CFTB: Annual Competitive Grants

The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay offers annual competitive grants aimed at fostering innovation in local nonprofits. By targeting five key areas—Economic Opportunity, Environmental Resiliency, Physical Health, Education, and Community Engagement—the foundation seeks to address pressing community needs. Eligibility requires 501(c)(3) status and service in specific Florida counties. The grant process encourages collaboration and aims to create sustainable impacts, making it a vital resource for nonprofits looking to enhance their community contributions.

We serve as a connector, collaborator, convener and a catalyst. Our competitive grants process is one of the best ways for us to learn about the creative ideas of our local nonprofits.
The grant submissions help us decide where to focus our competitive grants money. This gives them an opportunity to know about you and your work in the community and to contribute.
Community Foundation Tampa Bay’s annual competitive grants process is one of the best ways for us to learn about the creative ideas of our local nonprofits. The grant submissions help us decide where to focus our discretionary grants, targeting five areas of focus: Economic Opportunity, Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability, Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing, Quality Child and Youth Education, and Vibrant and Engaged Communities.
Targeted Focus Areas
Through and with our donors, we fund organizations and projects across the nonprofit spectrum. With our discretionary grants, we target five areas of focus.
Economic Opportunity:Career readiness and employmentEntrepreneurship
Financial literacyWork based learning experiences such as, internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training Postsecondary training and education.
Environmental Resiliency and Sustainability:Conservation and recyclingEnvironmental educationEnvironmental justiceEnvironmental resiliency and disaster recoveryLand preservationProtection of natural resources
Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing:Basic NeedsMental Health and Trauma ServicesHealth and Wellness
Quality Child and Youth Education:Career explorationChild and youth developmentDigital inclusion and digital literacyEarly literacy programsEnrichment programsKindergarten readinessSocial emotional learning
Vibrant and Engaged Communities:Access to arts and culture for those with disabilitiesArts and culture projects that addresses complex social issuesArt programming in low-income communitiesCreating community spaces including gardens and parksDevelopment of community artFacilitating community collaborations and conversations
Evaluation Criteria
Your proposed project should address a specific identified and prioritized need and leverage dollars and/or people to make a difference within the community. Reviewers use these criteria as a guide, not a definitive checklist. Overall, we look for signs of efficient and effective organizations.
Vulnerable Populations: Services to vulnerable populations including those who have traditionally been marginalized and/or lack access to resources.Collaboration: Authentic and intentional collaboration among organizations including nonprofit, for-profit, governmental, community and private organizations for the purpose of sharing resources and increasing impact.Best Practices: Programs that are based on best-practices, grounded in research, and/or have demonstrated a positive impact on the target population.Sustained Impact: Programs that demonstrate ongoing and sustained impact, continuing the program or aspects of a program beyond the funding provided by Community Foundation Tampa Bay.Quantify the Impact: The ability to quantify the impact of a program on the target population.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a competitive grant from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, your organization must:Be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Be up-to-date with Internal Revenue Service 990 tax form filings and have filed for at least one fiscal year.
Be serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, or Citrus counties
Be able to apply under the organization’s own tax exempt EIN
Be in compliance with all requirements of previous funds awarded through Community Foundation Tampa Bay including reporting requirements

Ineligibility

Generally, our competitive grants are not designed to fund:Academic scholarships, annual appeals, capital campaigns, fundraising events, membership contributions, etc., capital funding for building and building renovations, general operating and administrative costs, grants to individuals (rent, utilities, etc.), medical or scientific research, political campaigns or direct lobbying efforts, religious or sectarian purposes.