The City of Gulf Shores has awarded three local organizations funding through its Spring 2026 Nonprofit Grant Program, directing support toward environmental conservation, arts access and youth well-being.

The Little Lagoon Preservation Society, South Baldwin Community Theatre and the Junior Woman’s Club of Gulf Shores were each selected to receive $2,000 based on measurable community impact, a news release said. City officials said the grants are designed to strengthen programs that enhance quality of life across the coastal community.

The Little Lagoon Preservation Society will use its award to expand its Oyster Gardening Program, a hands-on coastal restoration initiative that engages more than 100 volunteers, including local students. Participants grow oysters using cages and spat, improving water quality and marine habitat in Little Lagoon.

Grant funding will help replace cages, purchase oyster spat and cover other program supplies. In 2025, volunteers produced more than 92,000 oysters used to build a “Sanctuary Reef,” advancing conservation efforts while providing outdoor learning opportunities.

South Baldwin Community Theatre will apply its grant toward early site preparation for a planned facility expansion. The project, titled “Project Room to Grow,” includes brush clearing required before surveying and architectural work can begin.

The theatre, the oldest continuously operating in Baldwin County, has staged performances for 54 years and served more than 120,000 audience members since 1972. Leaders say the expansion will support larger productions, increase participation and accommodate a growing slate of youth programming through its Young Artists Series.

The Junior Woman’s Club of Gulf Shores, also known as the Pleasure Island Junior Woman’s Club, will use its funding for the “Clothe the Children” program, which provides essential clothing to students in Gulf Shores City Schools facing clothing insecurity.

Teachers and counselors identify students in need, and volunteers shop discreetly for each child, spending at least $250 per student on items including shoes, socks, underwear, shirts, pants, dresses and outerwear. Clothing is delivered privately to protect students’ dignity. Organizers say the program helps improve confidence, comfort and school readiness. The club also provides scholarships to Gulf Shores High School seniors.

“Our community thrives because of dedicated organizations like these that put service first,” Mayor Robert Craft said in the release. “Their work strengthens quality of life for everyone who calls Gulf Shores home.”

The city’s nonprofit grant program is part of a broader effort to partner with local organizations addressing key community needs through targeted funding and volunteer engagement.

More information about the program is available at www.gulfshoresal.gov/1908/Nonprofit-Grants-Program.