Michael Saunders and Co. Foundation
/OVERVIEW: This corporate real estate funder invests in basic needs in Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte Counties in Florida. Company employees nominate potential grantees.
IP TAKE: This is a funder that keeps its funds local. It supports local chapters of national organizations, though, and often sticks with the same grantees for multiple years, making this a difficult nut to crack.
The MSC Foundation prioritizes Sarasota, Manatee, and Charlotte Counties in Florida with small to modest grants, so if your work doesn’t focus on these geographic areas in some significant way, your chances of securing a grant become slim - unless you’re a large, national foundation like the American Red Cross or similar.
The best way to get on this funder’s radar, besides writing them directly on the foundation’s page, is to network with a Michael Saunders agent to see if they’ll go to the bat for your cause. As you can see from MSC’s list of grantees, the list of grantees is very broad, which reflects the various values of individual realtors that serve the company.
The real estate company and its foundation seek employee engagement: MSC encourages realtors to make a personal connection to local nonprofits. To start the grantmaking process, employees nominate potential grantees for consideration. Agents voluntarily donate some of their real estate commissions, and staff members voluntarily contribute to the foundation throughout the year. Employees also commit hundreds of volunteer hours each year to nonprofits. Its ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life along the Gulf Coast.
This is a reasonably accessible funder with two grant cycles per year, but it will require you write the foundation first through it’s portal. MSC is not as responsive as larger outfits due to it’s limited staff. As a result, the foundation prefers that potential grant seekers introduce themselves and their work briefly through the online intake form on the MSC page. While the foundation discourages cold calls, since it receives so many requests, it’s possible to inquire about the foundation by calling their corporate office at 941-953-7900, and ask for the individual who fields calls for MSC. But, as mentioned, try messaging them first and wait about a week for a response before using another method to get in touch or speak to an agent.
Receiving a grant here will require some patience and follow-up, potentially some networking. If your organization is well established in the Sarasota community, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get a grant here provided that you can make a strong case for your funding request.
Please note that MSC will be evolving it’s website between 2023 and 2024, so check their site often for any major updates.
PROFILE: The Michael Saunders and Co. (MSC) Foundation is the grantmaking arm of one of the largest real estate brokerage firms, Michael Saunders and Co., in Florida. The company was founded in 1976. The foundation, meanwhile, seeks to improve “the lives in the communities we serve by providing funds to organizations that offer shelter, sustenance, education and a path to self-sufficiency.” The Michael Saunders and Co. company has a couple of dozen offices and around 700 agents serving the Southwest Gulf Coast of Florida.
Grants for Education, Community Development, Youth, Veterans and Health
This funder concentrates on youth, health, community development, the arts, and basic needs in the Southwest Gulf Coast area, providing direct service grants. MSCF doesn’t provide a clear grantmaking strategy to help guide potential applicants at this time; however, if you’re wondering why the list of grantees is so broad it’s because much of the funding available here occurs through realtors’ interests.
Shelter, sustenance, education, and paths to self-sufficiency are priorities, as well as serving vulnerable children and families. It is a steady supporter of veterans’ causes, too. Past grantees include the American Red Cross of Southwest Florida, Bethany Christian Services of Florida, Early Learning Coalition of Manatee County, and Englewood Meals on Wheels. A long list of supported organizations can be found on its website.
The MSC Foundation has collaborated with other funders, such as its partnership with the Wells Fargo Foundation: the pair teamed to support the Friendship Centers, a nonprofit that serves older adults in Sarasota, Charlotte, DeSoto, Lee, and Collier Counties.
Important Grant Details:
Grants are typically awarded in two annual cycles—winter and summer. Past cycles have sent out $1,000 to $60,000. The funder gives out about 50 grants per grant cycle to local groups. Since 2011, the funder has supported around 150 groups with over $1,000,000 in total.
Although this foundation does not appear to accept unsolicited grant requests, you can send questions via online form. Ms. Michael Saunders is the company founder and CEO, and Drayton Saunders is the company president.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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