Grant & Scholarship Opportunities

Opens: September 1, 2023

Closes: September 29, 2023

Grant Award Notification: December 1, 2023

The Community Foundation of North Florida’s (CFNF) mission is to enhance the quality of life in the North Florida community through the promotion and support of charitable giving. Our vision is to serve as an illuminator of community needs while connecting donors to charitable causes they care most to support.

To further our mission and vision, CFNF is launching Helping Today, Shaping Tomorrow (HTST), a small grant program to benefit nonprofit organizations in the Big Bend region. This grant opportunity is designed to provide immediate support to nonprofit organizations that are addressing community needs with programs or services that have the potential for long-term community impact. Nonprofits located in our geographic service area of Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla counties are eligible to apply.

Our small grant program will provide ten $5,000 grants and place priority on applications from nonprofits providing programs or services in the areas of Education and Social & Human Services (specifically, Basic Needs). These two funding priority areas were selected by the CFNF Board of Directors after reviewing the results of a community needs assessment survey. CFNF asked survey respondents to rank the community’s most pressing needs in seven areas historically supported by its donors. Those areas are Arts & Culture, Social & Human Services, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health & Wellness, and Social Services. Survey respondents included donors, nonprofits in our 11-county footprint who have received a grant from CFNF within the past 25 years, and community stakeholders who participated in our strategic planning process.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Provide direct services to residents in one or more of the counties listed above.
2. Have at least two years of operating history in one or more of these counties.
3. Have active programs or services that are designed to address community needs in the priority areas of Education and Social & Human Services (specifically, Basic Needs).
4. Have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or have a fiscal sponsor with tax exempt status, or are a 509(a)(1) or(2) organization with a letter of determination.

Click HERE to apply.

Recipients of the 2022 Helping Today, Shaping Tomorrow grant, please click HERE to complete and submit the required Grant Report Form by November 30, 2023.

Opens: April 3, 2023

Closes: June 5, 2023*

Grant Award Notification: September 29, 2023*

*The Community Foundation reserves the right to extend or postpone provided dates and will give notice of any such change via the website

The Community Foundation of North Florida administers the annual grant cycle on behalf of the Knight Foundation. All grant decisions are made by the Knight Foundation.

2023 Knight Foundation Grant Criteria

Knight supports Tallahassee’s work in revitalizing its downtown and bordering communities to attract and retain talented people and promote economic opportunity. They invest in Tallahassee’s core city vibrancy by supporting projects in smart design, the arts and entrepreneurship.

Tactics leveraged:

1. Building on Assets: better connecting the community to key assets like universities, corporations, or nature.
2. Public Spaces: enhancing the public realm to be more connected and vibrant.
3. Civic Engagement: breaking down barriers between residents and decision makers; engaging underrepresented communities in civic life and leadership roles.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) public charity or tax-exempt government entity. All projects must align with the Knight Foundation’s goals and objectives.

Please complete Part 1 – The Application and Part 2 – The Budget Worksheet in order for your organization to be considered for the grant award.

Part 1 – The Application

Click here to apply.

Part 2 – The Budget Worksheet

Click here to download the budget worksheet.

Click here to upload your completed budget worksheet.

Recipients of the 2022 Knight Foundation Grant are required to provide a Grant Report. Please click HERE to complete the report.

Opens: March 9, 2023

Closes: April 6, 2023

Grant Award Notification: May 1, 2023

The Share Your Story Video Challenge Grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations located in Leon County who are currently serving Low-to-Moderate Income (LMI) members of the community. This is your opportunity to demonstrate through a video story of how your organization demonstrates supporting this community population.

Grant Amount $1,000 per organization

The Community Foundation of North Florida partners with Prime Meridian Bank to offer ten $1,000 unrestricted operations grants to organizations who are serving LMI members of the community.

Eligibility Requirements

1. This grant opportunity is limited to nonprofit organizations located in Leon County and who are currently serving LMI community members.
2. All grants must be made for charitable, religious, scientific, literary, or educational purposes to any organization that is described in Code Section 170(c)(2), 501(c)(3), 2055(a)(2) or 2522(a)(2) (except for private foundations as defined by Code Section 509(a)) (“qualified organization”). Qualified organizations also include schools, religious institutions, or government agencies located in the Big Bend area.

Eligible candidates, please click HERE to apply.

Opens: February 15, 2023

Closes: April 15, 2023

The Sharon Ebersole Memorial Scholarship was established by family and friends in memory of Sharon and her passion for music. This scholarship provides tuition assistance for a Blountstown High School graduating Senior planning to attend a college or university.

Eligibility Requirements

1. Must be a currently enrolled Blountstown High School Senior graduating in 2023.
2. Have been accepted to the college or university of choice.
3. Candidates should display a high degree of personal integrity and discipline, add value to others and/or pursue music in their higher education.

Eligible candidates, please click HERE to apply.