ORCF Community Grants

The Ocean Reef Community Foundation's Community Grants Program supports local charities addressing community issues and fostering self-sufficiency. Grants focus on innovative projects that improve community welfare, with preference given to those involving partnerships and additional funding sources. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities and demonstrate a clear impact on the defined areas. The program prioritizes initiatives that enhance services, empower individuals, and address root causes of challenges faced by the community.

NOTE: An Optional Pre-Application is available in the Grant Application portal to help determine an appropriate project prior to submitting the full application.
Community Grants Program
The Ocean Reef Community Foundation grants programs are a direct result of the generosity of the Ocean Reef Community. The Community Grants Program provides support for qualified charities in the immediate and adjacent communities and prioritizes funding innovative approaches to address the root causes of community issues and empower our neighbors to be self-sufficient and successful.
The Foundation will consider Community Grants where a need for funding for building, equipment, improvements, increased efficiency, growth, programs, services, education, collaboration and innovation within our geographic limitations and project interest areas is presented through the annual application process. In considering requests, the Foundation will show preference for projects which relate directly or indirectly to the Ocean Reef employee base.
A request which asks the Foundation for a portion of the support for a project, and includes documentation of the other sources from which it has requested and/or obtained funds, will receive greater priority than one which looks to the Foundation as the sole funding source. The Grants Committee also prioritizes offering match grants in which each Foundation dollar granted will attract donations from other sources and will look favorably on organizations which maximize the opportunity.
The Community Grants Program seeks to fund projects which add to what a stable, established organization is able to offer the community and therefore does not fund grants to cover general operating/overhead or administrative expenses unless these are one time requests in initial stages of growing the organization or offering new programs. In such a case, this must be acknowledged and plans for how the organization anticipates funding these costs going forward should be included in the request.
The Ocean Reef Community Foundation policy is for staff and Grants Committee members to vet grant applicants, visiting personally whenever possible, and then to monitor recipients to verify that funding is being used in accordance with the terms of the Grant Agreement.
Program Priorities
The Community Grants Program prioritizes requests which:
Address the root causes of community issuesEmpower people to be self-sufficient and successfulInitiate new programs and/or expand services throughout our defined areasLeverage other funding sources and partnerships to attract additional support to our defined areasImprove the ability of the organization to serve the community
Areas of Interest/Geographic Focus
Primary areas of interest within the confines of Ocean Reef Club include all existing 501(c)(3) charities.Primary areas of interest for the surrounding communities of Key Largo, Florida City and Homestead:Education: preschool, primary, secondary and post-secondary education; job training, certification and continuing education; special needs education and other education issuesYouth: youth needs and programs, child development, youth development and youth leadership developmentHealth & Family Services: health care and human services which contribute to safe, healthy familiesCommunity: projects that identify and address community needs and/or improve the organization’s ability to serve the communityNote: Requests related primarily to the environment should be submitted directly to the Ocean Reef Conservation Association (www.oceanreefconservationassociation.org) and will not be considered unless they have a component which meets ORCF's criteria. The Grants Committee may also identify other areas when emerging needs and/or opportunities justify special consideration.

Eligibility

Organizations not physically located within the geographic limitations above and/or those which serve a broader area must apply for a specific project which benefits the residents of our defined areas. Such applications must make clear exactly how the funds requested will be directed to benefit the appropriate population to be considered.Organizations must be classified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code guidelines to apply.

Ineligibility

We Do Not Fund:Individuals General operating/overhead or administrative expensesEndowment or memorial funds Those outside the geographic limitations set under these guidelinesThose normally fully funded by government Religious activities or programs that serve predominantly one denominationPolitical organizations or campaigns