If you have a nonprofit that helps Gulfport and can supply volunteers at gecko-related events (Gecko Fest, Gecko Ball and Gecko Crawl), the Gulfport Merchants Association (GMA) has some money it would like to give you.
Every year, the downtown Gulfport business organization offers community support grants to local non-profit organizations whose service area includes Gulfport. Previous recipients have included Best of the Bay winner Gulfport Neighbors, CASA and the Sonia Plotnick Health Fund.
The GMA will award two grants to certified tax-exempt non-profit organizations, government entities requesting funds for public purposes, or schools and colleges. In determining who will get the money, the GMA looks at why the organization wants funding but also which organizations best help with GMA events throughout the year.
"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," Daniel Hodge wrote in a press release about the grants.
Specific events include the Gecko festivities (the crawl, ball and festival).
The deadline is March 15. The GMA will announce amounts awarded after the gecko events end in the fall. In years past, the awards have been in the several-thousand-dollar range.
Get the application here.
For more information, email Daniel Hodge or call 727-366-4086.
