Grants and Scholarships

2025 Grants Program

Recipients for the Fall 2025 Grant application cycle will be announced in December
2025. The Fall 2025 cycle marked the launch of a pilot program for donor-designated
contributions, designed to strengthen our community through two distinct opportunities:
unrestricted grants supporting nonprofits serving Veterans, Seniors, and Youth through
the Mary V. Renois Family Fund, 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, respectively. Grantees will be determined based on
organizational strength in finances, leadership, and programs.

The Fall 2025 grants program builds on CCF’s new grantmaking approach launched in
Spring 2025 with a pilot grant program for $80,000 in unrestricted operating support.
The program recognized differences in nonprofits based on their size and structures,
including whether they are volunteer-led or professionally staffed.

The unrestricted grants were funded by community members who have believed in
supporting Charlotte County’s nonprofit sector by giving to CCF’s Community Impact
Fund—aka the “Charlotte Forever” Fund. This general fund helps the vibrancy of our
community to continue by supporting nonprofits working across all of Charlotte County
and serving all the focus areas that contribute to the quality of life here—with grants
determined by community volunteers.

Chaired by Board Secretary JoAnn Tompkins, a new grants committee of 20
community members (look for an update in December on the 24 members who served
in Fall 2025) from across Charlotte County with diverse backgrounds and experiences
reviewed 43 applications in Spring 2025. The CCF Board of Directors agreed with the
committee’s recommendations and approved grants to the following organizations selected for the strength of their leadership, finances and programs to receive flexible
operating funding further their missions.

CCF SPRING 2025 GRANTS PROGRAM: PILOT FOR UNRESTRICTED/ OPERATING
SUPPORT

Wintergarden Food Pantry at Wintergarden Presbyterian Church
Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic
Valerie’s House
United Way of Charlotte County
Punta Gorda Historical Society
Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society
Pregnancy Solutions
Peace River Wildlife Center
Peace River Community Housing Partners (PORCH)
Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens
Military Heritage Museum
Meals on Wheels of Charlotte County
Girls on the Run of SWFL
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
Gilstad Literacy Foundation
Florida Philharmonic
Florida International Air Show
EPIC Community Resource Center
Environmental Conservancy of North Port and Surrounding Areas
Englewood Community Coalition
Drug Free Charlotte County
Do the Right Thing of Charlotte County
Charlotte HIV/AIDS People Support, Inc. (CHAPS)
Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center
Charlotte County Healthy Start Coalition
Charlotte Chorale
Center for Abuse and Rape Emergencies, Inc. (C.A.R.E.)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast

Scholarships

The 2026-27 Scholarship Cycle will be open for applicants from 11/17–12/31, 2025.
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.