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Grant & Aid Program for Not-For-Profit Agencies
Overview
The City of Winter Haven has provided grant money from the General Fund in one form or another to various Winter Haven not-for-profit agencies as far back as the 1970s. The goal of these allocations is to ensure residents of Winter Haven have access to the services provided by local not-for-profit providers. These agencies offer services the City of Winter Haven does not or that are complimentary to and consistent with City goals, extending additional benefits to our residents. In short, Grant and Aid is intended to help fill a gap in our community that the City Government doesn't touch through our services by financially supporting those agencies that do.
Grant and Aid Process & Guidelines
Not-for-profit agencies are invited to submit an application for funding through the Grant and Aid Program each year. All agencies must attend a mandatory training session in February to be eligible to apply.
Mandatory Training Sessions
Applicants are required to attend an in-person mandatory training session. 2026 training sessions will be scheduled for February 2026. Please check back here for final dates in December 2025.026
Not-for-Profit Agencies
- Agencies must have a valid 501(c)3 designation from the IRS.
- Agencies must be registered, active, and current on annual reports with the Florida Department of State Division of Corporations (sunbiz.org).
- Agencies must have been in operation and providing services to Winter Haven residents a minimum of two years at the time of application to be eligible to receive grant funding.
- Mandatory training sessions will be offered leading up to the application window. Applicants are required to attend one of the three training sessions to be eligible to apply for the grant. Each training session is the same, and applicants only need to attend one. Only those who attend training will be granted access to the grant application.
- Agencies who have received funding through this process previously must complete two reports each year. Reports must be complete, witnessed and notarized and must include proof of funds spent via sufficient documentation.
- First-Time / New Applicants: The maximum amount that can be awarded to a new applicant is $5,000 in their first grant cycle. Applicants are considered first-time if they did not receive funding in the most current fiscal year. The fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.
- Returning Applicants: The maximum amount that can be awarded to a returning applicant is $20,000 in a single cycle. The only exception to this are agencies presently funded above this threshold in the current fiscal year. Returning applicants currently funded above $20,000 may be considered for funding up to the same amount as their current grant award.
All funding amounts are contingent on the number of applications received and the total amount of funding available. Applicants may not be awarded the full amount requested or the maximum amount allowed.
Not-for-profit agencies should prepare the following documents and information prior to beginning the application:
- Project Budget Sheet - Fill in the information for your project and save your budget spreadsheet as a PDF. Ensure you utilize the sheet provided via email to those who attended training. This must be uploaded to the application when prompted.
- Sunbiz Annual Report - Download your most recent annual report from Sunbiz.org and be prepared to upload it to the application when prompted. If your organization does not have an annual report, please upload your Articles of Incorporation from Sunbiz.org. If you do not have your annual report saved, you can search for it.
- IRS Determination Letter - This is the letter provided by the IRS granting your organization tax-exempt status. If you do not have this letter already saved, you can search for it.
Once all documentation is gathered, ensure you are prepared to answer questions about these topics:
- Your organization. This includes information such as your mission, vision, contact information, and leadership team.
- Your project. This is the project, initiative, or program you are requesting funds for. Be prepared to provide a detailed description of the effort, how you plan to measure the impact, how many Winter Haven residents it will benefit, and any funding sources outside of the City's Grant.
- Evaluation Method and Previous Results. If you have received grant and aid funds from the City of Winter Haven in the current fiscal year, please be prepared to detail the results you have achieved with those funds. All applicants will be required to provide an evaluation plan detailing how you will track and evaluate the results from any funding you may receive as a result of your application.
When you are ready to complete the application using the link provided in the email sent to all who completed training.
The application window for the 2025/26 Fiscal Year is March 1, 2025 through March 14, 2025.
City of Winter Haven staff will review all submitted applications to ensure they meet all defined requirements. Applicants whose applications do not meet one or more requirements will be notified and will have until April 11, 2025 to correct any errors or omissions. Any applications that remain incomplete after that date will not be advanced for consideration.
The Grant and Aid Review Committee review all applications received by the cycle's deadline and make funding recommendations to the City Commission. The eight-member Grant and Aid Review Committee is comprised of the following individuals:
- City of Winter Haven City Commission Appointees:
- Minister Abdurrahim Al-Khatib
- Ms. Melinda Kalogridis
- Dr. Barbara Jones
- Mr. Alex Santiago
- Ms. Tina Summerlin
- Procurement Manager: Bethany Owen
- Budget and Management Officer: Allen Weeks
- Assistant Director of Economic Opportunity & Community Investment, Cedric Cox
2026 Application Cycle Dates
Mandatory Training Sessions
Applicants are required to attend an in-person mandatory training session.
2026 Training Dates
- February 7, 2026, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. - Click Here to Register
- February 11, 2026, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Click Here to Register
- February 19, 2026, Noon - 1:00 p.m. - Click Here to Register
- ADDITIONAL SESSION ADDED: February 23, 2026, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Click Here to Register
2027 Training Dates
- Saturday, February 6, 2027 – 9:00 – 10:00 am
- Tuesday, February 9, 2027 – 10:00 – 11:00 am
- Thursday, February 18, 2027 – Noon – 1:00 pm
- Tuesday, February 23, 2027 – 2:00 – 3:00 pm
Application & Decision Timeline
- March 2, 2026, 8:00 a.m. - March 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m. - FY25/26 Application Window. Applications will not be accepted outside of this timeframe.
- March 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. - FY25/26 Mid-Year Reporting Due
- March 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. - Staff review for completeness and compliance is done. Applicants with incomplete applications notified of deficiencies and steps needed to correct the application.
- April 10, 2026, 5:00 p.m. - Deadline for applicants to make corrections to application. Any application still incomplete will not move forward.
- May 5, 2026, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Grant and Aid Application Review Committee (GAARC) Meeting.
- May 15, 2026, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Grant and Aid Application Review Committee (GAARC) Meeting. (If needed.)
- May 27, 2026, 6:00 p.m. - Award Recommendations Presented to the City Commission.
- September 2026 - FY 24/25 Budget Adopted
- October 2026 - Checks Distributed.
Reporting Requirements
Recipients are required to fill out a mid-year reporting form, and an end-of-year reporting form. Recipients may be asked to provide an update on the utilization of funds in writing or via an in-person presentation to the City Commission.
| Organization | Award Amount |
|---|---|
| Angels Care Center of Eloise, Inc. | 2,500 |
| Aspiring Aviators Aero Club* | 7,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Polk County | 45,000 |
| Bruised but not Destroyed, Inc. | 10,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Central FL, Inc. | 2,500 |
| Concerned Citizens of Winter Haven, Inc. | 10,000 |
| Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, Inc. | 5,000 |
| Cypress Junction Montessori | 5,000 |
| Faith Xtreme | 7,000 |
| Forever Outreach, Inc. | 2,500 |
| GCTE Center Inc. | 10,000 |
| Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven | 18,000 |
| Habitat For Humanity of East Polk County, Inc. | 3,000 |
| Havendale Community Development | 4,000 |
| Helpers One 2 Another | 2,500 |
| Human Environment Linking People, Inc | 2,500 |
| Jewett Golf Association | 5,000 |
| Junior League of Greater Winter Haven | 4,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Polk County, Inc. | 17,500 |
| Neighborhood Service Center | 20,000 |
| Peyton’s Purpose Inc | 3,000 |
| Polk County Pressure Youth Sports | 1,000 |
| Polk State College Foundation | 5,000 |
| Project Love of Eloise, Inc. | 2,500 |
| SOAR Education | 2,500 |
| StepN2ourlane | 10,000 |
| The Haley Center, Inc. | 33,000 |
| The Historic Ritz Theatre, Inc. | 40,000 |
| The Lighthouse for the Blind and Low Vision | 5,000 |
| The Mission of Winter Haven | 2,500 |
| The Public Education Partnership of Winter Haven | 20,000 |
| Top Buttons | 5,000 |
| We Care of Central Florida, Inc. | 3,000 |
Total Amount: 305,000
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| Organization | Amount |
|---|---|
| A Community Pregnancy Center DBA LifeChoice Pregnancy Center | $5,000 |
| Angels of Destiny, Inc. | $5,000 |
| Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Winter Haven | $2,500 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Polk County | $45,000 |
| Catholic Charities of Central Florida, Inc. | $10,000 |
| Central Florida Healthcare, Inc. | $5,000 |
| Concerned Citizens of Winter Haven | $10,000 |
| Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team, Inc. | $4,000 |
| Echo Ministries | $2,500 |
| Faith Xtreme, Inc. | $10,000 |
| First Missionary Baptist Church | $5,000 |
| Florence Villa Community Association, Inc. (FVCA) | $5,000 |
| Forever Outreach, Inc. | $3,500 |
| Girl Scouts of West Central Florida | $7,000 |
| Girls Incorporated of Winter Haven | $20,000 |
| Girls Leave a Mark, Inc. | $5,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of East Polk County, Inc. | $5,000 |
| Heart for Winter Haven, Inc. | $5,000 |
| Helpers One 2 Another | $3,500 |
| House of Hope of Polk County, Inc. | $3,000 |
| Humane Society of Polk County | $3,351 |
| J. Owens Academy of Find Arts, Inc. | $2,500 |
| Junior League of Greater Winter Haven | $5,000 |
| kidPACK | $14,910 |
| Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine | $2,500 |
| Learning Resource Center of Polk County, Inc. | $20,000 |
| Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision | $5,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Polk County, Inc. | $20,000 |
| Neighborhood Service Center | $20,000 |
| Phase 2 Compassionate Ministries Center, Inc. | $2,500 |
| Public Education Partnership of Winter Haven | $5,000 |
| Refuge on the Ridge | $5,000 |
| Restoration Dedication Life Center, Inc. | $5,000 |
| Safe Harbor House of Transformation, Inc. | $2,500 |
| SOAR Education | $2,500 |
| StepN2OurLane | $10,000 |
| Talbot House Ministries of Lakeland, Inc. | $5,000 |
| The B.Rich Project, Inc. | $2,500 |
| The Freedom Tour | $10,000 |
| The Haley Center, Inc. | $20,000 |
| The Mission of Winter Haven | $5,000 |
| Top Buttons, Inc. | $7,500 |
| We Care of Central Florida (WCCF) | $5,000 |
| Women's Resource Center of Florida | $5,000 |
Questions?
The City of Winter Haven staff is available to answer any questions you may have about the Grant and Aid Program. Please email questions to the Office of Public Affairs and Communication or call 863-292-8042.