Gulf Breeze Will Do (GBWD), a women’s philanthropic group, received more than $130,000 requests in grant applications for 2022. Grant review committees are set to meet in October to score the applications and move the highest ranking proposals forward to be voted on by the general membership in November 2022.
The organization funds grants that range from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $10,000 in the following categories: 1) Art, Recreation and Sports; 2) Education; 3) Hardship Support Services; 4) Public Safety; and 5) Environment.
Grant funding at GBWD is provided by collective annual membership dues, of which 100 percent is distributed back to the community. Every member has a vote on which organizations receive grant funding.
A final push for membership is underway with a deadline of October 15 to join.
“Gulf Breeze Will Do really needs the women of Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach to rally behind the organization and become members so that we can fund more of these grants,” said board member Leslie Perino. “Membership has declined in the last few years, but the needs are greater than ever.”
Annual dues are $250 per person for women age 29+ and $150 for women 18- 28 years of age. Women may live in any zip code, but grants are awarded only to groups in the 32561 (including Pensacola Beach) and 32563 zip codes. Applications may be submitted online at gulfbreezewilldo.org.
Gulf Breeze Will Do (GBWD) was born out of a group of Gulf Breeze women who formed an organization that could serve as a funding tool to help other nonprofit organizations and individuals who are trying to make a difference in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities.
Founder and president Susan Nitterauer states, “together we can do so much more.” Gulf Breeze Will Do has awarded more than $405,000 to initiatives in the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach communities since its inception in 2014.