The Gulfport Merchants Association (GMA) has announced a call for applicants for its 2018/2019 community support grant program. Local non-profit organizations that target or include Gulfport in their activities are invited to apply. Applicants must be certified tax-exempt non-profit organizations, government entities requesting funds for public purposes, or schools and colleges at any level.For more details and to apply, see the application available at www.GulfportMA.com. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding and the Board of the GMA reserves the right to determine or adjust the amount awarded to any recipient. Applications must be received in writing and must be postmarked or delivered no later than March 31, 2018. Applications received after the deadline cannot be considered. Decisions on recipients are scheduled to be announced by April 27. A maximum of two organizations will be awarded grants for the 2018/2019 cycle.
Special consideration will be given to organizations that are able to help promote and provide volunteers for the GMA events that raise the funds making these grants possible. Events with funds earmarked each year for community giving include “Gecko Crawl,” “Gecko Ball” and the GeckoFest street festival. The events grow in size and popularity every year and each requires a large promotional effort and a large number of volunteers. Grant amounts will be determined and funds distributed to grantees after these GMA events have concluded for 2018.
Since sponsoring the community grants, the GMA has provided many thousands of dollars in funding to a large and growing roster of worthy non-profit organizations. The GMA also gives back to the community in other ways during the year, including sponsoring “Gulfport’s Get Rescued” each February, benefitting animal rescue groups. A monthly Clothing Swap benefitting CASA is held during the Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market; and the GMA’s “Holiday Hoopla” helps collect donations for Operation Santa in December. Public art installations have also been commissioned and installed with GMA funding.
For more information, contact GMA Board Member John Haugen, JHaugen@GulfportMA.com