Apply for Community Investment Grant

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 26, 2021 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
• 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
• 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. The nonprofit organization has local support and community ownership.
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 12, 2021 at 5:00 pm 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

A Q&A session for potential applicants was held on Thursday, March 4th.

Watch a Q&A session  

Step 5.Submit your application by Friday, March 26, 2021

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.

Submit your application 

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, 2022 and ends December 31, 2022.
• 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.