Annual Competitive Grants

Tampa Bay's community foundation runs one competitive grant round a year for local nonprofits, including youth education projects. Last cycle's awards were $5,000 to $55,000.

Amount: Up to 30% of your last fiscal year revenue (last cycle $5,000 to $55,000; average $28,700)
Can a for-profit school apply?: No: for-profit schools excluded
Deadline: Jan 8, 2027 (72 days left)
Who this fits: Private school · Microschool · Homeschool co‑op501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando or Citrus counties. 'Quality Child and Youth Education' is a focus area. Fits a nonprofit school or co-op with its own EIN and at least one filed 990; not a for-profit school.Religious schools: yes, not for religious activities
New schools: Not for brand-new schools
Where: Florida only, local area
Last checked: Oct 28, 2026on cftampabay.org

See the funder’s page

Unconfirmed: check with the funder

We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.

Whether private schools have been funded before
Whether a religious school's general education project counts as sectarian (ask the foundation)

What to do now

Step 1: Confirm your 501(c)(3), your filed 990 and that you serve one of the five counties
Step 2: Work out 30% of last year total revenue (your cap)
Step 3: Plan a project in a focus area such as Quality Child and Youth Education
Step 4: Apply between November 30, 2026 and January 8, 2027

Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.

Who can apply

“Be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code”

In the funder’s own words, from cftampabay.org, checked Oct 28, 2026.

You must have filed at least one year of IRS Form 990 and apply under your own tax-exempt EIN (no fiscal sponsor). Requests are capped at 30% of last year's total revenue. Not funded: general operating costs, scholarships or personal support, building campaigns or major renovations, fundraising events, and programs that are sectarian or mainly religious. Equipment is OK when it directly supports the program.

501(c)(3) with at least one year of Form 990 filings
Serves Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando or Citrus county
Applies under its own EIN
Request no more than 30% of last fiscal year revenue
Project, not general operating; no sectarian programs

Timing

Cycle opens November 30, 2026; applications due January 8, 2027; final notice by June 11, 2027. Once a year.

Not legal or tax advice. Whether your school should be for-profit or a nonprofit, or take on a loan, is a decision for your CPA or attorney. Always confirm the details on the funder’s own page before you apply.

Something off?

Tell us what looks wrong and we’ll re-check it against the funder’s page. Nothing here changes until a person checks.

What to do now

Confirm your 501(c)(3), your filed 990 and that you serve one of the five counties

Work out 30% of last year total revenue (your cap)

Plan a project in a focus area such as Quality Child and Youth Education

Apply between November 30, 2026 and January 8, 2027

Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.

Who can apply

“Be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code”

In the funder’s own words, from cftampabay.org, checked Oct 28, 2026.

501(c)(3) with at least one year of Form 990 filings

Serves Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando or Citrus county

Applies under its own EIN

Request no more than 30% of last fiscal year revenue

Project, not general operating; no sectarian programs

Something off?

Tell us what looks wrong and we’ll re-check it against the funder’s page. Nothing here changes until a person checks.