submitted by Amanda Nethero, The Live Well Foundation of South Lake
The Live Well Foundation of South Lake (LWFSL) will open its fall 2026 Critical Issue Targeted Grant cycle the week of July 13, focusing on mortality and life expectancy in South Lake County. This is the third of four grant cycles the Foundation is running in 2026, and it invites eligible 501(c)(3) organizations to apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, with multi-year grants exceeding $250,000 considered on a case-by-case basis.
This cycle targets projects that improve health care access, expand specialty health services, and address the leading causes of death identified by the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, respiratory illness, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
The Foundation is prioritizing proposals in four key areas: access to timely and quality care, chronic disease management and prevention, preventable death reduction, and health equity and disparity reduction. Applicants are encouraged to design projects that close life expectancy gaps linked to race, income, geography, disability or other social determinants of health.
“Each cycle this year has let us delve into a different piece of what it means to live well in South Lake,” said Susan McLean, Grants Chair for the Live Well Foundation of South Lake. “This fall, we’re focused on the issues that most directly affect how long and how well our neighbors live. We’re looking for partners who are ready to create lasting change.”
Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) or Section 509(a) organizations with more than three years of IRS Form 990 filings, serving residents of Clermont, Groveland, Mascotte, Montverde, Minneola, the Four Corners area, or unincorporated South Lake County. Organizations must demonstrate strong infrastructure, clear evaluation plans, and sustainability strategies that extend beyond the grant period.
Key Dates:
- RFP Release: Week of July 13, 2026
- Application Deadline: August 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
- Applicant Interviews: September 10, 2026 (by invitation)
- Award Notifications: Week of September 22, 2026
Interested organizations must register through the Foundation’s Grants Portal at grantinterface.com to complete an application. Incomplete or late applications cannot be accepted. Organizations with questions about the application process can contact the Foundation at Grant@LWFSL.org or Donna.Kirtland@lwfsl.org.
About Live Well Foundation of South Lake – Established in 2019, the Live Well Foundation of South Lake is a private 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to improving the health and wellness of South Lake County. The Foundation fulfills its mission through strategic grantmaking that supports sustainable, community-based initiatives focused on long-term impact.
Live Well Foundation of South Lake – invests in solutions that strengthen individual and community well-being, guided by a commitment to measurable outcomes and responsible stewardship. Its work is grounded in a simple return on investment: better health, for life.
