Community Arts Impact Grant

The Community Arts Impact Grant (CAIG) is administered by the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Florida, and funded through the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners. This program was established to expand access to arts and cultural opportunities for underserved communities within Hillsborough County, with a focus on geographic, ethnic, and age diversity, as well as dedicated service to veterans and individuals with disabilities. A central feature of this initiative is its dual purpose: it serves both as a flexible funding opportunity and as a capacity-building platform, particularly for smaller community-based organizations that are newer to grant seeking and program delivery. CAIG operates as a reimbursement-based grant with two distinct tracks tailored to different applicant types. Nonprofit organizations are eligible for a maximum of $5,000 in funding, while colleges and universities headquartered in Hillsborough County can apply for up to $12,500. The colleges and universities track—referred to as CAIG/CU—provides an avenue for academic institutions to extend their arts programming into the community in meaningful, locally engaged ways. All applicants must demonstrate nonprofit status (501(c)(3)), active registration with the Florida Division of Corporations, and a principal address located in Hillsborough County. Entities that are currently receiving other forms of support from the Arts Council or that have not fulfilled past obligations are ineligible to apply. The application process is competitive, with funding decisions based on a 100-point scoring system. Applicants must achieve an average score of at least 75 to be recommended for funding. The evaluation is structured around three key pillars: Access & Community Engagement, Artistic and Cultural Vibrancy, and Financial and Administrative Oversight. These categories assess an organization's ability to serve diverse audiences, produce mission-aligned cultural work, and demonstrate strong organizational capacity through realistic budgeting and administrative competence. Applications must be submitted electronically via the Hillsborough County grant portal. The portal supports staged completion and applicants may return to their application before final submission. However, once the final certification is completed and the application is marked as complete, no further edits or additions can be made. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review and proof their applications independently, as Arts Council staff are unable to provide feedback prior to submission. While collaborations are permitted in project execution, only one organization may serve as the official applicant, and fiscal sponsorships are not allowed. For the FY27 cycle, applications will open on March 9, 2026. Projects awarded funding under this cycle must be completed within the grant period, which will likely mirror the previous cycle’s performance window of November through mid-August. The Council may host informational webinars or workshops prior to the deadline, and interested applicants are advised to register in advance should such opportunities be offered. Questions about eligibility or the application process may be directed to the Arts Council at [email protected] or by phone at 813-571-6991.