Traditional Grants

The William G. and Marie Selby Foundation awards “traditional grants” twice each year.

Organizations with budgets greater than $300,000 that primarily serve Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties have the opportunity to apply. (Please see “Small and Mighty” grants if your budget is $300,000 or less.)

The Selby Foundation invests in capital support that will help nonprofits achieve more for those they serve.

The Fall 2024 GRANT CYCLE opens july 1, 2024.

A requirement of the Selby Foundation’s grant process is to contact the Grants Manager to discuss your planned request before you apply. Contact SBowie@SelbyFdn.org or 941-957-0442 to get started. Find more information and requirements below.

Process

Frequently asked questions and answers

Who can apply for a grant?

Applicants are restricted to 501(c) 3 non-profit entities (or equivalent) that are located within Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte or DeSoto counties. On rare occasions, exceptions are made for groups outside of these counties who can demonstrate that a majority of their clients (>50%) come from within our 4-county service area.

Ineligible applicants include:
– Individuals
– Chambers of Commerce
– Public or Private K-12 Schools (including charter schools and booster organizations)
– Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and/or any other religious institution
– Fire or police departments (including volunteer organizations)

What can be requested?

Grants are restricted to capital expenditures that support an organization’s success in making gains in our community. These items include:
-Building or renovation related expenses
-Technology
-Vehicles
-Software (new or significantly updated)
-Equipment
-Websites

Though we recognize the importance of these investments, the Selby Foundation does not fund:
– Operating/program expenses
– Projects that have already been completed
– Expenses already incurred
– Endowments
– Deficit financing/debt reduction
– Conferences, seminars or workshops
– Travel
– Surveys, advertising, or marketing materials
– Research

When can we apply?

All organizations that are applying for a grant are required to contact the Foundation for a preliminary discussion before applying. Organizations that have previously received Selby funding may not apply again until one year after the approval of their previous final report. All previous grant requirements must be fulfilled to the Foundation’s satisfaction before the organization will be eligible to apply again. If you are unsure of the final report approval date, please contact the Foundation’s office.

There are two grant cycles per year (spring and fall). The application opens for the spring cycle on December 1 and closes on January 15; the fall cycle opens on July 1 and closes on August 15. The Foundation has a firm deadline of 3:59 p.m. EST on the closing day (if the closing day falls on a weekend, it is advanced to the next business day). Applicants are encouraged to submit their application in advance of the deadline to give Foundation staff the opportunity to review the content and identify any missing information.

What is the dollar amount we can request?

The minimum amount that can be requested is $10,000. If your organization does not have an audit, the maximum amount requested cannot exceed $40,000.

The average grant awarded is $50,000.

What happens after we apply?

After submission of the application, the Selby Foundation’s President and CEO will meet with your organization’s chief executive and a board member to discuss the project. After this meeting, the application is then reviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors in an attempt to determine the value of the project, the soundness of the requesting organization, and the assurance of future maintenance and funding of the project.

Once a decision has been made, applicants will be notified of the approval or denial of their request. Notifications for the spring cycle are in mid-April and mid-November for the fall cycle.

If a grant is awarded, the organization is required to sign a Grant Acceptance Contract agreeing to the terms and conditions of the grant. Within one year after award, a Final Report of Grant Expenditure must be submitted and approved. Another request cannot be submitted until one year after approval of the Final Report.