TPD C.A.R.E.S.

PURPOSE

The Tampa Police Department is pleased to announce its 2023 TPD C.A.R.E.S.  The purpose of this grant funding program is to provide assistance to community partners who are engaged in projects and programs benefiting the citizens of Tampa.  Community members interested in applying for TPD C.A.R.E.S. funding must support the spirit of the Tampa Police Department’s mission to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life through a cooperative partnership with all citizens.

A total of $25,000 is available for the 2023 funding awards.

• Application Enrollment Period: All funding requests will be accepted annually during the enrollment period only.  The 2023 TPD C.A.R.E.S. application enrollment period begins March 16, 2023, and must be postmarked / submitted by midnight on April 17, 2023.
  • Print and sign the application for mail / hand delivery. Scan and attach for email.
  • Mailing Address or Hand Delivery:  Tampa Police Department, 411 N. Franklin Street, Office of the Chief of Police, Tampa, FL 33602.
  • Email Submission: TPD-Grants@tampagov.net

• Who May Apply: This program will provide funds to community groups, associations, agencies, or non-profit organizations holding a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) designation which provides services to residents within the municipal boundaries of the City of Tampa.  A copy of the organization’s designation/status letter must accompany the grant funding application.  Services being offered must fall within the eligibility grant funding award criteria set forth below. 
• Eligibility and Criteria:  The TPD C.A.R.E.S. funding must serve residents within the municipal boundaries of the City of Tampa by addressing a youth or adult program geared towards crime prevention and community engagement.  This includes but is not limited to social development, mentorship, prevention and treatment of drug or domestic abuse, and mental health.
• Organization Applicant and Certification: The organization applicant must be a current officer on record with the Florida Department of State or other applicable agency if incorporated outside of Florida. Applicants must provide a federal tax identification number and submit a signed certification form with the application.  
• Submission: Grant applications must be typed written, accompanied by all required supporting documents or any continuation pages, and received within the specified application period.
• Supporting Document(s): In the upper right-hand corner, each supporting document must reference the organization’s name and federal employer identification number.  Include the following supporting documents, along with the application:
  1. Itemized budget for funds requested
  2. A statement of accounting detailing how expenditures will be tracked
  3. Applicant Certification
  4. Federal tax identification number (EIN or 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4)), organization’s designation/status letter, and an updated copy of IRS Form W-9.  The EIN must match the name of the applicant. 
  5. Organizations that have received previous TPD C.A.R.E.S. funding from the Tampa Police Department must provide a summary status report and expenditure receipts for the year of the award.  This is not required for first-time grant applicants.
  6. One Letter of Support from an organization previously partnered with your program.
• Award Levels: The funding amount will be determined by the selection committee’s application evaluation.  Projects will be rated using the selection criteria.  Grants will be awarded in the following tiers:
  • Tier 1:        $5,000            
  • Tier 2:        $2,500
  • Tier 3:        $2,000
  • Tier 4:        $1,000
• Award Presentation: Applicants selected to receive funding from the 2023 TPD C.A.R.E.S. will receive by mail a congratulatory letter from the Chief of Police with the date, time, and location of the award presentation.  Award notifications will be mailed to the award recipients between May 29 and June 1, 2023, and then posted on the Tampa Police Department’s website.
• Disqualification:  All applications must meet the minimum eligibility. However, some circumstances will require instant disqualification.
  • Funds will not be awarded for salaries, food, individual travel expenses, individual gifts, infrastructure, video surveillance systems, publications, or other communication media. 
  • Any organization which owes monies to the City of Tampa will not receive award funds until those other obligations are satisfied.
  • Incomplete application and/or missing supporting documents.
  • A project description that is vague in nature will be classified as incomplete.
  • Any organization which previously failed to completely and accurately account for all expenditures in past TPD C.A.R.E.S. awards will not be eligible to receive additional funding.