Collaboratory Community Infrastructure Coalition Grant

Collaboratory has partnered with donors to distribute more than $132 million to the community since 1976 and invests in nonprofit organizations and innovative partnerships intended to create lasting change across Southwest Florida. Its Community Impact Grants support work in Workforce and Education, Health and Wellness, and Community Infrastructure. The current Collaboratory Community Infrastructure Coalition Grant is a Community Impact Grant focused on Community Infrastructure and is intended to improve quality of life by addressing root causes of community challenges and producing sustainable, measurable, systems-level change. The funding opportunity supports initiatives that influence long-term community outcomes through changes in policies, partnerships, institutional practices, resource allocation, decision-making, or other systems. Direct-service activities may be included when they are intentionally designed to inform, support, or advance broader system-level change, but projects focused solely on services to individual participants are unlikely to be competitive. This cycle focuses on three Community Infrastructure Coalition System-Level Indicators: Housing and Transportation Affordability, Food Environment Score, and Percentage of Residents with Access to High-Speed Internet. Projects should demonstrate a connection to one or more of these indicators and show how proposed activities contribute to lasting change beyond individual beneficiaries. One award of $50,000 will be made for a 12-month period. The award will be disbursed in two installments: $25,000 upon execution of the grant agreement and $25,000 following approval of the mid-year report and satisfactory progress toward milestones. Indirect, administrative, and overhead expenses may not exceed 10 percent of the total grant request, and applicants should distinguish direct program costs from administrative costs in the project budget. Matching funds are not required, although applicants are encouraged to describe additional funding, in-kind support, or other resources that can contribute to project success and sustainability. Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), as well as public or private colleges and universities. Applicants must be located in and/or primarily serve residents of Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, or Lee counties in Florida. Eligible organizations must have an established governing body appropriate to their organizational structure and conduct business without discrimination on the basis of race, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, or religious affiliation. Applicants must apply using their own legal organizational status; applications submitted through fiscal sponsors or on behalf of another organization are not eligible. Political campaigns, lobbying or similar activities, and advancement of a particular religion or faith are excluded. Applicants will submit one online application describing the proposed project, intended outcomes, community engagement strategy, and long-term sustainability. Required supporting documents include an IRS determination letter, if applicable, or documentation of public institution status; the most recent Form 990, audited financial statements, or another comparable financial report as applicable; an organization budget; project budget; governing board, trustees, or board of directors list; Local Business Tax Receipt if applicable; and three letters of support. When a requested document such as an IRS determination letter or Form 990 does not apply, applicants should provide comparable documentation. Applications should be complete when submitted, and supplemental materials will be reviewed only when specifically requested by Collaboratory staff. Eligible proposals will be evaluated by Collaboratory's Community Impact Committee using the published Community Impact Committee Scoring Rubric and Award Selection Process. Evaluation criteria are Community Infrastructure Coalition Indicator Alignment; Project Description, Goals, and Activities; Measurable Outcomes; Root Causes and System-Level Change Strategy; Community Engagement; Sustainability and Resource Leverage; and Collaboration and Partnerships. Competitive proposals should clearly connect project activities to broader systems-level change and demonstrate measurable outcomes, community involvement, sustainability, and collaboration. Applications opened August 24, 2026, at 8 a.m. EDT and close October 5, 2026, at 5 p.m. EDT. Late applications will not be accepted. Collaboratory anticipates notifying the selected applicant by November 23, 2026, after the Community Impact Committee evaluates and scores eligible proposals and selects the recipient. No pre-application gating requirement or recurring schedule for this specific grant cycle is stated. Questions about the funding opportunity may be directed to funding@collaboratory.org. Collaboratory's general telephone number is 239-274-5900. Involvement with any Collaboratory coalition, staff, or program does not guarantee funding.

Clearly align the project with a Community Infrastructure Coalition System-Level Indicator; demonstrate how direct-service activities, if included, advance broader system-level change; identify root causes and a credible system-level change strategy; establish measurable outcomes; demonstrate meaningful community engagement, collaboration, sustainability, and resource leverage; distinguish direct program costs from administrative costs and keep indirect, administrative, and overhead expenses within the 10% cap.