Cultural Development Grants

The Cultural Development Grant Program, administered by the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, supports nonprofit cultural organizations within Hillsborough County, Florida. This competitive grant is intended to strengthen the cultural sector by enhancing both programming and organizational capacity. The Arts Council’s mission is to foster cultural access and engagement across geographically and demographically diverse communities. As such, this grant program prioritizes projects that reflect inclusivity and broad community reach. Cultural organizations applying must demonstrate a primary mission centered around the delivery of cultural programs across disciplines such as architecture, crafts, creative writing, dance, history, literature, media arts, music, photography, theatre, traditional arts, and visual arts. The grant offers general program support, enabling organizations to grow both culturally and administratively, attract new audiences, and improve fundraising capacity. Organizations are expected to use the funds to support their ongoing cultural programming, with the stipulation that grant-supported activities occur within the designated grant period—October 1, 2026, through September 15, 2027. As a reimbursement-based grant, organizations must front the expenses before requesting reimbursement and must adhere to detailed documentation and reporting requirements. Ineligible uses of funds include fundraising events, food or entertainment, academic credit-related activities, capital expenses, and projects not open to the general public. Applications will be accepted through the online grant system beginning January 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. and must be submitted by January 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Incomplete or late applications will be deemed ineligible. A virtual grant workshop is scheduled for January 14, 2026, to guide applicants through the process. Required application materials include a narrative, budgets, IRS documentation, and work samples. Organizations must submit all materials electronically via the specified portal. Scoring will be based on access and community engagement, artistic and cultural vitality, and organizational capacity, with a minimum average score of 80 needed for funding. Eligible applicants must be registered as active nonprofit Florida corporations with 501(c)(3) status and must have a physical address in Hillsborough County. Organizations with revenues under $100,000 must have been active and tax-exempt for at least one year and demonstrate at least one season of programming in the past year. Larger organizations have a two-year requirement and must have completed two programming seasons. A full season is defined as a minimum of three unique events with paid attendance within Hillsborough County. Organizations currently receiving other Hillsborough County funds (excluding capital project funding) or those operating as municipalities, educational institutions, or fiscal agents are not eligible to apply. Funding levels are tiered by revenue, with a maximum of $25,000 available to organizations earning over $400,000 annually. Matching funds are required on a dollar-for-dollar basis, and in-kind contributions do not count toward this match. Organizations must demonstrate their ability to meet this financial requirement in their budget documentation. If funded, grantees must also meet specific crediting and visibility requirements, such as including the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners logo on promotional materials and providing County access to events. Additionally, grantees must provide final reporting by September 30, 2027, including demographic data and financial documentation. Evaluation is conducted by a review board based on the strength of proposals in three areas: access and community engagement (45 points), artistic and cultural vitality (35 points), and organizational capacity (20 points). Final awards are calculated proportionally based on the average reviewer scores. This program is part of the Arts Council's commitment to enhancing cultural life throughout the county by investing in organizations that contribute meaningfully to the local arts ecosystem.

Align narrative and budget with review criteria; high-quality support materials improve score