Some of the organizations doing meaningful work in Central Florida are also among the smallest. They are often deeply connected to the people and neighborhoods they serve, but with limited budgets and small teams, investing in the organization itself can be difficult.

To address this gap in our nonprofit community, Central Florida Foundation offers Grassroots Grants, an annual grant opportunity designed specifically for small but mighty nonprofits.

Grassroots Grants help organizations strengthen the infrastructure and capabilities they need to grow and sustain their work. That can mean improving governance, financial management, fundraising and development, program evaluation, technology, or opportunities for continuous learning.

Each selected organization receives a $5,000 grant to support its work.

Making the application process more accessible

Grassroots organizations may not have a development team or professional grant writer. We don’t believe that should keep a strong organization from being considered for funding.

That’s why CFF gives applicants the option to submit a video application instead of a traditional written application. Video and written applications are evaluated using the same criteria, and there’s no preference given to one over the other. It’s one way we work to make the grant process more accessible and create a more level playing field for smaller nonprofits.

The volunteer evaluators from our community

Each Grassroots Grant cycle, we ask community members to help review and evaluate grant applications, leading to a deliberation and selection of grantees. This is no easy feat, with the number of applicants growing each year. This year, we received over 100 applications!

Thank you to this year’s group of volunteer evaluators: Angela Corona, Eric Ambinder, Karen Madanick, Liza Donselaar, Megan Rose, Mira Tanna, Muffet Robinson, Tianna Sims-Miller.

The generosity that powers Grassroots Grants

This work is made possible through the philanthropic legacies we steward. This round of Grassroots Grants were supported by these endowed charitable funds at Central Florida Foundation: Heintzelman Employee Club Fund, Kimball Family Fund, Penelope and Winton (Lt. Col. USAF Ret.) Wilson Fund, Labombarda Family Foundation Fund, and the Adam, Geraldine, and John W Eisenhauer Fund.

These funds were continue to fuel important work in Central Florida for generations to come.

Meet the 2026 Grassroots Grantees

This year, CFF is supporting these grassroots organizations serving communities across Central Florida through a Grassroots Grant:

• Armor Up Recovery Homes and Ministry provides transitional recovery housing and holistic support to women overcoming addiction, trauma, homelessness, and human trafficking.
• Engaging Kare Inc. advances health equity through education, prevention, peer support, and other community-driven initiatives.
• Get Too Attached strengthens foster and adoptive families through caregiver training, respite, peer support, practical resources, and community connections.
• Helping Seniors of Brevard Inc. helps older adults and caregivers stay informed, connected, safe, and independent through education, advocacy, resource navigation, and technology training.
• High Five Thrive strengthens families through parent education, career readiness, leadership development, coaching, and community connection.
• Orlando Bunker, Inc. supports the operation, preservation, and long-term sustainability of the CPL Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum.
• Peace Pavilion Inc. promotes health, wellness, and belonging by helping residents document, preserve, and share their communities’ stories through oral histories, story circles, and local Story Steward training.
• Reel Dreams Inc. introduces low-income youth to film and content creation while building skills, confidence, creativity, and connections to careers in media.
• She-lion Inc. empowers underserved youth, girls, young women, and families through mentorship, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, leadership development, workforce readiness, and life skills.
• The Desire Foundation Inc. addresses food insecurity in Parramore through a community grocery store and neighborhood hub connecting residents with healthy food and other resources.
• The Greater Orlando Spinal Cord Injury Network supports people with spinal cord injuries and mobility impairments through peer support, advocacy, education, recreation, wellness, and resource navigation.
• The Ville Community Development Corporation strengthens Eatonville through fresh food access, small business support, cultural programming, and resident-centered economic development.
• WVIP Kids Inc. creates safe, stable, trauma-informed residential homes for youth in Florida’s foster care system.
• Youth Improvement Services provides flexible housing assistance and case coordination to help transition-age youth ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness overcome barriers and achieve stable housing.

Congratulations to each organization!

They may be small in size, but their work reaches families and communities throughout our region in real, meaningful ways. We’re proud to be a part of their growth and look forward to their exciting futures and important work ahead.

This post was written by Laurie Crocker.