EducateSRQ Classroom Grants

EducateSRQ Classroom Grants is sponsored by The Education Foundation of Sarasota County. This program provides classroom and school-wide grants to Sarasota County Schools teachers across K-12 grade levels to support individual classrooms through hands-on projects and supplies covering all subjects.

How to get funding from the Education Foundation of Sarasota County | Inside Philanthropy OVERVIEW : The Education Foundation of Sarasota County is a public charity that supports students, educators and public schools throughout Sarasota County, Florida. It is not a conventional private foundation with a broad portfolio of grants to independent nonprofits.

Instead, it combines targeted teacher grants and scholarships with student coaching, college and career preparation, educator programs and community partnerships. For local organizations, the best route is partnership rather than a cold ask.

Groups working in college access, mentoring, FAFSA support, workforce development, technical education, student wellbeing or educator support may gain traction by joining PLANit Sarasota, collaborating with a district school or offering a resource that fills an existing student need. Geographic and programmatic alignment are essential.

National organizations, groups without Sarasota County relationships and nonprofits seeking unrestricted support for unrelated work are unlikely to be strong prospects. Approach this funder as an education-network convener and operating partner first—and as a possible source of direct nonprofit funding only when staff signal a clear opportunity.

PROFILE: Established in 1988, the Education Foundation of Sarasota County (EFSC) is a local foundation based in Sarasota, Florida. A community member and public education advocate named Shirley Ritchey founded EFSC to support schools in the area. The foundation aims to “enhance the potential of students, promote excellence in teaching, and inspire innovation in education, guided by strategic philanthropy.

” It funds local education efforts related to college, career, and life readiness, art and innovation, and excellence in teaching. The foundation’s main competitive grant opportunities support Sarasota County public-school educators rather than independent nonprofit organizations.

Its current Teacher Grants program consists of two funding mechanisms: Teacher Grants support classroom supplies, equipment, activities, field trips and other educational needs. Individual teachers may request up to $1,000. Collaborative projects involving multiple teachers, grade levels, subject areas or entire schools may receive between $1,001 and $10,000.

The foundation says its competitive grants emphasize creative classroom projects and often support educators working in Title I schools. Applications are accepted during announced annual cycles. As of July 2026, the next cycle was scheduled to open September 1, 2026.

Older foundation materials referred to these awards under the EducateSRQ name. Current materials use Teacher Classroom Grant , making that the more accurate name for prospective applicants. The foundation also supports classroom projects through DonorsChoose .

Teachers post projects on the DonorsChoose platform, and the foundation periodically provides matching funds for eligible Sarasota County requests. Projects may support books, technology, laboratory equipment, arts and music supplies, classroom basics, sports equipment, flexible seating and student necessities such as food, clothing and hygiene products.

The foundation’s next announced matching campaign was scheduled for January 15, 2027, with $50,000 available. Together, the Teacher Classroom Grant and DonorsChoose programs may distribute as much as $200,000 annually. These are open but highly targeted opportunities: eligible teachers may apply or post projects, while nonprofit organizations are not the intended applicants.

Educator Leadership and Recognition Beyond classroom grants, the foundation supports educators through professional learning, leadership development and recognition programs. Its recent activities include the Teacher of the Year Awards, educator workshops, Education Roundtable Talks and the Educator Impact Fellows program. These initiatives help teachers share ideas, build leadership skills and strengthen instructional practice.

The foundation does not currently advertise a separate nonprofit grant program connected to these activities. Access and selection procedures vary by initiative and may involve school nominations, invitations or program-specific applications. Scholarships and Student Awards The foundation administers scholarships and cash awards for Sarasota County students.

Opportunities, eligibility requirements and deadlines change annually and are posted in its searchable scholarship database . Recent foundation-sponsored offerings have included: The Jump Start Scholarship , which provides Florida Prepaid college credit hours to eligible Sarasota County public-school graduates attending a Florida college or technical school. The Arthur D.

Vandroff Scholarship , a renewable award for an eligible Sarasota High School senior with financial need. The Career and Technical School Scholarship , which assists students pursuing workforce credentials at participating technical colleges. The foundation also administers or promotes scholarships supported by outside donors and community partners, including the Suncoast Credit Union Scholars program.

Not every scholarship appearing in its database is funded by the foundation itself. Some are merely listed as a service to students. Scholarship applications are generally open to students who meet the stated academic, geographic, financial or career-related criteria.

According to the foundation’s latest Form 990, applications may be reviewed by staff and volunteer committees, and awards may be paid directly to students or their educational institutions. The foundation also operates the STRIVE Awards , which recognize students who have overcome substantial personal or academic challenges. Teachers, counselors and principals nominate participants from eight district high schools.

Five seniors and five juniors are selected from each school; seniors receive $1,000 awards, while juniors receive $100. STRIVE is a nomination-based student award program, not a grant opportunity for outside organizations. Grants for College Access and Career Readiness The foundation operates several programs that help students prepare for education and employment after high school.

These programs represent direct charitable services rather than external grantmaking. Future-Ready Scholars provides coaching, mentoring, workshops, college visits, scholarship assistance and employment support to Sarasota County high school students.

The free program gives preference to juniors and seniors and prioritizes students who may face barriers to postsecondary success, including first-generation students, minority students and students experiencing food insecurity. Students may apply directly, and educators, family members or community partners may submit referrals.

The foundation’s Student Success Coaches help students complete the FAFSA, write essays, apply to colleges and jobs, understand admissions requirements and develop postsecondary plans. Virtual appointments are available. The latest Form 990 also describes school-based resiliency coaching as part of the foundation’s broader student-support model.

PLANit Sarasota and Community Partnerships The foundation serves as the backbone organization for PLANit Sarasota , a local college-access network that brings together schools, youth-serving nonprofits, employers, philanthropic organizations and postsecondary institutions.

PLANit works to improve college access, career preparation and postsecondary attainment through coordinated services, shared information, FAFSA events, career exploration and referrals. The foundation’s FY2025 Form 990 reported that the network included more than 50 community partners.

Organizations may express interest in joining PLANit, participate in quarterly meetings and connect with partners that share their education and workforce goals. Participation may help a nonprofit build relationships with the foundation and Sarasota County Schools, but it does not automatically create eligibility for a grant.

The foundation does not appear to operate a public donor collaborative, pooled fund, fiscal sponsorship program, donor-advised fund program or rapid-response grant mechanism. Its latest available Form 990, covering the fiscal year ending June 2025, reported approximately $3. 2 million in revenue, $3.

9 million in expenses and $11. 4 million in year-end assets. It distributed about $700,000 in grants, scholarships and other assistance during the year.

The filing describes the institutional awards broadly as support for educational opportunities for Sarasota County public schools, teachers and students. It does not provide a detailed list of independent nonprofit grantees. The preceding filing reported approximately $788,000 in grants and assistance, including about $530,000 in school-related awards and $258,000 in scholarships.

Application Process: The foundation does not advertise a general unsolicited proposal process for nonprofit organizations. However, it should not be described simply as accepting no unsolicited applications. Access varies by program: Sarasota County educators may apply during open Teacher Classroom Grant cycles.

Teachers may submit projects through DonorsChoose during matching campaigns. Eligible students may apply for scholarships. Students may apply or be referred to Future-Ready Scholars.

STRIVE participants are nominated by school personnel. Organizations may approach PLANit Sarasota about partnership or network participation. A nonprofit should not send a cold grant proposal unless foundation staff specifically request one.

The more realistic approach is to build a working relationship through PLANit Sarasota, Sarasota County Schools or one of the foundation’s student-support programs. This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications for certain opportunities, such as the EducateSRQ grants program. Direct general questions to the staff at 941-924-0965.

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