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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. CFNF created Helping Today, Shaping Tomorrow (HTST) to provide grants that strengthen nonprofits across the Big Bend region. The program was developed in response to feedback from nonprofits, fundholders, and community stakeholders about the community’s most pressing needs. HTST offers support to nonprofits addressing challenges with programs and/or services that have the potential for lasting impact. Only nonprofit organizations established in Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, or Wakulla County are eligible to apply. Organizations established outside these counties are not eligible, even if they provide services within the eligible counties. The organization must have a physical presence within one or more of these counties. Each year, CFNF awards ten $5,000 grants. The current grant priorities focus on Education (birth – 5th grade) and Basic Needs. These focus areas were selected by the CFNF Board of Directors after reviewing survey responses and stakeholder input that highlighted these areas as critical needs in our region.

Provide direct services to residents in one or more of the counties listed above. Have at least two years of operating history in one or more of these counties. Have active programs or services that are designed to address community needs in the priority areas of Education (birth-5th grade) and Basic Needs. 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.

Nonprofits able to demonstrate the following: • Programs or services that can be scaled or replicated. • Collaborative partnerships with other nonprofits to provide more efficient approaches to addressing community needs in the funding priority areas. • How this grant can help build capacity. • Clear benchmarks for measuring success. • Currently providing programs or services that are easily accessible in the communities being served. • Ability to demonstrate how the grant will be leveraged to obtain or build upon other funding.

Grant funds cannot be used to support the following: • Capital infrastructure projects (e.g., bricks and mortar). • Ongoing annual operating expenses (rent, utilities, etc.). • Fundraising campaigns or fundraising events. • Grants to individuals, for memberships, annual campaigns, endowments, memorials or reducing deficits. • Expenses incurred prior to the grant date. • Organizations that discriminate against a person or group based on, religious belief, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, national origin, race, disability, gender, and/or age.

• The grant period will cover a 12-month period, beginning with the selection notification date. • Selected organizations must submit to CFNF, a one-page summary report explaining how the work of the organization compared to its benchmark(s) over the 12-month period. • Summary reports must be submitted by Wednesday, December 30, 2027.

Please upload the following supporting documentation.