Community Foundation of Sarasota Traditional Scholarship

The Community Foundation of Sarasota Traditional Scholarship program provides financial support ranging from $1,000 to $50,000 to students pursuing higher education. Applicants must be under age 24 as of December 31, 2026, and either be residents of Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, or Charlotte counties in Florida, or be graduating seniors or graduates of high schools in these counties. Students must be pursuing or planning to pursue programs at accredited universities, community colleges, technical schools, or certification programs. Students complete one comprehensive application to be considered for over 80 different scholarship fund opportunities, each with its own criteria. The application process includes submitting transcripts, resumes, FAFSA documentation, and an essay. Applications are reviewed by community committee members, and scholarship recipients are announced in May. This scholarship program serves graduating high school seniors and current college students who will not be receiving other renewable scholarships from the foundation for the upcoming school year. The program is administered by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County and facilitated through the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. The application opens on December 15, 2025, with a deadline of February 1, 2026. Some scholarships within the program may be renewable depending on the specific fund criteria.