Chicago Tribune owner Joseph Medill.
PEACOCK FOUNDATION
This funder awards grants in South Florida in the areas of children/youth, elderly, programs for people with disabilities, arts for educational purposes, environmental education, health/hospitals, medical research, and human services.
JORGE M. PÉREZ FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation supports arts and culture, health and well-being, education, environment and economic development in Miami and South Florida.
PINELLAS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Pinellas Community Foundation supports animals, environment, faith, health, senior citizens, education, public communications, youth in Florida.
PUBLIX SUPER MARKETS CHARITIES
This corporate grocery store chain funder supports efforts related to hunger, homelessness, youth, and education in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
QUANTUM FOUNDATION
This health legacy funder supports Palm Beach County nonprofits in the area of health access, health education, and healthcare workforce. Small grants for basic needs are awarded. Unsolicited applications are accepted.
MICHAEL SAUNDERS AND CO. FOUNDATION
This real estate funder supports basic needs services in the Florida counties of Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte. Company employees nominate potential grantees.
SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION
This family funder in Boca Raton, Florida, supports local causes in education, after-school programs, health, culture, subsistence, and animal welfare. Grants are invitation-only.
SCHULTZ FOUNDATION
The Schultz Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, health, religious causes, arts and culture, humanitarian, and environmental causes.
SHORSTEIN FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Shorstein Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Jewish causes, health, and human services. It also earmarks funds for the arts.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
SFCF has grant opportunities for community development, capacity building, arts and culture, women, LGBT, and more. The Southwest Florida counties of Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, and Glades are in focus.
SUN CAPITAL PARTNERS FOUNDATION
The Sun Capital Partners Foundation supports education, children and youth, hunger, domestic violence, health, arts and culture, Jewish life, and environmental sustainability in South Florida.
TANEJA FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Taneja Family Foundation’s giving supports health and pharmacy education in the Tampa Bay area of Florida.
WEISS FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Weiss Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, as well as religious, humanitarian and health causes.
WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF COLLIER COUNTY
This foundation is an endowment fund of the local community foundation and supports at-risk women and girls in Collier County, Florida. Funding areas are senior women, teen girls, women heads of household, homeless women and families, the gender wage gap.
