Nonprofit Safety Grant

Description

The Nonprofit Safety Grant helps eligible nonprofit organizations fund projects that improve public safety and reduce crime in Orange County.

Approved organizations may receive reimbursement funding from $1,000 to $10,000 for projects such as crime prevention education, home safety improvements, resident safety training, and disaster preparedness.

Priority is given to projects that serve neighborhoods with large youth and senior populations, higher crime rates, individuals with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged communities.

Applicant Eligibility

Eligible applicants must be an active charitable or religious nonprofit organizations that are tax exempt under 26 U.S.C. § 501(c)(3) and have operated for at least two years.

Organizations must:

• Have board or voting membership approval before applying
• Show they can complete the proposed project
• Provide articles of incorporation and/or bylaws and a list of current officers
• Provide volunteer roles, responsibilities, and assignments
• Be responsible for staffing, contractors, permits, inspections, and code compliance
• Submit a detailed budget with quotes from at least three vendors

Applicants that have been awarded Nonprofit Safety Grants during the immediately preceding two consecutive years are not eligible to apply.

Eligible Projects

Your eligible projects must support public safety, benefit an entire neighborhood, and allow all residents the opportunity to participate.

Eligible projects may include:

• Home security and safety improvements
• Crime prevention and resident safety training
• Youth safety programs
• Senior safety programs
• Neighborhood watch or volunteer patrol materials
• Health, safety, or disaster preparedness events
• Other public safety projects approved by the Neighborhood Services Division

Grant funds cannot be used for salaries, weapons, electronic surveillance equipment, food, beverages, travel, staff training, security gates, general maintenance, or operations.

Submittal Process

Applicants must submit a complete application with applicable supplemental information.

Submit applications by email, mail, or hand delivery to:

Orange County Neighborhood Services Division
Attn: Non-Profit Safety Grant (Justen Augustine)
2450 33rd Street, 2nd Floor
Orlando, FL 32839

Email: OCNeighborhoods@ocfl.net
Phone: 407-836-4200

Submittal Guidelines

Applicants must submit a complete grant application with all required attachments. Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding.

A complete application must include:

• Project work plan
• Detailed project budget
• Vendor quotes
• Volunteer roles and responsibilities
• Articles of incorporation and/or bylaws
• List of current organization officers

Applications are accepted year-round and processed quarterly.

To be considered for the next fiscal quarter, applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the second Thursday in September, December, or March.

Review Process

Within three business days, you will receive an email outlining any deficiencies in your application or notifying you that your grant application has been approved for review.

Applications are reviewed by the Orange County Neighborhood Services Division for:

• Applicant eligibility
• Completeness
• Community impact

County staff may contact applicants regarding missing information, attachments, or budget details.

Qualified applications are reviewed by the Neighborhood Grants Advisory Board, which makes recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.

Grant recipients will be notified in writing within five business days after approval by the Board of County Commissioners.

County review of an application does not guarantee funding.

FY25-26 Quarter 1 Schedule:

• Orientation 08/21/2026
• Application deadline 09/10/2026
• NGAB Meeting 10/08/2026
• BCC Packet due 10/14/2026
• BCC Meeting 12/1/2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Us

Neighborhood Services Division
22450 33rd Street, Second Floor
Orlando, Florida 32839

Email: NeighborhoodGrants@ocfl.net
Phone: (407) 836-4200
Fax: (407) 836-4233

All e-mail sent to this address becomes part of Orange County public record. Comments received by our e-mail subsystem can be read by anyone who requests that privilege. In compliance with "Government in the Sunshine" laws, Orange County Government must make available, at request, any and all information not deemed a threat to the security of law enforcement agencies and personnel.