2025 Grant Application Process

Step 1: Complete and submit your Grant Application Eligibility Form online before the deadline on May 30, 2025. 

Step 2: Once your eligibility to receive a Grant Application is confirmed, after April 17, 2025, you will receive the link to the Application.  Using the Instruction Guide, complete and submit your Application by June 30, 2025 at 12 Noon, ET.  

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 in December 2025 and to submit a Wish List.

Step 5: Finalists will present their Initiatives to the membership at our Annual Celebration in January 2026.  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:
  • Statement of Financial Position (Balance Sheet)
  • Statement of Activities (Profit & Loss)
  • IRS Form 990s (if required)
  • Since last fiscal year-end, interim Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities
• 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:

• Be clearly defined, viable, sustainable, and designed to achieve high impact results
• Primarily serve and benefit the communities and residents of Sarasota and/or Manatee Counties
• Initiate the Initiative actions and activities that Impact100 SRQ will fund within the 24-month grant period that begins when the Grant Agreement is signed by all parties.  Requests for funding must be submitted within 30 days of the end of the grant period. 
• Have both the total initiative budget equal to or greater than the full Impact100 SRQ grant amount, and the total initiative budget allocated to Impact100 SRQ equal to the grant amount. Grant initiatives submitted with budgets over the Impact100 SRQ grant amount must show the ability to fund the entire initiative.  To demonstrate the ability, we require documentation to support the funds that are committed.
• If the initiative is an expansion of an existing program, the expansion must be clearly defined by:
  • a significant increase in the population served,
  • a broadening of the offering to a different population category or
  • a broadening of the type of service offering
• The initiative must not be a continuation of an existing program or service offering
• Demonstrate the ability to implement, maintain and sustain the initiative beyond the 24-month grant period
• Have an initiative budget that itemizes the expenses that support the initiative.  Only direct operating expenses will be funded.  For a program expansion, only the direct operating expenses that support the expansion will be funded.  Impact100 SRQ will not fund general operating expenses that support the organization's current operations and programs, overhead expenses or expenses that are based on a cost allocation.  Detailed allocation of funds is required.
• 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 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 current quotes received from third-party vendors
• 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

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 which require participation in activities of a particular faith, denomination or religion in order to benefit from the initiative or program will not be funded:
  • Benefits of the initiative or program must be available to any person, regardless of religious beliefs or practices
  • Benefits of the initiative or program must not be dependent on any person being required to participate in any religious activity, ceremony or service. 
• 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, 2025 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.  

2025 Grant Process Key Dates for Nonprofits

Application Eligibility Form available: 4/17

The Big Reveal – Signature Event: 4/16

Grant Application Opens: 4/17

Application Eligibility Form Closes: 5/30

Grant Application Closes at 12:00 pm (Noon) EST: 6/30

Meet the Finalists – Signature Event:  TBD

Annual Celebration & Award Ceremony – Signature Event:  TBD

2025 Nonprofit Training Opportunities

April 11th, 12:15-1:30pm:  Nonprofit Information Session @ Selby Library

April 14th, 12:15-1:30pm:  Nonprofit Information Session via Zoom

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

For more information please contact grants@impact100srq.org.