By Tom Reese. Photo by Harry Sayer.
The following article appeared in Sarasota Scene Magazine in April 2026.
How Gulf Coast Community Foundation Helps Donors Turn Generosity into Lasting Community Impact
Since 1995, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has helped transform the region through bold, forward-thinking philanthropy in partnership with its donors. While much has evolved over the past three decades, the organization’s guiding principle remains unchanged: a community caring for its own.
Working alongside more than 850 generous philanthropists, Gulf Coast has directed more than $625 million in impact supporting health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and environmental initiatives across the region.
Central to this work is the foundation’s collaborative approach. The team at Gulf Coast partners closely with nonprofits, donors, and professional advisors to maximize the impact of every charitable gift while ensuring donors have a clear understanding of how their contributions are used—and the lasting difference they can make.
Just as importantly, Gulf Coast works hand-in-hand with the professionals who guide donors’ financial decisions.
“We love working with many different kinds of professional advisors,” explains Joe Carter, Vice President of Philanthropy at Gulf Coast. “Estate planning attorneys help clients understand how they can leave a charitable legacy. Financial advisors understand the full picture of a client’s net worth, and we help them explore philanthropic strategies and tools. We also collaborate closely with CPAs and trust officers, so we’re able to support every aspect of the advising world.”
By simplifying charitable planning, Gulf Coast makes philanthropy both strategic and deeply personal—an approach that many advisors value.
“Our goal is to complement, not replace, the advisor’s role,” says Elizabeth Welch, Director of Professional Advisor Relationships. “We live and breathe philanthropy every day. When advisors are discussing financial strategies with their clients, we can serve as an additional resource focused specifically on charitable giving. That often strengthens the relationship advisors already have with their clients.”
One of the most powerful ways donors can make a lasting impact is through legacy funds, which allow philanthropic support to continue for generations. Gulf Coast’s team of philanthropic advisors works with donors and their professional advisors to establish fund agreements today while designating the fund as a beneficiary of assets such as investment accounts, insurance policies, or wills.
Legacy donors can also incorporate a wide range of assets into their estate plans—including real estate, artwork, or even cryptocurrency—creating a philanthropic strategy that reflects their personal values and long-term vision.
“It’s not always comfortable to think about a will or estate plan,” Welch notes. “We’re human beings, and naturally we don’t like to think about the time when we pass away. But it will happen to each of us.
Why not make the process meaningful and think about the impact you can have—lifting the people and causes you care about?”
For donors who wish to see the impact of their generosity during their lifetime, Gulf Coast offers several giving strategies that can also provide income. Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Trusts allow donors to support meaningful causes while potentially receiving income and tax benefits.
Carter often emphasizes the long-term impact that thoughtful charitable planning can create.
“When someone leaves a bequest directly to a charity, those dollars can sometimes be spent very quickly,” he explains. “But when a legacy fund is established at Gulf Coast, those resources can remain in place for generations. The fund continues to grow, and the earnings support charitable causes year after year. A $100,000 gift today can ultimately generate millions of dollars in impact over the next 50 to 100 years.”
Another unique aspect of Gulf Coast’s model is its flexibility in working with financial advisors. In many cases, advisors can continue managing a client’s assets even after they are designated for charitable purposes under the Gulf Coast umbrella. This allows donors to maintain trusted relationships while benefiting from the foundation’s philanthropic expertise.
The result is a true long-term partnership: Gulf Coast manages the charitable administration while advisors continue overseeing the investment strategy.
“As a community foundation, our role is to help make the region a better place,” Carter says. “The more advisors who talk with their clients about philanthropy, the more opportunities there are for generosity to grow. And ultimately, that makes our entire community stronger.”
Want to learn more about making our community stronger?
The Philanthropy Team at Gulf Coast is here to support your charitable giving strategies. Connect with them to continue learning how you can transform our region.
