Flagler County Cultural Council Program Grant

The City of Palm Coast Cultural Grant program, administered by the Flagler County Cultural Council (FC3), is an initiative designed to enhance arts, culture, and heritage within the city. Funded by the City of Palm Coast and managed in partnership with FC3, the grant supports nonprofit cultural organizations with the aim of enriching the community’s cultural vibrancy while attracting visitors. The program represents a vital opportunity for organizations whose primary mission is cultural programming, offering structured support for projects that engage the public and contribute to the city’s artistic and historical identity. For the FY2026–2027 cycle, the grant window opens on June 1, 2026, and closes on August 21, 2026. Eligible projects must take place between October 1, 2026, and September 30, 2027. Applications are accepted exclusively through Submittable, the online grant portal, and paper applications will not be considered. Attendance at one of the mandatory grant workshops—scheduled for the week of July 20, 2026—is required for all applicants. Failure to send a representative to a workshop will render the applicant ineligible. Once applications are submitted, a grant panel will evaluate submissions and provide recommendations to the Palm Coast City Council, which makes final award decisions. Applicants must be nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations based in Florida, with preference given to those headquartered in Flagler County. Eligible applicants must have arts, culture, or history as their primary mission and have completed at least one year (or two years, depending on revenue level) of programming in Flagler County. Additional eligibility requirements vary based on the organization’s revenue as reported in their most recent IRS Form 990. All applicants must show proof of registration with the Florida Division of Corporations and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. For-profit businesses are not directly eligible but may apply in partnership with a qualifying nonprofit. This is a reimbursement-based grant, and awarded funds may be used for direct project costs such as marketing, artist and speaker fees, event setup, venue rental, and project-specific technology or production expenses. Awards may not be used for operational deficits, fundraising events, food or beverages, licensing fees, insurance, or capital expenditures. The maximum grant request is capped at $12,000 or 30% of the total project budget, whichever is lower. A 1:1 match is required, with up to 30% of the match allowed to be in-kind. Supporting documentation for matching funds, such as bank or financial statements, is required as part of the application. Applications must include a comprehensive narrative, project and organizational budgets, recent tax filings, evidence of matching funds, a marketing plan, and letters of support. Successful applicants must display FC3 and City of Palm Coast branding on all materials and allow use of event images for promotional purposes. Upon project completion, grantees are required to submit a final report with metrics such as audience demographics, lessons learned, and visual proof of grant acknowledgement. This report must be submitted by September 15, 2027, and is mandatory for eligibility in future grant cycles. The grant program prioritizes cultural significance, public access, community engagement, and organizational capacity. All funded projects must be open to the public and benefit Palm Coast residents. The overall aim of this initiative is not to supplant other funding but to provide strategic support to enrich the city’s cultural fabric, stimulate local economic activity, and ensure a thriving arts environment.

Must attend mandatory workshop or be deemed ineligible; Final report is required to receive reimbursement and maintain eligibility; All materials must display funder branding