Mayor's Faith Based and Community Matching Grants (MFBCMG) are available to federally tax exempt 501c(3) charitable and faith-based organizations (henceforth nonprofit organizations) that have been in operation for at least one (1) year with a minimum of two (2) staff persons working directly on the project. Documentation of 501c(3) status is required at the time of application.

Eligible nonprofit organizations must be located in or provide services within the City of Orlando and must establish a partnership with a City of Orlando neighborhood organization to apply for the grant. Neighborhood, homeowner, condominium and resident organizations that are registered with the City of Orlando’s Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs are eligible to partner with the nonprofit organization for the purposes of this grant. Both mandatory and voluntary neighborhood organizations are eligible to partner with the nonprofit organization.

• provide a public benefit to the neighborhood

• offer youth programming in crime prevention and anti-violence that address the needs of the neighborhood

• be planned, managed and implemented by the nonprofit organization, with the neighborhood organization as the partner

• directly involve neighborhood residents in all phases

• have goals which can be accomplished in 9 months or less

• involve adult supervised activities during non-school hours

• take place within the boundaries of the neighborhood

• have no active projects in any Mayor’s Matching Grant program

• be located in or provide services within the City of Orlando limits

• be a tax exempt 501c(3) organization

• have a Tax Identification Number (TIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN)

• have been a tax-exempt 501c(3) organization for at least one (1) year before applying for grant funds

• not discriminate and have democratically elected officers

• have a minimum of two (2) staff persons managing and implementing the project

• form a partnership with a City of Orlando neighborhood organization to implement the grant project

• complete the grant application, including all attachments and supporting documentation

• assume primary responsibility for project planning, implementation, reporting, and grant close-out

• not use grant funds to supplant the organization’s operating budget

• ensure dollar for dollar match of the City’s award with a combination of cash, volunteer labor and/or in-kind goods or services (refer to Grant Match Guidelines)

• report all sources of funds used for the grant funded project

• submit quarterly project status reports and final report upon project completion

• contribute at least 25 percent of the grant match in volunteer labor

• have no active projects in any Mayor’s Matching Grant program

• be located within the City of Orlando limits

• be registered with the City of Orlando’s Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs

• have a majority of the organization’s members living in, or operating businesses in, the neighborhood

• not discriminate and actively seek membership from neighborhood residents

• represent its neighborhood and have democratically elected officers

• have been organized for at least one (1) year before applying for a grant

• have general membership vote and approval of grant application at least 7 days before grant deadline (notarized minutes reflecting this vote must be submitted with the application)

• contribute at least 25 percent of the grant match in volunteer labor

All neighborhood organizations must be registered with the City of Orlando’s Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs in order to be eligible to participate in this grant program. Neighborhood organizations may call the City of Orlando's Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs at (407) 246-3787 to register or update their information.

Mayor’s Faith Based and Community Matching Grant recipients will receive a free checking account at SunTrust to pay grant expenditures. Grant awards will be distributed to Mayor’s Faith Based and Community Matching Grant recipients in the form of quarterly reimbursements for approved grant related expenditures. Reimbursements will be made to the nonprofit organization by the Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs each quarter pending the receipt of supporting documentation and proof of expenses for approved grant related expenditures from the previous quarter. Grant recipients may request an advance of up to 50% of the grant award. These accounts require two signatures: one signature from a check signer from the nonprofit organization and one signature from a check signer from the City of Orlando’s Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs.

The neighborhood organization must have its general membership vote on and approve to partner with the nonprofit organization before submission.

• supplementing a nonprofit organization or neighborhood organization’s operating budget (funds are awarded by the City only for approved and designated project purposes)

• funding or supplementing other City of Orlando services or programs

• appreciation gifts, plaques, or certificates for City staff or elected officials

• equipment purchases (unless part of a neighborhood outreach program and approved by the Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs)

• projects that advocate or impose religious beliefs, provide religious instruction, or restrict participation on the basis of religion

• project activities and events that are held in places of worship (i.e. sanctuaries, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc.). Auxiliary buildings such as classrooms, fellowship halls, gymnasiums, or meeting rooms may be used.

• expenses without receipts

• food expenses of more than $250 (unless it is an essential part of a neighborhood outreach program and approved by the Office of Neighborhood & Community Affairs prior to spending)

• gasoline

• reimbursement to individuals

• phone bills/charges