The Community Foundation’s 2024-2025 grant cycle offers competitive grant opportunities to nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach and Martin Counties, aiming to address community needs across four strategic focus areas: Capacity Building, Economic Opportunity, Education and Youth, and Thriving Communities. These grants are awarded to projects that align with the Foundation's mission to strengthen local organizations and uplift community members, providing one-year awards up to $75,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofits with a 501(c)(3) designation or those working with a fiscal sponsor if lacking this status.
Each focus area has specific goals and example strategies for applicants. For Capacity Building, the goal is to enhance the nonprofit sector by supporting leadership, organizational growth, and management. Economic Opportunity grants focus on workforce preparation, literacy, and small business support to drive economic sufficiency. The Education and Youth category funds early childhood programs, literacy improvement, high school retention efforts, and mentoring for at-risk youth. Finally, Thriving Communities grants aim to improve health access, affordable housing, environmental initiatives, and the arts.
The Foundation also has a special Youth Literacy Multiyear Grant Opportunity for 2025, in response to low third-grade literacy rates. This opportunity offers two-year grants up to $200,000 for literacy programs targeting grades K-12 in Palm Beach and Martin Counties. Competitive proposals in this category should incorporate evidence-based literacy interventions, with priority given to programs utilizing the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) Curriculum or serving communities with low literacy rates. A required two-year budget must outline planned fund usage across both years.
Grant application submissions include several steps. Interested organizations must attend a Grant-Seeker Session to understand requirements and strategies, with multiple sessions available in November 2024. Applications open on November 1, with Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) and summer program proposals due by December 20, 2024. For year-round grants, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by March 3, 2025. Successful applicants may also participate in site visits between March and April to discuss their projects with Foundation staff.
Awards are announced biannually, with summer program grants notified in March and year-round grants in May 2025. Funds are then distributed in April and June, respectively. Grantees are required to provide regular progress reports and may be asked to share success stories for Foundation communication with donors. These reporting requirements help the Foundation monitor impact and ensure alignment with grant objectives.
