Applications will open on September 1, 2026.
Universal Requirements
- Applicant is a 501(c)(3)
- Program operates within Tampa city limits, or noticeably serves Tampa residents
- Funds requested support direct program delivery, not general operating support
- Applicant agrees to quarterly reporting against the standardized measures as a condition of award
- Organizational tenure is not required for eligibility, though longer-established organizations may be viewed favorably during evaluation
- Award amount per organization is not fixed to a set range — it is determined based on the scope and cost of proposed program services within the impact area's total allocation
- Additional documentation maybe required based on level of funding to include, but not limited to: participation guidelines, signed contractual agreements and Certificate of Ethics
- Organizations with programs spanning more than one impact area must submit a separate application for each area
Scope of Work by Impact Area
Definition: Programs that move participants toward employment, credentialing, or business ownership — with a defined population and a defined endpoint, not general life-skills programming.
Eligible activities:
Job readiness training (resume, interview, digital literacy) tied to placement
Occupational skills training or credentialing in a specific trade/field
Reentry-specific employment support for returning citizens
Employment services tailored to veterans or individuals with disabilities
Small business technical assistance (business planning, access to capital, licensing navigation)
Priority populations: Job seekers, veterans, returning citizens, individuals with disabilities, aspiring small business owners.
Ineligible Program Types:
General adult education unconnected to employment outcomes
Youth-only programming (routes to Youth Empowerment)
One-time job fairs with no evidenced follow-through support
Evaluation Requirements:
- People served
- Geographic Coverage
- New vs. Existing Participants
- Participant Feedback
- Hours/services delivered
- # of Individuals placed in employment or credentialed
- # of businesses launched/stabilized
Definition: Programs that create public access to arts, cultural experiences and innovation — participatory or exhibition-based — with a clear connection to community engagement.
Eligible activities:
Public-facing performances, exhibitions, or cultural events
Arts education or instruction open to the community (not limited to an org's existing membership)
Public art or placemaking projects
Cultural programming that preserves or highlights Tampa's neighborhood/heritage identity
Innovation driven projects that introduce new creative technologies and experimental artistic methods that enhance public access and community participation
Priority populations: Tampa residents broadly, with attention to underserved neighborhoods/geographies.
Ineligible Program Types:
Funding for an organization's internal operations, staffing, or facility costs with no public program component
Private/invitation-only events
One-off single-day events with no recurring community touchpoint
Evaluation Requirements:
- People served
- Geographic Coverage
- New vs. Existing Participants
- Participant Feedback
- Hours/services delivered
Definition: Programs providing direct food access and a connection to longer-term stability resources — food distribution alone, with no stability component, is a partial fit only.
Eligible activities:
Food distribution (pantries, mobile markets, meal programs)
Nutrition education paired with access
Food access programs that connect participants to benefits enrollment (SNAP, WIC) or other stability resources
Culturally specific or geographically targeted food access addressing identified gaps
Priority populations: Food-insecure individuals and families, with priority to geographic areas identified in the Community Values Survey gaps.
Ineligible Program Types:
Food-adjacent programming with no direct distribution or access component (e.g., cooking classes alone)
Programs serving a closed population unrelated to food insecurity (e.g., a members-only club that happens to serve meals)
Evaluation Requirements:
- People served
- Geographic Coverage
- New vs. Existing Participants
- Participant Feedback
- Hours/services delivered
- # of meals/food units distributed
- # of Participants connected to stability resources (benefits enrollment, etc.)
Definition: Structured programming for teens and young adults with a safety, skill-building, or career-exposure component — not general childcare or recreation without a developmental goal.
Eligible activities:
Safe, structured recreation (after-school, summer) with programmatic goals beyond supervision
Personal safety / violence prevention programming
Skill development (life skills, leadership, conflict resolution)
Career exposure, mentorship, or internship pipelines for teens/young adults
Priority populations: Teens and young adults, ages 13–21.
Ineligible Program Types:
Early childhood/childcare programs (no defined teen/young-adult focus)
Pure recreation with no stated skill, safety, or career-readiness outcome
School-day academic instruction duplicating FCS/district services
Evaluation Requirements:
- People served
- Geographic Coverage
- New vs. Existing Participants
- Participant Feedback
- Hours/services delivered
- # of Participants with skill gains (pre/post or facilitator assessment)
- # in mentorship/career-exposure placements