Florida Arts Grants

The Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau is offering Nature and Culture Destination Enhancement Grants. These grants are designed to support and enhance Alachua County as a culturally interesting and vibrant destination by utilizing a portion of the Tourist Development Tax revenue. The core mission of this grant program is to aid in the operations and promotions of arts, cultural, and nature events that primarily aim to attract tourists, thereby aligning with the county's strategic goal of boosting tourism and local economic development through cultural and natural attractions. The target beneficiaries for these grants are legally established arts, nature, or culture organizations whose operations, events, and activities are within Alachua County. This also includes institutions of higher education, with certain request limits. The primary impact goal is to increase tourist attraction to Alachua County, fostering a more vibrant and culturally rich environment for both residents and visitors. The definition of a "tourist" for this grant is a person engaging in trade or recreation outside their county of residence or renting transient accommodations, which directly informs the type of events and promotions that are eligible for funding. The grant program prioritizes events that demonstrably promote activities to tourists, ensuring that the funding directly contributes to the overarching objective of tourism enhancement. Funding levels are determined by the applicant's annual budget, ranging from 10% for budgets over $1,000,000 to 30% for budgets up to $100,000. There is a maximum request of $75,000 for educational agencies, regardless of multiple applications. Special provisions are made for applicants whose primary mission is not audience attraction, requiring a separate event statement with direct expenses and revenues for the program. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of tourists visiting Alachua County, a greater variety and promotion of arts, cultural, and nature events, and enhanced operational capabilities for local organizations. Measurable results would likely involve tracking event attendance by tourists, reported operating revenues, and the extent of promotional activities targeting out-of-county visitors. The program implicitly operates on a theory of change where targeted investment in arts, culture, and nature events, specifically those promoted to tourists, will directly lead to increased tourism revenue and improved local cultural vibrancy, thus benefiting the wider community and economy of Alachua County. The grant period for funded programs and activities is between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.

The Audience Access (AUD) Grant Program, administered by Francine Andersen, is a grant opportunity provided by the Miami-Dade County government. The program aims to fund arts program-related technology and services that ensure ADA compliance and programmatic access for audiences of all abilities. Examples of eligible services include American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, captioning, audio description, Braille materials, ADA/access training, and other similar services. It is important to note that this grant program does not support entire projects/productions or major capital/facilities projects or improvements such as construction or renovation. The maximum grant request is $5,000, and funded projects will be paid on a reimbursement basis upon project completion and submission of a correct and complete final report with all required documentation. Applications must be submitted at least one month prior to the project/event start date, and applicants may apply once per fiscal year. Funding is limited and awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information on eligibility requirements and guidelines, please refer to the AUD Grant program guidelines provided on their website.

Florida Humanities’ Community Project Grants are designed to support public humanities programming throughout Florida. These grants align with the foundation's mission to preserve, promote, and share Florida's history, literature, culture, and personal stories, thereby offering Floridians a deeper understanding of themselves, their communities, and their state. The program seeks to strengthen vibrant communities and cultures, promote civic engagement, spark thoughtful community dialogue, and encourage reflection on the human experience. The target beneficiaries for these grants are nonprofit cultural organizations across Florida, as well as Florida-based nonprofits and public agencies, including libraries, museums, schools, and tribal governments. Higher education departments within Florida colleges and universities are also eligible. The primary impact goal is to increase public participation in and access to the humanities by providing relevant, engaging, and meaningful humanities-based programming to all Floridians, including broad general public audiences and new or underserved communities. The program prioritizes projects that are deeply rooted in the humanities and humanities scholarship, involving humanities scholars, community experts, or subject area experts in both development and delivery. Key focuses include programming that fosters connections between different communities or demographic groups, promotes networking and collaboration between institutions, and links humanities-associated organizations with other community partners. All supported projects must be free or not cost-prohibitive for the public to attend. Special consideration is given to small to mid-sized organizations with budgets under $1 million and applicants located in Rural Areas of Opportunity. Expected outcomes and measurable results include increased public engagement with humanities content, enhanced community dialogue, and strengthened cultural understanding. The grants aim to generate various forms of public humanities programming such as media projects (podcasts, film, radio), community conversations, interpretive exhibits, lectures, reading/film-and-discussion programs, cultural festivals, oral history projects, and interpretive tours. These activities collectively contribute to the foundation's strategic priorities by fostering a more informed and engaged citizenry that appreciates Florida's diverse heritage. The foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in accessible, high-quality humanities programming, they can cultivate a more reflective, connected, and civically engaged populace. By empowering local organizations and experts to deliver these experiences, Florida Humanities believes it can achieve widespread impact, ensuring that the rich tapestry of Florida's human experience is preserved and shared for future generations, ultimately contributing to stronger, more vibrant communities across the state.

The Santa Rosa Improvement Vitalization Enterprise (StRIVE) Grant, administered by the Santa Rosa County Economic Development Office, is designed to offer financial assistance to commercial property owners and business owners within Santa Rosa County, Florida. The program's core mission is to facilitate façade improvements and signage upgrades, aligning with a broader goal of enhancing property appearance, increasing property values, and stimulating local economic activity. This initiative directly supports community revitalization and sustainable economic growth within the county. The primary target beneficiaries of the StRIVE Grant are commercial property owners and business owners operating within Santa Rosa County. The program aims to positively impact the aesthetic and economic vitality of commercial areas. By providing grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with a required 100% match, the program intends to encourage significant investment in commercial properties. The overarching impact goal is to create a more attractive business environment, which in turn draws more customers, supports local businesses, and fosters a sense of community pride. The grant prioritizes a wide array of exterior improvements, including exterior painting, lighting, new windows and doors, awnings, architectural feature restoration, parking improvements, screening and fencing, sprinkler systems, and signage. It also covers soft costs like licenses and permit fees. The focus is on tangible upgrades that visibly improve the commercial landscape. Eligible properties must be commercially zoned within Santa Rosa County and not exempt from ad valorem property tax. Applicants must possess all necessary business licenses and permits, and any legal or land-use issues must be resolved or explained. Expected outcomes of the StRIVE Grant include a measurable increase in property values, a visible enhancement of commercial building exteriors, and a stimulated local economy. The program anticipates an improvement in the overall appeal of commercial districts, potentially leading to increased foot traffic and business revenue. While specific measurable results like the exact percentage increase in property value or business revenue are not detailed, the focus on "upgrading the appearance of property" and "stimulating economic activity" implies a quantitative and qualitative improvement in the county's commercial health. The requirement for projects to comply with local codes and obtain certificates of occupancy ensures that improvements are sustainable and legally sound.

The Doral Façade Improvement Grant Program offers financial assistance to businesses, homeowner associations, and commercial property owners within Doral. Its primary mission is to stimulate private sector investment, enhance beautification, foster economic growth, and create jobs by improving the appearance of buildings across the city. This program aligns with the broader goal of community development and economic vitality by directly investing in the physical infrastructure of Doral. The program targets a broad range of beneficiaries including local businesses, commercial property owners, and homeowner associations. The impact goals are multi-faceted: enhancing the visual appeal of the city, supporting local businesses, and indirectly contributing to a more vibrant and attractive environment for residents and visitors. By improving building aesthetics, the program aims to increase property values and encourage further private investment, creating a positive feedback loop for economic development. Initially established in 2012, the program's initial focus was on businesses and commercial owners within the Doral Decor District, offering 25% reimbursement up to $5,000 per project. In 2018, its geographical scope expanded to encompass the entire City of Doral and included publicly visible entry features of homeowners' associations. This expansion demonstrates a strategic priority to broaden its impact and inclusivity, reaching more areas and types of property owners within the city. The program's priorities are evident in its eligible improvements, which include siding/stucco, walls/fencing/railings, ADA improvements, pedestrian amenities, windows/doors, awnings/canopies, lighting, painting, signage, detached monument signs, sidewalks/surface parking, and landscape/xeriscape. These focus areas are designed to address a comprehensive range of external "facelift" improvements. The maximum grant amount has also increased to a 50% reimbursement of eligible renovation costs, up to $10,000 per project, indicating a strategic shift towards providing more substantial financial support to incentivize significant improvements. Expected outcomes and measurable results include an increase in the number of beautified properties, enhanced economic activity through job creation in renovation and related sectors, and a general uplift in civic pride and aesthetic quality across Doral. The program's theory of change posits that by providing direct financial incentives for façade improvements, the city can catalyze private investment, leading to widespread beautification and fostering a more attractive environment that, in turn, draws further economic activity and improves the quality of life for its residents.

This program provides matching funds to cultural organizations to strengthen their operational resources and sustainability.

This grant provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in Volusia and Flagler Counties to enhance programs focused on education, financial stability, and health for community improvement.

The Florida Department of Health's Sickle Cell Disease Research and Treatment Grant Program aims to enhance the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for individuals living with sickle cell disease (SCD) in Florida. This initiative also seeks to advance data collection and analysis to support SCD research. The program's mission is directly aligned with the department's public health goals, focusing on improving health outcomes for a vulnerable population through both direct care and scientific inquiry. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are persons living with sickle cell disease in Florida, along with community-based sickle cell disease medical treatment and research centers operating within the state. The impact goals are to improve healthcare services and foster research that can lead to better treatments and understanding of SCD. This involves supporting existing centers of excellence and developing new ones, ultimately creating a more robust and accessible healthcare infrastructure for SCD patients. The program has two key priority areas: sickle cell disease workforce development and education, and sickle cell disease treatment centers of excellence. These priorities are designed to address both the human capital and infrastructure needs within the SCD care landscape. The grant funds, totaling up to $10 million, can be utilized for a variety of expenses, including personnel, facility upgrades, technology acquisition, and contractual services, all aimed at bolstering these priority areas. Expected outcomes include improved health service utilization, better patient outcomes, and a stronger network of SCD treatment centers across Florida. Projects are required to include impact evaluation plans to measure these changes. The program emphasizes the importance of proposals demonstrating how an applicant's strategic priorities integrate facility enhancement or the creation of new centers, as well as showcasing the organization's experience in securing and managing funding. This ensures that projects are not only well-conceived but also sustainable and capable of delivering measurable results in line with the department's objectives.

The St. Joe Community Foundation offers grants to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, excluding those with religious or political affiliations whose grant purpose is political or religious activities. The foundation primarily focuses on organizations based in Bay and/or Walton County, Florida, or recognized county chapters of state or national charities serving residents of these counties. This grant program aligns with the foundation's mission to foster long-term improvements in the quality of life within Northwest Florida, specifically Bay and Walton counties. The foundation's strategic priorities are built around four pillars: Supporting Cultural Arts, Strengthening Education, Improving Healthcare, and Protecting the Environment. Each pillar guides the types of projects and initiatives that are funded. For example, "Supporting Cultural Arts" aims to cultivate, develop, educate, and improve cultural experiences, while "Strengthening Education" focuses on improving educational processes or access for children and adults. "Improving Healthcare" seeks to positively impact physical and mental health, and "Protecting the Environment" is dedicated to preserving and restoring natural resources. Target beneficiaries are residents of Bay and Walton counties, encompassing children and adults in need of improved education or healthcare, as well as the broader community benefiting from cultural arts and environmental protection. The impact goals are centered on making Northwest Florida a better place to live and fostering fundamental improvements in the quality of life. The foundation's theory of change emphasizes funding programs that promise long-term returns on quality of life, are structured for sustainable impact, demonstrate a track record of success or reasonable probability of success, and leverage support from others. Expected outcomes include measurable improvements in cultural experiences, educational access and quality, community health and wellness, and the preservation of natural resources. The foundation looks for programs that include a plan for measuring success and financial accountability. While grants generally range from $1,000 to $50,000, the stated size of the grant for this specific opportunity is $10,000 to $100,000. The St. Joe Community Foundation typically does not fund administrative or overhead costs, reimbursements, brick and mortar projects, individual causes, for-profit organizations, or political campaigns, ensuring that funds are directed towards direct programmatic impact.

This program provides financial support to rural nonprofit and governmental organizations in select Southern states for presenting touring artists across various disciplines, including film, performing arts, and visual arts.

The City of Wauchula's Revitalization Grant Program aims to restore and improve commercial buildings within the Wauchula Community Redevelopment Agency (WCRA) District. This initiative is designed to enhance the physical, economic, social, and aesthetic well-being of the city. The program's core mission aligns with urban revitalization and community development, focusing on improving private properties beyond the minimum requirements of the City of Wauchula’s Land Development Regulations. The overarching goal is to enhance the form, function, and design quality of the redevelopment district, thereby contributing to a more vibrant and prosperous Wauchula. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are property owners or their registered agents within the WCRA District who own commercial buildings. The program specifically excludes properties that do not collect property tax, do not contribute to the CRA Tax Increment Financing Fund (TIFF), or are primarily used for residential purposes. The impact goals are to encourage significant improvements to commercial properties, stimulate economic growth by enhancing business environments, and improve the overall aesthetic appeal of the district. This leads to a more attractive and functional urban core, benefiting both businesses and residents. The program prioritizes projects that go beyond standard compliance, fostering a higher quality of development. Key focuses include the restoration and improvement of commercial buildings, with an emphasis on project construction costs as eligible expenses, while design and permitting costs are explicitly excluded. Applicants are required to provide three quotes for project elements, ensuring transparency and competitive pricing. Another focus is on long-term impact, with project elements required to remain unchanged for five years and approved applicants ineligible to apply for the same property address for a five-year period. Expected outcomes include a noticeable enhancement in the appearance and functionality of commercial properties within the WCRA District, leading to increased commercial activity and a more appealing urban environment. Measurable results will be assessed through the completion of approved projects, evidenced by official Certificates of Occupancy or Completion, and adherence to grant agreements. The program's success will also be indicated by the number of properties revitalized and the subsequent positive impact on the local economy and community well-being. The WCRA's strategic priorities are to foster a thriving commercial district through incentivized development that conforms to the City of Wauchula Land Development Code. The underlying theory of change is that by offering financial incentives for property improvements, the city can stimulate private investment, which in turn will lead to a broader revitalization of the commercial district, attracting businesses and residents and enhancing the overall quality of life.

The St. Johns Cultural Council State of the Arts Grant Program, available to public school teachers and arts organizations in St. Johns County, Florida, offers up to six $1,500 grants for the development of new or enhanced artistic programs, covering costs such as production, materials, staff salaries, professional development, and insurance for public art projects.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and qualified for-profits partnering with nonprofits to create public arts, culture, history, and heritage programs in Flagler County, Florida, during the summer of 2025.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Hillsborough County, Florida, for cultural programming that enhances community engagement and artistic vibrancy.

This program provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations and neighborhood groups in St. Augustine for small-scale projects that enhance community life through beautification, cultural enrichment, and community-building initiatives.

This grant provides financial support to theatre educators in Marion County, Florida, to enhance educational theater experiences and promote socially relevant topics, while also offering funds to promising student musicians for their growth in music education.

This funding opportunity supports cultural projects in Florida that enhance arts education, develop underserved communities, or promote artistic initiatives, benefiting the public and aligning with the state's cultural goals.

This funding opportunity supports Florida-based public entities and nonprofit organizations in acquiring, renovating, or constructing facilities dedicated to the arts and culture, enabling them to host a variety of artistic programming and events.

This funding initiative provides early-stage, unrestricted financial support to nonprofit organizations in Central Florida that are developing innovative projects in healthcare, education, and the arts.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations, government entities, and educational institutions in Northeast Florida to support impactful community programs and projects that address local needs.