Special Grants

The Special Grant Opportunities offered by the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (CF/UWVFC) represent a general application process for nonprofit organizations operating in the Volusia and Flagler counties region. This program is designed to provide local nonprofits with year-round access to philanthropic funding from a diverse set of sources. By centralizing the application into a single entry point, CF/UWVFC simplifies the process for smaller, newer, or otherwise qualifying organizations to be considered for a wide array of funding streams that share overlapping goals of community enrichment and social support. CF/UWVFC’s Special Grants are available on a rolling basis, with awards issued throughout the fiscal year that spans from November 3, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Applications remain active until the end of that cycle unless awarded earlier. Notably, the minimum grant request is $1,000, and the maximum is $5,000, although exceptions may be made for strategic priorities. Grant decisions are rendered quarterly, with award notifications scheduled by the end of each quarter: December 31, 2025; March 31, 2026; and June 30, 2026. To be considered for a particular quarter’s funding round, applications must be received by specific deadlines—November 21, January 30, and April 3, respectively. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations actively serving residents in either or both Volusia and Flagler counties. Each nonprofit may submit only one application per fiscal year, which may be for either program/project funding or general operating support. Applicants may amend their submission during the fiscal year to reflect shifting funding needs. However, religious organizations and those with broader service areas must restrict their funding requests to non-sectarian or localized projects within Volusia and/or Flagler counties. The foundation reserves the right to waive the single-application limit in scenarios involving targeted funding opportunities such as disaster relief. The application process is managed via the CF/UWVFC Grants Portal, where applicants can access the full application form. This form uses conditional logic to streamline the user experience by displaying only the questions relevant to the applicant’s specific funding scenario. Required documentation includes a current 501(c)(3) determination letter, IRS Form 990 or 990EZ, a signed and dated W9, a roster of the Board of Directors, financial documents (audited or reviewed financials or key statements), and a signed Anti-Terrorism Compliance form. Applications are not considered complete until all these materials are uploaded and the applicant receives a submission confirmation email. CF/UWVFC emphasizes that this process does not apply to its Community Impact cycle for funding beginning July 1, 2026, the details of which will be released in the first quarter of 2026. For the Special Grant process, applicants may choose to apply for general operating support or for program/project-based grants. A budget summary corresponding to the request type must be provided, along with responses to opportunity matching questions related to service geography, population served, and thematic focus areas such as food security, housing, education, and community well-being. Applicants are advised to carefully consider whether they would accept partial funding, as grant awards may be less than requested amounts. Awardees are expected to submit a brief impact report within six months of receiving funding. Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Denise O'Toole Kelly, Assistant Director of Community Investments, at [email protected].