Coastal Bend Community Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Coastal Bend Community Foundation is a Texas funder that supports seven coastal counties in the fields of arts and culture, education, environment, families and children, health, human services, and the public good.
IP TAKE: This is a good funder to know along the coast because it is open to pretty much any nonprofit cause within the service area.
PROFILE: Established in 1982, the Coastal Bend Community Foundation (CBCF) is based in Corpus Christi and seeks to “help meet the charitable and educational needs and improve the quality of life in the Coastal Bend area of Texas through grants to charitable organizations.” As a community funder, it helps donors pool their dollars to support local nonprofits. CBCF was established after the Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce came together with community leaders to encourage philanthropy in the area. Top interests are arts and culture, education, environment, families and children, health, human services, and the public good. The highest priorities include disadvantaged youth and elderly, job creation, anti-poverty efforts, and education.
Grants for Arts and Culture, Education, Environment, and Community Development
CBCF awards unrestricted funds to a broad spectrum of projects and nonprofits. Beyond the unrestricted yearly grants, CBCF also gives annual grants through funds that focus on the following areas: intellectually disabled, children’s programs, cultural activities, dogs and humane societies, historic and ecological preservation projects, and the elderly. Grants have gone to the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, the Texas State Aquarium, and the Children’s Advocacy Center of the Coastal Bend. As a general rule and with only a few exceptions, this foundation does not support brick-and-mortar projects, equipment purchases, private school projects, scientific research projects, or annual fund drives. In addition to grants, CBCF awards scholarships to students from more than 100 funds. The foundation also manages a one-day matching gift campaign online each November called the Coastal Bend Day of Giving.
View examples of recent grants on the funder’s website. Grants go to groups that serve the following counties: Aransas, Bee, Jim Wells, Kleberg, Nueces, Refugio, and San Patricio. The foundation typically considers requests for program support and general operating support. Start-up funding for new groups is less likely from this funder.
Important Grant Details
Most grants are $5,000 to $10,000. This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The grants process is completely online, with applications generally accepted between May 1 and June 15. Projects must be completed by September 30 of the following year. Direct general questions to the staff at 361-882-9745.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
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