The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) offers the Sarasota Bay Partners Grants for the 2025 cycle to support projects within the Sarasota Bay watershed. These competitive grants aim to promote habitat and water quality restoration, environmental education, community involvement, and stewardship efforts that improve the overall quality of Sarasota Bay and its tributaries. The program is open to non-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, schools, and government entities located within the Sarasota Bay watershed.

The grant application process for 2025 begins with the release of the application on January 1, 2025, and the submission deadline is March 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The grants are designed to fund projects that align with the SBEP's goals of enhancing the quality of the environment in Sarasota Bay. Successful applicants will receive funding to support their projects after going through a rigorous review process.

The review process for grant applications will take place over two months. In April 2025, applications will be reviewed and ranked by the Sarasota Bay Partners Grant Committee and the SBEP Citizens Advisory Committee. The committees will submit their recommendations to the SBEP Management Board and Policy Board for final approval. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by May 31, 2025.

For awarded projects, activities can begin after a signed agreement is received in June 2025. The recipients can start requesting reimbursements for project expenses on October 1, 2025. All projects must be completed by August 31, 2026, and recipients are required to submit a final report detailing the project’s outcomes.

For questions or assistance with the application process, applicants can contact Megan Barry, SBEP Public Outreach Manager, at megan@sarasotabay.org. The application packet, as well as the grant application form, is available for download, and submissions must be sent via email.