Anthony Dartez Endowment Fund

The Anthony Dartez Endowment Fund is administered through the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in South Mississippi by connecting donors with charitable causes. The foundation operates as a community-based philanthropic entity that provides funding opportunities to nonprofit organizations, educators, and institutions that serve regional needs. It is recognized as compliant with Community Foundations National Standards, indicating adherence to established best practices in governance, financial stewardship, and grantmaking. The Anthony Dartez Endowment Fund specifically reflects a donor-directed initiative established in April 1995 in memory of Mr. Anthony Dartez, with a mission centered on supporting vulnerable populations. The primary purpose of the Anthony Dartez Endowment Fund is to provide financial support for services that address the training and educational needs of physically and mentally challenged individuals. The fund emphasizes enhancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities by supporting programs that contribute to skill development, education, and overall quality of life improvements. While the description allows for a range of service types, the central focus remains on initiatives that directly benefit this population through structured learning, support services, or adaptive programming. Funding through this opportunity is relatively small in scale, with awards capped at two thousand dollars or less per grant. The funding scope suggests support for targeted projects, program enhancements, or supplemental resources rather than large-scale or multi-year initiatives. There is no explicit indication of matching requirements or cost-sharing obligations, implying that applicants may request full funding for eligible project costs within the stated limit. The fund does not outline specific restrictions on spending categories beyond alignment with its mission, but applicants are expected to propose uses that clearly support training or educational outcomes for the intended beneficiaries. Eligibility for the fund is defined with a regional and organizational focus. Applicants must be nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations that enhance the quality of life for citizens of South Mississippi. Organizations without formal tax-exempt status may still apply if they maintain a fiscal sponsorship relationship with a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. Additionally, educators and both public and private schools located along the Mississippi Gulf Coast are eligible to apply. Geographic eligibility is limited to organizations operating within Harrison, Jackson, Hancock, Pearl River, Stone, and George Counties, reinforcing the fund’s localized philanthropic intent. The application process is structured around a defined annual window, with submissions accepted between August 1 and October 31. While specific application components are not detailed, applicants are directed to apply through an online portal indicated as “APPLY HERE,” suggesting a standardized submission system. The absence of stated pre-application requirements such as letters of intent or concept papers indicates a single-stage application process. There is also no explicit information regarding evaluation criteria, award notification timelines, or performance periods, though applicants can reasonably expect decisions to follow the close of the application window. Contact information for the administering foundation is clearly provided, including a phone number, email address, and physical mailing address at the Knight Nonprofit Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. This accessibility supports applicant engagement and inquiry during the application period. While recurrence is not explicitly stated, the defined annual application window implies a recurring funding cycle aligned with the same dates each year. Overall, the Anthony Dartez Endowment Fund represents a targeted, community-focused grant opportunity designed to support educational and training initiatives for individuals with physical and mental challenges in South Mississippi.