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Community Grant Program
The City of Ocoee Community Grant Program is one way for the City to
acknowledge the value and excellence of our local community
non-profit organizations and the individuals who make these groups
successful. The Community Grant Program provides financial grants of
up to $500. Groups that are eligible to apply for a grant are Ocoee
non-profit organizations and civic groups, and non-profit
organizations and civic groups outside the City limits which benefit
residents of Ocoee. The grants are awarded to acknowledge excellence
and to further the contributions these local organizations bring to
the Ocoee community.
Funding Cycles
Applications for the City of Ocoee Community Grant Program are
accepted twice a year. The first cycle opens in January of each year
with applications due by January 30. Applications are then forwarded
to members of the Community Grant Review Board who individually
review each application according to the criteria provided. The
Community Grant Review Board meets to discuss their individual
ratings and then makes a recommendation to the City Commission and
it makes the final determinations. Checks are then mailed to the
grant recipients within three weeks.
The second cycle opens in July with applications due by July 30.
Applications are then forwarded to members of the Community Grant
Review Board who individually review each application according to
the criteria provided. The Community Grant Review Board meets to
discuss their individual ratings and then makes a recommendation to
the City Commission and it makes the final determinations. Checks
are then mailed to the grant recipients within three weeks.
The grant cycles will be published on the City Web site and Ocoee
TV, Channel 200. Efforts will also be made to put the information in
the News to You and the West Orange Times. Applications (Microsoft
Word or Adobe PFD format) will be available on the Web site or at
the City Hall reception desk. The Community Relations telephone
number and e-mail will be published on the application in case there
are any questions.
Applicants will not be allowed to discuss their application with any
members of the Community Grant Review Board prior to the boards
meeting to discuss the applications. No formal presentations will be
allowed by the applicants at the Community Grant Review Board
meeting; however, applicants must attend to answer any questions
that the board may have.
The Community Grant Review Board will individually review each
application according to a pre-determined set of criteria. That
criteria includes:
Whether the application provides sufficient information.
Whether that application has recently received a community grant.
Whether the organization has formally supported the application
through a vote taken at one of their meetings.
How many members of the applicant organization live in Ocoee?
How many clients of the applicant organization live in Ocoee?
What other fundraising efforts has the organization used besides
this grant process to gain funding for this purpose?
Whether the organization volunteers in the community on a regular
basis, or whether they are willing to volunteer their time outside
of that which is dedicated to benefit their own organization.
What accomplishments their organization has made over the past 24
months.
The merits of the specific purpose of the grant in so far as it is
important to the Ocoee community as a whole versus the benefits to
the organization or individual members or clients of the
organization.
The Community Grant Review Board will then meet to discuss their
individual findings and come up with an overall recommendation.
The City Commission will receive the grant applications, the
Community Grant Review Board meeting minutes, and the formal
recommendation. The Commission will discuss this at a public meeting
and make a final decision.
Applicants will not be allowed to discuss their application
(Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format) with members of the City
Commission prior to the Commission meeting at which they will
discuss the application. No formal presentations will be allowed by
the applicants at the Commission meeting; however, applicants should
attend to answer any questions that the board may have. The
Community Grant Review Board members may also want to attend the
Commission meeting in case there are any questions relating to their
deliberations and/or recommendation.
The decision of the City Commission is final. All applicants must
have an IRS W-9 form on file with the Finance Department. All grants
awarded must be made payable to the applicant.
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