Florida — United Arts of Central Florida FY2027 Community Impact Grants (Up to $5,000; December 6)

United Arts of Central Florida — FY2027 Community Impact Grants

Up to $5,000 per nonprofit applicant project is available through United Arts of Central Florida’s FY2027 Community Impact Grants. The funder anticipates 10 competitive awards for intentional, meaningful collaborations that bring arts, culture, history, or science organizations together with partners in a different community sector. Applications opened October 12, 2026 and close December 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. The official grant page and guidelines do not state a time zone for that closing hour.

Who qualifies and where

The applicant must be a current 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing with the Florida Division of Corporations, with its principal address in Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County, Florida, and must be current on previous United Arts obligations. The funder verifies applicant status against IRS and Sunbiz records and the principal address on the W-9. Faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits may propose nonreligious programs open to the public. Award recipients must obtain a Unique Entity ID (UEI) before receiving funds. Government agencies, schools, public health departments, libraries, neighborhood groups, and individual teaching artists can be cross-sector partners when eligible, but may not be the sole lead applicant unless they separately meet the 501(c)(3) nonprofit eligibility requirement. Government agencies and individuals may not apply as direct grantees.

Required cross-sector collaboration

Projects must involve an eligible arts-, culture-, history-, or science-based participant and at least one partner outside those fields. Either partner may be the nonprofit applicant if otherwise qualified. Partnerships solely between two arts/cultural/science/history organizations are not eligible, even if their disciplines differ. A mere fee-for-service engagement or one-time contractor arrangement is insufficient: applicants should describe shared planning or project implementation and the community served. A qualified example is a local arts nonprofit working jointly with a healthcare provider to present participatory arts programs serving older adults. Activities must take place in the four eligible counties and provide meaningful community access.

Grant payment, limitations and award period

The award supports eligible project expenses during the April 1, 2027–March 31, 2028 grant activity period. The guidelines specifically disallow costs incurred after March 30, 2028, even though the program activity window extends through March 31; confirm allowable final-day expenses with the funder before spending. Funding cannot pay seasonal general programming, projects for the benefit of for-profit businesses, activities outside the four counties, pre-award expenses, alcoholic beverages, hospitality refreshments, voter-registration campaigns, lobbying, galas, fundraising events, gift cards, or nonsecular religious activities. No universal cash-match percentage appears in the published guidelines; applicants should budget all anticipated project income.

After the grant agreement and payment instructions are completed, 90% is disbursed; the remaining 10% is released as reimbursement after the final report is accepted. Significant project or budget changes need prior approval. Grantees must acknowledge United Arts in promotion. The impact report is due 30 days after project completion.

Application documents and steps

Read the current FY2027 three-page grant guidelines and the official funding and FAQ page. Submit through the United Arts grant portal linked from the funder’s announcement; the portal requires an account and may show additional mandatory questions. Prepare up-to-date nonprofit registration, organizational contact information, W-9, recent IRS Form 990 or financial statements (balance sheet and income/expense statement), proof of a genuine cross-sector partnership and its letter of support, project narrative and collaborative plan, detailed project budget, and relevant supporting materials. Required portal fields and upload formats should be confirmed inside the applicant account before submitting.

Applications close Sunday, December 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. A courtesy review can be requested until November 20 at 5 p.m.; the last day for questions is December 3 at 3 p.m. The funder does not specify time zones on these posted times. This is a competitive charitable project grant, not a procurement solicitation.