General Program Support Grant Program

The General Program Support (GPS) grant is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture. It aims to support Florida-based public and private nonprofit arts and cultural organizations by funding programming across a wide array of artistic disciplines. This grant is backed by Florida Statutes Section 265.286 and guided by Florida Administrative Code Rule 1T-1.036. The GPS program provides financial assistance to organizations whose missions directly align with arts and cultural programming, including music, theatre, dance, creative writing, media arts, visual arts, and museum-related activities. Applicants can request up to $150,000 in state funding. The funding is structured into three tiers based on the applicant's Total Operating Income (TOI), with varying percentage-based caps per tier. A one-to-one non-state/non-federal match is required, except for applicants in REDI (Rural Economic Development Initiative) communities, who can provide a 50% match, including full in-kind contributions if needed. All grant funds and matching funds must be expended during the grant period from July 1 to June 30 of the award year. To be eligible, applicants must be a Florida-based nonprofit or public entity in good standing, with at least one year of completed arts and cultural programming and an active registration with the Division of Corporations. Additional documentation such as a Substitute W-9, Federal 990 Form, and proof of eligibility is required. Specific criteria apply depending on the funding amount and the type of organization (e.g., museums, theatres, arts education programs). Fiscal agents are not permitted to apply on behalf of other organizations. The grant application must be submitted through the DOS Grants System at dosgrants.com. The application window opens on April 1 and closes on June 1 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Required materials include detailed budgets, proof of nonprofit status, quality indicators of programming, and relevant work samples. Applications are evaluated by a panel based on three criteria: Quality of Offerings (35 points), Impact (35 points), and Track Record (30 points). Only applications scoring 80 or higher on average are considered for funding. Panel meetings are open to the public, and applicants are encouraged to attend. Final funding recommendations are made by the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and approved by the Secretary of State. Awards are determined through a score-based proportional formula and published in a ranked list. Organizations that receive separate legislative appropriations for the same project in the same fiscal year are ineligible for GPS funding. Award amounts start at $1,000, and administrative requirements include mid-year and final reports, adherence to accessibility and non-discrimination policies, and compliance with state and federal audit requirements.