Grants and Scholarships

2025 Grants Program

The Charlotte Community Foundation proudly announces grantees from its Fall 2025 Competitive Grants Cycle. The program offered two different grant opportunities from donor-designated funds focused on five areas of local nonprofit source delivery: unrestricted grants supporting nonprofits serving Veterans, Seniors, and Youth through the Mary V. Renois Family Fund endowment, and program grants addressing Housing Insecurity and Health Care through the Milly D. Hill Fund to Assist the Homeless and the Virginia B. Andes Health Fund endowment, respectively. Additionally, the vetted applications for youth attracted support from a CCF a donor-advised fund, the RMH Impact Fund.

A committee of 24 community members-including 10 new members this fall- reviewed applications as members of the grants committee, chaired by CCF Board Secretary JoAnn Tompkins. The CCF board of directors agreed with the committee’s recommendations and approved grants totaling $155,000 to the following organizations selected for the strength of their leadership, finances, and programs:

VETERANS
JFCS of the Suncoast
Military Heritage Museum

SENIORS

Harry Chapin Food Bank of SWFL
Neuro Challenge Foundation

YOUTH

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast
Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County
Charlotte Harbor Youth Sailing
CCPS—Charlotte High School FFA
Crossroads Hope Academy
Englewood Community Coalition
Gilstad Literacy Foundation
Girls on the Run of SWFL
Valerie’s House
HOUSING INSECURITY
Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity

On The Spot Aid

Peace River Community Housing Partners (PORCH)

HEALTH
Awaken Outreach Center
BackPack Kidz

Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition
Englewood Community Care Clinic
Wintergarden Presbyterian Church

Scholarships

The 2026-27 Scholarship Cycle is now closed. Recipients will be notified in April. Please see the Scholarships page for the on-line application and Frequently Asked Questions with important details.

CCF awarded 65 recipients scholarships totaling $260,000 in awards for the 2025-26 academic year for post-secondary education and training at all levels, from trade certificates to graduate programs.

Scholarships were split between traditional students (high school graduating seniors) and adults who have been out of school at least two years, with many of those working adults in the health care field.

A committee chaired by Board Member Deelynn Bennett composed of 20 seasoned educators and health care professionals reviewed a record number of applications.

Many of the scholarship funds memorialize local residents, with the most significant fund established as a lasting legacy by Betty Conley Brooks and Robert Charles Brooks providing 30 awards—divided among students pursuing a technical school/certificate program, a two-year college/state school degree, and a four-year college/university degree.

The CCF Scholarship Fund for Charlotte County: Supporting Future Local Leaders Like Leo Wotitzky is the Foundation’s general fund—accepting gifts at any level—to increase support for the educational pursuits of CCPS graduates who are committed to working hard, helping others and serving the community—the lasting legacy of leadership by CCF’s founding member and first chairman.

Click here to learn more about scholarships.