2026 Grant Application Process 

Step 1: Complete and submit your Eligible to Apply Form online before the May 1, 2026 deadline. 

Step 2: Once your eligibility to receive a Grant Application is confirmed, after April 23rd, you will receive the link to the Application.  Complete and submit your Application by the deadline.   

Step 3: Our Focus Area and Financial Review Committee members will complete a preliminary review of your Application to learn about your proposed Initiative.  If the members conclude that your Initiative meets preliminary review, you will be asked to host a Site Visit.  

Step 4: After the Site Visits, our Committee members will complete their reviews and select Focus Area Committee finalists.  Finalists will be asked to attend the Meet the Finalists event, and to submit a Wish List.

Step 5: Finalists will present their Initiatives to the membership at our Annual Celebration in January 2027.  The Grant Recipients will be selected by the membership's voting and announced at the Annual Celebration.   

For information on the application process, please email grants@impact100srq.org.

Please note: Impact100 SRQ reserves the right to change its eligibility guidelines without notice at any time. 

Organizations eligible to apply for and receive Impact100 SRQ grants must submit only one grant application per EIN number and confirm the organization:

• Is defined as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
• Is registered with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations as a nonprofit corporation
• Is registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, unless the organization is exempt
• Has been in operation for a minimum of 24 months
• Is able to provide the following Financial Statements and Tax Returns for the past two fiscal years and year-to-date for the current fiscal year:
  • Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet)
  • Statement of Activities (Profit & Loss)
  • IRS Form 990s (if required)
• Is willing to disclose any and all legal actions declared; including current and pending conflicts, unless legal actions are a component of the organization's operating model

Please Note: Collaborating Organizations must also satisfy our Grant Eligibility Guidelines and provide requested Financial Statements.  The organization identified as the primary organization must be the lead fiscal agent through which all Impact100 SRQ business is conducted.

Initiatives eligible for Impact100 SRQ grants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a new program or a significant expansion of an existing program
• Be clearly defined, viable and designed to achieve high impact, measurable results
• Primarily serve and benefit the communities and residents of Sarasota and/or Manatee Counties
• Initiative actions and activities that Impact100 SRQ will fund must occur within the 24-month grant period that begins when the Grant Agreement is signed by all parties
  • Initiative actions and activities defined in the application may not start before the beginning of the grant period.
  • All Impact100 SRQ funded expenses must be incurred within the grant period.
  • Requests for reimbursement funding must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the grant period. 
• Demonstrate the financial and operational capacity to implement, maintain and sustain the initiative beyond the 24-month grant period
• If the initiative is an expansion of an existing program, the expansion must be clearly defined and demonstrate one or more of the following to qualify:
  • a significant increase in the population currently served,
  • a broadened offering of services that reaches a new population group,
  • a significant expansion or enhancement of services offered to the current population, and/or
  • a significant improvement in the efficiency or effectiveness of the existing program or services
• The initiative must not be simply a continuation of an existing program or service offering.
• Demonstrate a total initiative budget equal to or greater than the stated Impact100 SRQ grant amount
• For budgets exceeding the Impact100 SRQ grant amount, the budget must distinguish between the amount Impact100 SRQ will fund and the amount funded by other sources:
  • The amount requested from Impact100 SRQ must equal our stated grant amount.
  • For the amount funded by other sources, applicants must demonstrate their ability by providing documentation of committed and/or pending funds.
• Provide an initiative budget that itemizes all expenses supporting the initiative.  Only capital or direct operating expenses will be funded.  For program expansions, funding is limited to expenses directly attributable to the expansion. Impact100 SRQ will not fund general operating costs related to existing programs or operations, overhead or expenses based on a cost allocation. 
• For initiatives with expenses for existing staff, the organization must demonstrate these expenses are solely in support of the initiative by stating whether the hours and salary of the existing staff will increase, or whether the existing staff's current responsibilities will be assigned to others.
• If the initiative is operationally dependent on support from other organizations, government agencies, or schools, collaborative letters of support must be provided.  Collaborative letters of support must demonstrate their agreement to participate in the initiative, in specific ways, with specific data, and/or services.
• Provide quotes received from third-party vendors dated March 1 or later of the application year
• For initiatives with capital improvements or renovations to property, the organization must own the property or provide a written property lease or other valid written agreement that demonstrates the permission of the property owner to fully implement the initiative.
• Be designated by the applying nonprofit organization for one of the following Focus Areas:

Arts, Culture & History

Education

Environment, Recreation & Animal Welfare

Family

Health & Wellness

Click here to review the Focus Area definitions

Impact100 SRQ will not provide grants for:

• Debt reduction, operational deficits, interim funding, bridge funding or endowment funding
• Grants to individuals
• Any type of arrangement whereby our grant funds are transferred, either partially or in their entirety, to any other person or entity including transferring funds to a third-party for the purposes of the third-party paying expenses on behalf of the Grant Recipient
• Partisan, legislative, or political activity
• Initiatives of individual churches, synagogues or other religious institutions will not be funded unless a separate, tax-exempt entity that is not under the umbrella of the church, synagogue or other religious institution exists for receiving Impact100 SRQ funds.
• Faith-based initiatives or programs that require belief in or participation in a particular religion, denomination, or faith. All program benefits must be available to anyone, regardless of their religious beliefs, and no one may be required to take part in any religious activity, ceremony, or service to receive those benefits.
• Grant recipients of an Impact100 SRQ grant awarded in the last two grant cycles

• Initiative Budget using the budget form provided in the application. Initiative Budget must specify that the amount to be funded by Impact100 SRQ equals the grant amount.
• Complete Financial Statements for the past two fiscal years, including Statement of Activities (Profit & Loss) and Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet), audited, if available
• Interim Financial Statements, including Statement of Activities (Profit & Loss) and Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet) from last completed fiscal year to March 31, 2026 or later
• IRS Form 990s (if required) for the past two fiscal years
• If initiative budget exceeds Impact100 SRQ grant amount, Proof of Committed Funds
• If applicable, current Quotes received from third-party vendors
• If applicable, a Property Lease or other valid written agreement that demonstrates the permission of the property owner to fully implement the initiative

For more detailed information, please review Descriptions and Relevance of Required Financial Documents.  

2026 Grant Process Key Dates for Nonprofits

Eligible to Apply Form available:  March 27

The Big Reveal – Signature Event:  April 22

Grant Application Opens:  April 23

Eligible to Apply Form Closes:  May 1

Grant Application Closes:  June 30 at 12 Noon

Meet the Finalists Press Event:  November 17

Annual Celebration & Award Ceremony:  January 2027

2026 Nonprofit Workshop Opportunities 

Considering applying for a 2026 Impact100 SRQ Grant?

We invite you to attend the introductory Impact100 SRQ Grant Application Information Session – Intent To Impact - to enhance your understanding of the application process and how grant application submissions are evaluated.

While attendance is not mandatory for grant consideration, this session will offer invaluable insights into the types of impactful initiatives funded by Impact100 SRQ.

For details and to Register for a Session, click here to view our Calendar of Events.

Coming Soon:  Watch for details on additional information sessions in May and June on the application itself, the steps in the process and how our members evaluate submissions.  

For more information please contact grants@impact100srq.org.