The Kayla Mitchell Foundation gives primarily to cultural institutions and community nonprofits in Sarasota and the broader Florida Gulf Coast, favoring arts organizations, botanical and marine science institutions, and local community service groups. Grants are typically general operating support and include repeat funding to place-based institutions, suggesting an interest in sustaining civic and cultural infrastructure rather than project-specific philanthropy. The foundation also makes occasional gifts to identity-based or national organizations (e.g., Jewish advocacy) and child-focused services.
A repeated pattern stands out in Kayla Mitchell Foundation’s recent giving: core support for Sarasota cultural institutions appears alongside funding for Jewish organizations, children’s services, and marine science. The foundation’s largest recent grant was $35,000 to Seven Loavesgoh Productions in New York, showing that its local focus can extend beyond Florida when a recipient fits its interests. In Sarasota, Florida Studio Theater received $25,000 in 2025 and another $5,000 in both 2023 and 2024, while The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc received $10,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. That combination of one larger gift and smaller repeat awards points to a grantmaker that sustains institutions over time rather than relying only on one-off support. The foundation also backed Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Mote Marine Laboratory, and All Star Children’s Foundation, indicating a mix of arts, science, and direct-service priorities. Across the recent grant list, the common thread is general operating support for place-based organizations and a few aligned groups outside Sarasota.
Performing arts are a visible part of the portfolio. Florida Studio Theater received $25,000 in 2025, and Asolo Repertory Theatre received $2,500 in 2024. Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe was funded twice, with $10,000 in 2025 and $2,500 in 2023, showing repeat support for a Sarasota-based theater organization. Botanical and horticultural work is another consistent area: The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc received $10,000 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025. In marine science, Mote Marine Laboratory received $10,000 in 2025 and The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature received $2,500 in 2023. Community and identity-based giving also appears in grants to Sarasota City Foundation Inc, Chabad House of Downtown Sarasota, Temple Beth Sholom, and Ajc American Jewish Committee.
Typical grants cluster around small to mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $1,250, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $7,000. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across multiple years, including The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc, Florida Studio Theater, New College Foundation, Ringling Museum of Art Foundation, and Chabad House of Downtown Sarasota. Grants are generally listed as general support, suggesting flexible operating-style funding rather than tightly restricted project awards. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$233K
$911K
$33K
$88K
Most grants fall between $1K and $7K, with a median of $3K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$3K
75th Percentile
$7K
About 82% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Modest number of mid-sized grants concentrated in the Sarasota region; a mix of repeat support (e.g., multiple grants to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens) and one-off gifts. Predominantly general operating support to non-profits that sustain local cultural, scientific, and community services.
Notable grantees: The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Inc., Florida Studio Theater, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Mote Marine Laboratory, AJC American Jewish Committee
Giving is local, with 82% of grants going to recipients in Florida. Sarasota is the center of activity: Florida Studio Theater, The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, Mote Marine Laboratory, and Sarasota City Foundation Inc are all in Sarasota. New York is the main out-of-state recipient location in the recent list, including Seven Loavesgoh Productions, Ajc American Jewish Committee, and American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Other Florida recipients include Tampa and Bradenton.
Recent grants go to Sarasota cultural institutions, botanical and marine science organizations, local community nonprofits, children’s charities, and Jewish community or advocacy groups. Examples in the record include theaters, gardens, a marine laboratory, a community foundation, and faith-based organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Inc in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Florida Studio Theater in 2023, 2024, and 2025; New College Foundation in 2023 and 2024; and Ringling Museum of Art Foundation in 2024 and 2025.
The typical award is small to mid-sized: the 25th percentile is $1,250, the median is $2,500, and the 75th percentile is $7,000. Most of the recent grants listed fall within that range, though there are larger gifts such as $25,000 and $35,000.
Most grants go to Florida recipients, with 82% in the HQ state. Sarasota is the main city in the list, while New York is the top state by grant count outside the headquarters state and includes several named recipients in the recent grants.
The recent grants are overwhelmingly marked GENERAL. That pattern appears across arts, science, community, and Jewish organizations, indicating flexible operating support rather than a narrow project-only approach.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLORIDA STUDIO THEATER | SARASOTA, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| MOTE MARINE LABORATORY | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS INC | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NEW COLLEGE FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ARTS AND CULTURE ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY | SARASOTA, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ALL STAR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CHABAD HOUSE OF DOWNTOWN SARASOTA | SARASOTA, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM | SARASOTA, FL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $2,230 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EMED LOGIC | PENSACOLA, FL | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY | SARASOTA, FL | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| EMMANUEL COMMUNITIES | NAPLES, FL | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SEVEN LOAVESGOH PRODUCTIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $35,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS INC | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN | SARASOTA, FL | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| CHABAD HOUSE OF DOWNTOWN SARASOTA | SARASOTA, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| NEW COLLEGE FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FLORIDA STUDIO THEATER | SARASOTA, FL | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE | SARASOTA, FL | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $2,230 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| FORTY CARROTS | SARASOTA, FL | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LONESTAR FOUNDATION | DALLAS, TX | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| SAFE SPACE AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER | SARASOTA, FL | $100 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| AJC AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $18,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SARASOTA CITY FOUNDATION INC | SARASOTA, FL | $10,200 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ALL STAR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS INC | SARASOTA, FL | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN | SARASOTA, FL | $6,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| FLORIDA STUDIO THEATER | SARASOTA, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE | TAMPA, FL | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE | SARASOTA, FL | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE | BRADENTON, FL | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA | NEW YORK, NY | $1,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| NEURO CHALLENGE FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S | SARASOTA, FL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| THE BENJAMIN GILKEY FUND FOR INNOVATIVE PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH | ST PETERSBURG, FL | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| SAFE CHILDREN COALITION | SARASOTA, FL | $600 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| LOUIS AND GLORIA FLANZER PHILANTRHOPIC TRUST | SARASOTA, FL | $50 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SARASOTA, FL | $50 | 2023 | GIVING CHALLENGE |
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATER
$25,000GENERAL
MOTE MARINE LABORATORY
$10,000GENERAL
WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE
$10,000GENERAL
THE MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS INC
$10,000GENERAL
NEW COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
ARTS AND CULTURE ALLIANCE OF SARASOTA COUNTY
GENERAL
ALL STAR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$2,500GENERAL
CHABAD HOUSE OF DOWNTOWN SARASOTA
$2,500GENERAL
TEMPLE BETH SHOLOM
$2,500GENERAL
RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART FOUNDATION
$2,230GENERAL
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
$1,500GENERAL
EMED LOGIC
$1,000GENERAL
EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF SARASOTA COUNTY
$500GENERAL
EMMANUEL COMMUNITIES
$500GENERAL
SEVEN LOAVESGOH PRODUCTIONS
$35,000GENERAL
THE MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS INC
$10,000GENERAL
RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN
$7,500GENERAL
CHABAD HOUSE OF DOWNTOWN SARASOTA
$5,000GENERAL
NEW COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATER
$5,000GENERAL
ASOLO REPERTORY THEATRE
$2,500GENERAL
RINGLING MUSEUM OF ART FOUNDATION
$2,230GENERAL
FORTY CARROTS
$1,500GENERAL
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
$1,500GENERAL
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LONESTAR FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL
SAFE SPACE AND RAPE CRISIS CENTER
$100GENERAL
AJC AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE
$18,000GENERAL
SARASOTA CITY FOUNDATION INC
$10,200GENERAL
ALL STAR CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
THE MARIE SELBY BOTANICAL GARDENS INC
$10,000GENERAL
RINGLING COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN
$6,500GENERAL
FLORIDA STUDIO THEATER
$5,000GENERAL
H LEE MOFFITT CANCER CENTER & RESEARCH INSTITUTE
$5,000GENERAL
WESTCOAST BLACK THEATRE TROUPE
$2,500GENERAL
THE BISHOP MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND NATURE
$2,500GENERAL
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
$1,500GENERAL
NEURO CHALLENGE FOUNDATION FOR PARKINSON'S
$1,000GENERAL
THE BENJAMIN GILKEY FUND FOR INNOVATIVE PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH
$1,000GENERAL
SAFE CHILDREN COALITION
$600GENERAL
LOUIS AND GLORIA FLANZER PHILANTRHOPIC TRUST
$50GENERAL
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$50GIVING CHALLENGE