Florida Off-Road Foundation Grant Program

Funder: Florida Off-Road Foundation Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization

Geographic Scope: Florida only

Funding Source: Annual distribution of "Explore Off Road" Florida Specialty License Plate use fees

Award Range: Grants can range from $250 to $50,000 annually, with up to $250,000 awarded for multi-year projects

Core Mission Objectives

Grants support qualified Florida nonprofit organizations working to:

• Protect and preserve Florida's natural off-road habitat
• Educate Floridians about responsible use of the off-road environment
• Support civilian volunteer programs that promote the use of off-road vehicles to assist law enforcement in search and rescue situations
• Support organized cleanups, trail maintenance, and restoration of trails and surroundings
• Preserve Florida's off-road culture and heritage

Eligible Project/Activity Types

• Trail cleanups and maintenance
• Natural habitat and ecosystem support
• Conservation and preservation initiatives
• Trail or surrounding enhancements and restoration
• Public education programs on off-road safety or ecology topics
• Natural heritage and history programs
• On-site demonstrations and off-road explorations
• Youth educational programs and museum support
• Law enforcement volunteer programs for search and rescue and emergency rescue
• Beach patrol assistance programs

Eligibility Requirements

• Applicant must be a qualified Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
• Must have State of Florida Charitable Solicitation Registration number
• Activities or programs must be associated with one or more of the foundation's core mission objectives
• Must follow limitations of Florida State Legislation governing Specialty License Plates
• Must be aligned with FORF core mission values
• Requests must be submitted at least 90 days in advance of the project/activity

Administration

• A grant advisory council, annually selected from an elite group of industry experts, reviews and accepts grant applications
• Up to 10% of funds may be used for marketing of the plate, costs directly associated with creation of the plate, and administrative costs related to distribution of proceeds, including annual audit services and compliance affidavit costs
• Remainder of funds go to qualified nonprofit organizations
• Applicants will be contacted by email or phone if approved

Contact Information

• Website: floridaoffroadfoundation.org
• Phone: (800) 435-7352 (for registration/compliance questions)
• A copy of the foundation's official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services

Grant Application Process

Timeline Requirement: Requests must be submitted at least 90 days in advance of the project/activity

Required Application Materials

Complete the online Grant Request Application form with the following information:

1. Organization Information
   • Florida Non-Profit Organization Name (Required)
   • IRS 501(c)(3) designation
   • State of Florida Charitable Solicitation Registration number
2. Contact Information
   • Contact Name (Required) - First and Last
   • Contact Phone (Required)
   • Contact Email (Required)
3. Mailing Address (Required)
   • Street Address
   • Address Line 2
   • City
   • State (must be Florida)
   • ZIP Code
4. Project Details
   • Project/Event Title (Required, if applicable)
   • Timeline/Dates of Project/Event (Required)
   • Project/Event Summary (Required) - Briefly summarize the project, overall need for this service, area/community receiving help, and include all other relevant information
5. Funding Request
   • Grant Amount Requested (Required) - Select from:
   • Less Than $500
   • $500 - $1,500
   • $1,501 - $3,000
   • $3,001 - $5,000
   • More Than $5,000
6. Narrative Questions (Required)
   • What's Your Budget Plan for How to Spend Money Granted?
   • How Will Your Non-Profit Utilize This to Support Florida Off-Road Foundation's Core Mission Objectives?
7. Supporting Materials (Optional)
   • Upload Additional Supporting Materials (if applicable)
   • Maximum file size: 256 MB
8. Applicant Sign-Up Information (Required)
   • Full Name (Required) - First and Last
   • Email (Required)
   • Birthday (Required) - MM/DD/YYYY format
   • Are you a Florida resident? (Required) - Yes/No
   • Opt-in for updates about the Explore Off-Road license plate and Florida Off-Road Foundation (Required) - Yes/No
9. SB 412 Compliance - By submitting, applicants affirm alignment with SB 412 language regarding license plate fund distribution and use

Submission Format

• Online form submission via their website
• Must ensure all required fields are completely filled out to apply for a grant