Gulf Breeze Will Do, a women’s philanthropic group, is accepting grant applications through September 28, 2020.
Gulf Breeze Will Do (GBWD) was born out of a group of Gulf Breeze women who formed an organization that could serve as a funding tool to help other nonprofit organizations and individuals who are trying to make a difference in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities.
Grant funding at GBWD is provided by collective annual membership dues, of which 100 percent is distributed back to the community. Every member has a vote on which organizations receive grant funding. Gulf Breeze Will Do has awarded more than $300,000.00 to initiatives in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities since its inception in 2014.
Prospective grant applicants must have a project or initiative that serves the communities in the 32561 and/or 32563 zip code areas. Organizations and groups without tax-exempt status will be considered. Grant amounts range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 in the following categories: 1) Art, Recreation and Sports; 2) Education; 3) Hardship Support Services; 4) Public Safety; and 5) Environment. The grant application and guidelines are available at gulfbreezewilldo.org. Grant awards will be announced on November 15, 2020.
2019 grant recipients included:
Art, Recreation & Sports
• The Arc Gateway, Inc. – $4,494 to purchase iPads for their music program.
• Gulf Breeze High School Track Team – $10,000 to purchase track and field pole vaulting equipment.
Education
• Gulf Breeze High School Air Force Junior ROTC – $7,713.50 to purchase ceremonial drill equipment.
- Gulf Breeze Elementary School – $9,980 to purchase music instruments and equipment for the fifth grade band.
- Gulf Breeze High School Mathematics Department – $9,938.79 to purchase “smart boards” for math classrooms.
Hardship Support Services
• South Santa Rosa Ministries (Interfaith Ministries) – $7,319 to purchase computers and software.
- Take Stock In Children, Santa Rosa Education Foundation – $2,000 to help fund college scholarships for low income students.
Public Safety
• Midway Fire District – $7,000.00 to purchase ballistic protection vests and helmets.
Environment
• Ocean Hour – $2,999 to purchase beach equipment for weekly waterway clean-ups.
The 2020 Membership Drive is currently underway. Annual dues are $250 per person and membership is open to women 18 years of age or older. To join, visit www.gulfbreezewilldo.org.
ABOUT GULF BREEZE WILL DO
Gulf Breeze Will Do was formed to engage women in philanthropy by collectively providing grants to support nonprofits and initiatives serving the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach Communities in zip codes 32561 and 32563. One hundred percent of the member’s dues are awarded by grant to support those with a heart to help others. The Board of Directors is a group of volunteers whose purpose is to collect and distribute funds through grants voted on by its members.
