Our beloved late member, Mary Beth Goddard,
shown with an FGC Scholarship recipient.

The Founders Garden Club of Sarasota offers a scholarship in memory of our beloved member, Mary Beth Goddard, who created the Scholarship Fund in 2017. Since that time, the club has provided $20,000 in scholarships. A $2,500 scholarship is available to any eligible Junior, Senior, or Graduate Student enrolled at a Florida-accredited college or university.

Eligible students pursuing a natural or marine sciences degree are encouraged to apply.  Fields of study may include but are not limited to: Botany, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Marine Biology, Coastal Wetlands Preservation, Ecology, Pollinator Research, and Photography.

By awarding this $2,500 scholarship, we hope to enhance the college experience for a well-qualified, hard-working student and to inspire him or her to pursue their dreams in their specialized field of study.

Click on the following to download the 2024 eligibility criteria and the application form.


The Garden Club of America (GCA) also offers 29 scholarships and fellowship opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students in 12 areas related to conservation, ecology, horticulture, and pollinator research. For more information on GCA scholarships click here.


Left: Kitty Cranor, Scholarship Chair with Sheyanne Mastro, one of two 2021 Mary Beth Goddard Scholarship recipients. In 2022, Sheyanne graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University with a degree in Marine Science.