About the OPPORTUNITY
FY27 Community Impact Grant
Application Window: October 12, 2026 - December 6, 2026
Grant Activity Window: April 1, 2027 - March 31, 2028
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).
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.
Cross-Sector vs. Cross-Disciplinary
Projects must involve a cross-sector collaboration, not simply a cross-disciplinary partnership.
Cross-sector collaboration brings together organizations from different sectors to work toward a shared goal. For example, a music organization might partner with a hospital to provide music-based programming for older adults with dementia.
Cross-disciplinary collaboration brings together organizations or individuals from different disciplines within the same broader sector. For example, a science center partnering with a museum to offer a STEAM workshop would be cross-disciplinary.
For this grant program, the applicant may be any eligible nonprofit organization. The proposed project must involve collaboration between an arts, culture, history, or science organization and a partner from a different sector. Either organization may serve as the applicant. Partnerships between two arts, culture, history, or science organizations are not eligible.
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:
Eligible Applicant Organizations
The applicant organization must:
- Be a current 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in good standing with the Florida Division of Corporations. United Arts will verify organization’s status through the IRS and Sunbiz.
- Be located in Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County. United Arts will determine location using the principal address listed on the organization’s W-9 and Sunbiz registration.
- Be in good standing with all prior United Arts grant or contract requirements, including reports.
Faith-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status may apply for non-faith-based programs that are open to the public. Organizations selected for funding must have or obtain a Unique Entity ID before receiving grant funds.
Eligible Collaborative Partners
The collaborative parter must:
- Represent a different sector from the application organization.
- Be located in or serve communities within Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County.
- Be in good standing with any prior United Arts grant or contract requirements, if applicable.
Collaborative partners do not have to be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Eligible partners may include:
- Neighborhood associations
- Public health departments
- Community centers
- Libraries
- Schools or government agencies
- Individual artists or teaching artists
- Other organizations or individuals representing a sector different from the applicant organization
An individual artist or teaching artist may serve as a collaborative partner but may not apply as the lead applicant.
Ineligible Applicant Organizations
The following are not eligible to apply:
- Organizations that operate as adjuncts to for-profit organizations. A “Friends of” organization may apply only in place of its parent nonprofit organization.
- Fraternal or sports organizations.
- Political causes, candidates, organizations, or campaigns.
- Government agencies and other public entities. These entities may participate as collaborative partners but may not serve as the applicant organization.
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:
- Be based in arts, culture, history, or science.
- Take place in Lake, Orange, Osceola, or Seminole County.
- Be open or accessible to the community identified in the application.
- Be designed and implemented through an intentional collaboration between the applicant and a partner from a different sector.
- Use arts, culture, history, or science to support positive community impact.
Eligible projects may include exhibits, performances, festivals, educational programs, outreach, activities, and creative community development projects.
The applicant must be an eligible 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The collaborative partner must represent a different sector and may be an eligible organization, individual artist, or teaching artist. Partnerships between two arts, culture, history, or science organizations are not eligible.
Projects should align with one or more of the cross-sector areas identified in the Arts Impact Explorer.
Grant funds must support the collaborative project and may not be used solely to pay a partner for a one-time service.
The partnership should involve shared planning or implementation rather than a standard vendor or contractor relationship.
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 407-628-0333 ext. 1017 or Outreach at outreach@unitedartscfl.org.
