United Arts Grants Community Impact Grants

Update: The next round of Community Impact Grants (fka Community Project Grants) has now opened. Recent updates have been made to this page to match changing guidelines. Please read this page before applying.

FY26 Community Impact Grant

Application Window: October 3, 2025 - December 14, 2025

Grant Activity Window: April 1, 2026 - March 31, 2027

Community Impact Grants provide competitive funding of $5,000 to support specific, relevant, and meaningful arts, history, and science cross sector collaborations between an arts-based organization and a non-arts-based organization to create experiences of value to the communities those organizations serve. For the purpose of this funding opportunity, United Arts defines “community” as any group that your organization is intentionally working to serve (e.g. members, students, artists, participants, audience, geographic community, ethnic heritage, or cultural traditions). 

This change in this grant program aligns with United Arts’ desire to create a vibrant community through art, culture, history, and science. Funds may be used for intentional and established collaborations between two organizations from different backgrounds. Collaborations should reflect one area of society that the arts have a positive impact on mentioned in the Americans for the Arts Arts Impact Explorer. 

Open to 501(c)(3) Organizations, Community Impact Grants:

• Have a cross-sector partnership that shows a meaningful collaboration between the arts and another sector.
• Does not fund seasonal support. A meaningful collaboration is intended for this grant.
• Includes a defined project with a meaningful relationship.
• Increases access to and participation in arts, culture, history, or science programming within our communities.
• Acts as a catalyst for positive change through arts and culture-based creative community development.

Maximum Request Amount: $5,000

• Funding is competitive; only 10 projects will be awarded.
  • Not all projects of merit are able to be funded.
• United Arts funds may be used to support eligible project-related activities within the one-year grant period. 
• Applicants will be notified if they include ineligible expenses in their project budget/application. 

Organizational Eligibility:

• Applicant organizations must have current 501(c)3 status and current good standing with the state of Florida Division of Corporations as a nonprofit organization. United Arts will verify status at www.irs.gov and sunbiz.org. 
• The nonprofit 501(c)3 must be located in Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole counties (United Arts uses the principal address listed on an organization’s W-9 and Sunbiz registration). 
• The nonprofit organization should have a Unique Entity ID through the federal government to receive United Arts Funding (learn more about getting a Unique Entity ID here). 
  • This is not required, but it is highly suggested to register for a Unique Entity ID as it is often a requirement on state, city, and outside funding opportunities. 
• Faith-based organizations who have 501(c)3 status as long as the event is a non-faith-based program open to any segment of the population. 
• Applicant organizations must be in good standing with any prior United Arts grant or contract reporting. 
• Operating Support grantees are eligible to apply, but the project must be focused on increasing access in the community. The work must be either an expansion to new sites, or a new program/service etc., being offered to a new community. 

Collaborative Organization:

The collaborative partner for this program:

• Must be from another sector than the applicant.
• Does not have to be a 501(c)3 nonprofit, but must be a legal entity.
• Must be located in Lake, Orange, Osceola or Seminole counties.
• Be in good standing with United Arts grant or contact reporting (if applicable).

Organization Eligibility Restrictions:

Organizations are NOT eligible if they are:

• Organizations that are adjuncts to for-profit organizations. (“Friends of” organizations are eligible to apply only in lieu of the parent nonprofit organization). 
• A public or private entity governed by an agency of the state government. 
• Fraternal or sports organizations. 
• Political causes, candidates, organizations, or campaigns. 

In all cases, final eligibility decisions are made by United Arts staff. Approval of a previous project grant funding does not guarantee funding in subsequent years. 

Project Eligibility:

Projects based in the arts, culture, history, or science that take place in Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole counties and are open to the public. Exhibits, performances, festivals, arts education, outreach programs, and art-based community development activities are examples of typical projects. Professional artists must be involved in the planning and execution of each project.  Social and Human Service Organizations must partner with arts organizations.  

Cross-sector projects must show a meaningful collaboration between an arts organization and another organization from a differing sector. These projects and collaborations must reflect the “Arts & ____” intersections in the Arts Impact Explorer. Examples of projects in each intersection can be found on the Arts Impact Explorer website by clicking on one of the sectors then “Learn More”. 

Funds must be used during the course of the project and are not considered a contract for services where a partner is paid for a one-time service/collaboration. This is a meaningful collaboration design to create real community impact between the arts and another sector. 

For more information on requirements, unallowable expenses, and evaluation, please download the Guidelines document linked below.

Application Tips:

• Start early! 
  • Read these guidelines thoroughly and take note of any questions. 
  • Proofread! It can be helpful to have colleagues and other members of your organization review the application before final submission. You can ask for a courtesy review by United Arts before the deadline. 
  • Gather your needed documents: organization financials (most recent IRS Form 990 or financial statements – balance sheet and income/expense statement), support materials (press, flyer/program, patron surveys, link to max 5 minutes of video, etc.), and Letter of Support. 
• Save often! 
• Submit early! 
  • Leave extra time at the end in case you have questions or computer trouble. Missing documents or fields will prevent the submission of the application. Contact and project information for all grantees will be made available to the press, and United Arts may use quotes or pictures from applications or reports in publicity.   
• Don’t stop here! 
  • Post your events for free at ArtsinOrlando.com. This resource is open to everyone to use, and it will be a requirement to post your project if awarded.

For tech support or other questions: Contact Cameron Robinson at cameron@unitedartscfl.org or call 407-504-0684 or Outreach at outreach@unitedartscfl.org.