Apply for Community Investment Grant

Does your non-profit organization need a grant for a community program?

The City of Orlando awards approximately $3,000,000 in Community Investment Program grant funds to non-profit organizations.

Eligible applicant organizations may submit a proposal that aligns with one of the following focus areas:

Housing-Focused Services for Persons Experiencing Homelessness

Support for areas in the system that cannot be addressed with federal or state funding. Eligible applicants must utilize the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and Coordinated Entry processes. Priority will be given to applicants who utilize the Housing First model.

Service Examples: Assist with housing search and housing placement, provide case management and housing stabilization services, job placement services, services and case management for homeless youth.

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Family Sustainability

Support for services that are designed to foster independence and/or equip families living in the Orlando city limits who are at risk of not meeting basic human needs with the skills to live healthy, productive, contributing lives. Youth mentoring programs will not be considered. For youth-based programs, visit orlando.gov/mmg or PKZ

Service Examples: Child Care, job training, immigration assistance, programs for LGBTQ+ individuals, legal assistance, mental health, programs that address literacy or technical challenges or build professional competencies, transportation programs aimed at increasing access to economic opportunity for families.

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Domestic Violence

Support for primary prevention initiatives within the Orlando city limits.

Service Examples: Public awareness campaigns, support for building organizational capacity in local domestic violence programs for primary prevention work, as it relates to assessing and influencing change for individuals, communities and institutions.

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Support of Seniors

Support for services that promote or maintain senior independence and/or create a social environment in which all senior citizens who live within the Orlando city limits can live independent, healthy and productive lives.

Service Examples: Healthy meal programs, active living and social programs, respite and day care services, health services, transportation programs

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Improve Availability, Access and Consumption of Healthy Foods

Reduce hunger and improve health outcomes by increasing access to fresh, healthy, affordable and local food. Support for comprehensive and innovative approaches to food resourcing within the Orlando city limits. The City of Orlando supports collaboration, education, community empowerment, planning, policy, and investment that is devoted to a fair, equitable, and just local food system.

Service Examples: Increasing access to healthy food, food preparation classes, school food, urban agriculture and local foods, and local food as an economic driver to create jobs and grow economies, SNAP outreach, food delivery programs.

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Funding will be awarded to provide services to individuals and families living within the Orlando city limits.

Special consideration will be given to grassroots organizations that are either minority-led or serving underrepresented communities to increase equity.

Online

Step 1.Check your eligibility

Non-profit organizations must meet the following criteria:

  • Federally registered tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organizations with at least a 12-month operating history in the City of Orlando as of March 25, 2024 and be in good standing with the IRS
  • Organizations whose requested grant will be used in the direct furtherance of the tax-exempt purpose of the organization (and the specific purpose set forth in the application)
  • Organizations with clear plans for how they will use Community Investment Program funds to serve clients residing within the Orlando city limits

Non-eligible applicants:

  • Those that discriminate or exclude participants on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, religion, disability or marital status
  • Third-party or “pass-through” nonprofit organizations or fiscal agents
  • Government agencies (but may associate with a government agency)
  • Foundations whose sole purpose is fundraising, unless they directly deliver an eligible program are not eligible to apply
  • Faith-based nonprofit organizations/programs, unless there is a non-faith-based service that is inclusive and available to all segments of the population
  • National nonprofit organizations, unless dollars requested will remain in the Orlando city limits, impacts families who reside within the Orlando city limits and meets grant guidelines 

Step 2.Determine you meet our grant criteria

  1. The program will make a significant impact to address an identified focus area or community need.
  2. The program is comprehensive and available to all affected City of Orlando residents.
  3. The nonprofit organization demonstrates effective service and management capabilities.
  4. The nonprofit organization demonstrates good fiscal strength.
  5. The nonprofit organization successfully leverages City funding to engage diverse funding streams in support of the program.
  6. The nonprofit organization or program has a substantial presence in the Orlando community.
  7. Proposals should demonstrate extensive community partnerships and coalitions.
  8. The nonprofit organization collaborates with businesses and other social service organizations to improve service delivery and create measurable impact.

Step 3.Create a non-profit profile in Central Florida's Non-Profit Search

Applicants must have a Reviewed (viewable) portrait by the application deadline. First time portrait submission and any updates to existing portraits must be submitted to the Central Florida Foundation staff by March 15, 2024 to be eligible for funding.

If you have any questions about how to start or upload your program information, you may contact the Central Florida Foundation at 407.872.3050.

Create or modify your profile

Step 4.Watch a Q&A session

Watch the Q&A Session recording that took place on February 29, 2024, which will answer common questions about the Community Investment Program.

Watch the Q&A Session 

Step 5.Submit your application

The FY25 application cycle is now open through Friday, March 29, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

The application has limited space and design – only the most essential information is requested. In order to be fair to all applicants, we will not review additional attachments, page additions, photos or graphics, or consider additional lines of information beyond defined limits. Failure to comply may result in immediate disqualification of grant request.

Keep in mind:

  • Applications must be completed in its entirety as directed. Incomplete applications or those submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
  • Applications must be concise when describing programs/services. Limit anecdotal information or general research findings – strong metrics are more important in defining success. When describing impact, use metrics that demonstrate the impact over a defined period of time. 

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Step 6.We will review your application and contact you with its status

Keep in mind:

  • The City of Orlando Community Investment Program will accept one application annually per eligible organization during the open grant period.
  • Proposals funded in any one year are not automatically assured of receiving future funding.
  • The grant term begins January 1, 2025 and ends December 31, 2025.
  • While we are committed to supporting nonprofit organizations that serve City of Orlando residents, we are unable to fund every request and at times will award partial funding. 

All decisions relating to the awarding of any grant funding are at the sole and absolute discretion of the City of Orlando.