Apply for Community Investment Grant

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

The City of Orlando awards 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

The Housing-Focused Services for Persons Experiencing Homelessness funding focus area supports programs and services within the Orlando city limits that prioritize stable housing as the foundation for addressing homelessness and improving long-term outcomes for individuals and families experiencing housing instability.

Funding is intended to support critical components of the local homelessness response system that cannot be addressed through federal or state funding sources, allowing for flexibility, innovation, and gap-filling solutions that strengthen housing stability and continuity of care.

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to, housing-focused outreach, diversion, rapid re-housing supports, tenancy-sustaining services, and other interventions that directly contribute to securing and maintaining permanent housing.

All eligible applicants must actively participate in and utilize the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and the Coordinated Entry process in alignment with local Continuum of Care standards. Priority will be given to applicants that implement evidence-based practices, including the Housing First model, which emphasizes immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions and supportive services tailored to individual needs.

Programs funded under this focus area should demonstrate strong system coordination, data-informed practices, and measurable outcomes related to housing placement, retention, and long-term stability.

Service Examples: housing navigation and case management, supportive housing with wraparound services

View previous recipients

Economic Stability and Mobility

The Economic Stability and Mobility funding focus area supports programs and services that foster independence and promote long-term financial well-being for individuals and families living within the Orlando city limits who are at risk of not meeting their basic human needs.

Funding prioritizes services designed to equip residents with the skills, resources, and supports necessary to live healthy, productive, and contributing lives. Eligible activities strengthen pathways to employment, income stability, and self-sufficiency by addressing both immediate barriers and long-term economic opportunity. Programs funded under this focus area should demonstrate a clear connection to improving economic outcomes, increasing self-sufficiency, and advancing upward mobility for Orlando residents, with an emphasis on equity, access, and sustainable impact.

Supported services may include, but are not limited to:

Affordable and accessible child care that enables parents and caregivers to participate in the workforce or education

Job training, education, and upskilling programs that address literacy or technical challenges or build professional competencies

Job readiness and workforce development services, including career coaching, placement assistance, and employment retention supports

Legal services that help remove barriers to employment, housing stability, and financial security

Mental health services that support workforce participation, stability, and overall well-being

Youth mentoring programs will not be considered. For youth-based programs, visit orlando.gov/mmg or OKZ.

View previous recipients

Domestic Violence

The Domestic Violence Prevention funding focus area supports primary prevention initiatives within the Orlando city limits that are designed to stop violence before it occurs and promote safe, healthy, and respectful relationships across the community.

Funding prioritizes programs that address the root causes of domestic violence through education, skill-building, community engagement, and systems-level approaches that reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors for individuals, families, and neighborhoods. Supported initiatives focus on fostering awareness, changing harmful norms, and building the social, emotional, and economic supports that contribute to long-term safety and stability.

Programs funded under this focus area should demonstrate a clear commitment to prevention, equity, and community-level impact, with an emphasis on collaboration, sustainability, and measurable outcomes that contribute to reduced incidence of domestic violence over time.

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

Community-based education and outreach focused on healthy relationships, conflict resolution, and violence prevention

Youth and family prevention programs that build social-emotional skills and promote non-violent behaviors

Training and capacity-building for community members, educators, employers, and service providers to recognize and prevent domestic violence

Public awareness campaigns that promote prevention, bystander intervention, and access to supportive resources

Culturally responsive and trauma-informed prevention strategies that reflect the diverse needs of Orlando residents

View previous recipients

Support of Seniors

Funding in this focus area promotes programs and services that support older adults living within the Orlando city limits in maintaining independence, health, and overall quality of life.

Funding prioritizes initiatives that enable seniors to age safely in place, remain socially connected, and continue to lead independent, healthy, and productive lives. Supported programs address the physical, emotional, social, and practical needs of seniors, while reducing isolation and removing barriers that may limit independence or well-being.

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

Programs that promote independent living, including assistance with daily activities, mobility support, and home-based services

Health and wellness initiatives that support physical activity, nutrition, chronic disease management, and preventive care

Social engagement and enrichment programs that reduce isolation and foster meaningful community connections

Education and supportive services that help seniors navigate benefits, resources, and aging-related transitions

Caregiver support and respite services that strengthen the ability of seniors to remain safely at home

Programs funded under this focus area should demonstrate a commitment to dignity, accessibility, and equity, and clearly contribute to improved independence, health outcomes, and social well-being for Orlando’s senior residents.

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Improve Availability, Access and Consumption of Healthy Foods

This funding focus area supports efforts to reduce hunger and improve health outcomes by increasing access to fresh, healthy, affordable, and locally sourced food for residents living within the Orlando city limits.

Funding prioritizes comprehensive and innovative approaches to food resourcing that address food insecurity while strengthening Orlando’s local food system. Supported initiatives may span production, distribution, education, and access, with an emphasis on reaching communities disproportionately impacted by limited food access and diet-related health disparities.

The City of Orlando supports collaboration, education, community empowerment, planning, policy, and strategic investment that advance a fair, equitable, and just local food system. Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to:

Improving access to healthy foods through food pantries, mobile markets, community markets, and neighborhood-based distribution models

Local food production and sourcing, including urban agriculture and partnerships with local growers

Nutrition education and food literacy programs that promote healthy food choices and preparation

Innovative food access strategies that reduce cost, transportation, or geographic barriers

Cross-sector collaboration and systems-level initiatives that strengthen food equity and long-term sustainability

Programs funded under this focus area should demonstrate measurable impact on food access and consumption and contribute to a resilient and inclusive local food system that supports the health and well-being of Orlando residents.

View previous recipients

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

Online

Step 1.Check your eligibility

Non-profit organizations must meet the following criteria:

Be a federally registered, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization in good standing with the IRS.
Have at least 12 months of operating history within the City of Orlando as of March 28, 2026.
Use grant funds solely in direct furtherance of the organization’s tax-exempt purpose and for the specific purpose outlined in the grant application.
Utilize the federal E-Verify system for all newly hired employees during the grant term, in compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations.
Allocate no more than 20% of the total grant award toward administrative or indirect personnel costs.
Demonstrate annual operating income equal to at least three (3) times the amount of funding requested.
Present a clear plan to use Community Investment Program funds to serve clients residing within the Orlando city limits.

Ineligible applicants:

The following entities are not eligible to apply:

Organizations 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 (although nonprofit applicants may collaborate with government agencies).
Foundations whose sole purpose is fundraising, unless they directly operate and deliver an eligible program.
Faith-based nonprofit organizations or programs that limit participation based on religious affiliation. Faith-based organizations may apply only if the funded program is non-religious, inclusive, and available to all residents.
National nonprofit organizations unless the requested funds will remain within the Orlando city limits, directly serve Orlando residents, and meet all grant guidelines.

Step 2.Determine you meet our grant criteria

To be considered for funding, applicants must demonstrate:

The proposed program will significantly address an identified funding focus area or critical community need.
Services are comprehensive and accessible to all affected residents of the City of Orlando.
Strong organizational management and effective service delivery capacity.
Sound fiscal management and financial stability.
The ability to leverage city funding to secure diverse funding sources in support of the program.
A substantial and established presence within the Orlando community.
Active collaboration with community partners, coalitions, businesses, and other service organizations to improve service delivery and achieve 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 13, 2026 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.Participate in a Q&A session

Participate in a Grantee Q&A Session that will take place on March 6, 2026 at 11 a.m.

Watch the session on March 6

Step 5.Submit your application

The FY27 application cycle is now open through Friday, March 27, 2026 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.

Apply now

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, 2027 and ends December 31, 2027.
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.

Contact Us

Phone

407.246.3275

Email

ocagrants@orlando.gov

Additional contacts

For technical assistance questions about the online application, contact city staff at ocagrants@orlando.gov. For questions about Nonprofit Search, contact Susan Ponce with the Central Florida Foundation at 407.872.3050 ext. 113 or sponce@cffound.org.