Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice

Infobox Non-profit| Non-profit_name = Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice
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founded_date = 1995|left
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location = Venice, FL
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endowment =
num_volunteers =
num_employees = 18
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homepage = www.gulfcoastcf.org
dissolved =
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Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice ("The Foundation") is a public charity that seeks to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. It is Florida’s largest community foundation, with assets of more than $250 million, and has awarded more than $69 million in grants in the areas of arts and culture, health and human services, education, civic affairs, and the environment.

History

The Foundation was established in 1995 with $85 million in assets from the sale of Venice Hospital to Bon Secours Health System, Inc. The same spirit of caring that guided the creation of a community hospital in Venice, Florida in 1951 was evident when local visionaries established a community foundation upon the sale of the hospital to a for-profit corporation. Since then, the Foundation has grown to over $250 million in assets as of July 2007, and it has awarded more than $69 million in grants [2007 Annual Report] .

In addition to awarding grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to qualified students for postsecondary education, the Foundation creates and funds initiatives designed to effect long-term, systemic change in the communities it serves. Recent initiatives of the Foundation include Building Better Boards, a multi-year program to promote good governance in the local nonprofit community by providing organizations with high-quality training and resources to improve their board governance. Recognizing the challenges that the Florida real estate market presents to aspiring homeowners, the Foundation is currently creating a neighborhood in North Venice, Florida, called The Bridges that will include homes priced within reach of working families.

In 2006, the Board of Directors revised the Foundation’s capital grant guidelines to require that all new-construction capital projects funded by a grant from the Foundation adhere to the latest green building standards of the [http://www.floridagreenbuilding.org/ Florida Green Building Coalition] .

Mission and Vision

Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves.

The Board of the Foundation envisions a region known for endowed philanthropy, a vital nonprofit community, and the ability to address emerging issues.

Leadership

The Foundation provides leadership on emerging issues facing the region it serves and creates and funds initiatives to effect positive long-term change in the community. A key strategy of the Foundation in building stronger community leadership is to identify and engage leading consultants and resources from across the country to work with and train local nonprofit organizations and individuals.

Current and recent Foundation initiatives include:

* [http://www.becauseitmatters.net/ Because It Matters]
*Building Better Boards
*Gulf Coast Leadership Institute
*Community Arts and Culture Assessment
*Strategic Grantmaking in Education

Partnership

The Foundation partners with local nonprofit organizations by funding grants for projects that advance the Foundation’s mission. Grant applications can be found on the Foundation’s Web site.

Grantmaking Focus Areas:
*Arts and Culture
*Health and Human Services
*Education
*Civic Affairs and the Environment

The Foundation also benefits from service of more than 150 community volunteers every year who volunteer their time and expertise to review grant and scholarship applications, help plan community initiatives, advise the Foundation on special projects, and provide administrative and office support. Community members interested in volunteering with the Foundation may complete and submit a volunteer profile form, which is available on the Foundation’s Web site.

Endowed Philanthropy

To ensure that philanthropic resources can keep pace with the ever-increasing needs of the community, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice promotes a culture of endowed philanthropy along the Gulf Coast. Donors who establish a charitable fund at the Foundation have the satisfaction of giving back to their community without the administrative burden and excise taxes of a private foundation. The Foundation provides donors all administrative services related to their philanthropy, including tax documentation, record keeping of all fund activity and investments, and grant distributions to charities. Donors may involve their families in creating their family legacy in the communities they define as theirs.

Types of Funds:
*Donor Advised Fund
*Designated Fund
*Field of Interest Fund
*Scholarship Fund
*Unrestricted Fund

External links

* [http://www.gulfcoastcf.org Gulf Coast Community Foundation]

References