Allegany Franciscan Ministries Tau Grants is a grant from Allegany Franciscan Ministries that funds small nonprofits working to strengthen community health and economic mobility across six Florida counties. General operating grants of $20,000 over two years support organizations expanding access to healthcare services or promoting economic mobility, with a specific focus each grant cycle.

Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits with operating budgets under $1 million, IRS ruling year 2023 or earlier, serving Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, St. Lucie, Martin, Hillsborough, or Pinellas counties. At least 50% of those served must identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, or immigrants, and at least 25% of staff leadership must reflect that same representation.

Tau - Allegany Franciscan Ministries Mission, Vision, Values & History Connecting with Community for our Common Home Nonprofit Capacity & Leadership Initiative Nonprofit Capacity & Leadership Grant Capacity Building Cohorts Wellness Lunch and Learn Webinars Mission, Vision, Values & History Connecting with Community for our Common Home Nonprofit Capacity & Leadership Initiative Nonprofit Capacity & Leadership Grant Capacity Building Cohorts Wellness Lunch and Learn Webinars Tau Grants are intended to strengthen the health and well-being of communities across our six-county region.

These grants specifically support small nonprofit organizations that expand access to healthcare services or promote economic mobility. We are especially interested in organizations that both serve and are led by people from historically marginalized communities, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and immigrants.

General operating grants strengthen the organization’s overall mission and goals and further its charitable purpose. The focus is not on specific projects or programs. Examples include strategic planning, technology upgrades, audits, and infrastructure costs such as utilities, rent, and personnel.

In FY26, there will be two Tau Grant cycles. Each cycle will have one dedicated focus. CYCLE 1 – ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE: Healthcare access is the ability to obtain healthcare services such as diagnosis, prevention or treatment that’s affordable and convenient.

* Examples may include organizations focused on providing health services to underinsured or uninsured individuals or assisting with health insurance enrollment. CYCLE 2 – ECONOMIC MOBILITY: Economic mobility is the ability of individuals to improve themselves and their families’ economic condition. Examples may include organizations focused on job training/placement, entrepreneurship, social assistance, or financial literacy.

To be considered for funding the organization must meet ALL of the following requirements: The organization has an operating budget of less than $1 million. The organization has an active ruling from the Internal Revenue Service confirming 501(c) (3) tax-exempt status AND the most recent IRS ruling is in 2023 or earlier. Serve residents in one or more of the following counties: Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, St.

Lucie, Martin, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. The organization does not have an active Tau grant; if you have an active Tau grant, you may not apply until the current grant is completed with a final report. At least 50% of the organization’s population served includes individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGTBQ+, individuals with a disability, or immigrants.

At least 25% of staff leadership (leadership team as you define it) includes individuals who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ+, an individual with a disability, or an immigrant. Be willing and able to comply with all requirements of the Allegany Franciscan Ministries Grant Agreement. * The organization acts in alignment with Catholic Social Teaching.

Only one application may be submitted for an organization per cycle. Tau grants are not available for individuals, public agencies, capital campaigns, endowments, or reserve funds. Priority will be given to organizations that meet all or most of the following criteria: The application is clear about what the organization does and who it serves.

The need for funding is explained and is reasonable. The organization’s work is closely aligned with the focus area (access to healthcare or economic mobility). The organization incorporates the viewpoint of individuals who are served.

We expect to award up to 40 Tau Grants in FY26, approximately 20 per funding cycle. Each grant will support a two-year term, with a maximum total award of $20,000. The annual amount is flexible, as long as the combined funding over two years does not exceed $20,000.

Note: The amount awarded may be less than the full amount requested. The online application may be accessed by clicking the ACCESS GRANT PORTAL at the bottom of the Tau Grants page or through our direct Login link. If this is your first time applying, read the ONLINE GRANT APPLICATION PORTAL INSTRUCTIONS .

Receipt of the application will be confirmed by an automated email. FY26 Tau Grant Application Questions Cycle 2* *Application questions are provided in advance for reference only. Applications must be submitted online using the Access Grant Portal button located at the bottom of this page.

A Spanish version of the application can be provided if needed. Please contact Carla Batts at cbatts@afmfl. org to request.

Frequently Asked Questions St. Francis of Assisi adopted the Tau symbol as his signature on letters. For St.

Francis, the Tau was a loving symbol of God’s intense relationship of love and the mystery of faith. St. Francis had the symbol carved on the walls of his cell as the sign of genuine hope and faith in God.

Allegany Franciscan Ministries uses this symbol as part of our logo and as the name for our Tau Grant program, to connect us to St. Francis and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, and to remind us of our commitment to those who are experiencing poverty and those who have been historically marginalized. The eligibility guidelines for Tau grants state that “public agencies” are not eligible for funding.

What does this mean? For Allegany Franciscan Ministries, “public agencies” refers to state, county, and local governmental agencies; these entities are not eligible for a Tau Grant from us. Public universities and colleges may not apply directly for funding.

However, if a state university or college has set up a separate foundation, the foundation may apply for funds. The foundation must meet all our eligibility criteria, including 501(c)(3) designation. In addition, a public agency may be a partner in an initiative with another organization that serves as the lead agency; this project would be eligible.

Beyond these two specific grant programs, we are open to partnerships with public agencies. Can my organization apply for another Tau grant when we have an active grant? Organizations cannot apply for a Tau Grant if they have an active grant of the same type.

However, grant partners with one type of active grant (e.g., Tau Grant) can apply for a different type of grant (e.g., ACOR Grant) in the same year. This guiding principle is Allegany Franciscan Ministries’ intentional effort to create equitable opportunity and access to our funding for many diverse and exceptional organizations and programs.

In addition, Tau Grants are not intended to provide ongoing funding, thus we do not renew grants annually. If my grant request was declined, how soon may I apply again? For Tau Grants, a maximum of one request can be submitted per organization per cycle so if your request is denied, another cannot be submitted until the next cycle.

What is the reporting frequency and structure for Tau Grants? A report is required at the end of the grant period. For multi-year grants, the Organization may be required to complete one or more additional reports.

Reports will either be a verbal report to be completed with the Allegany staff person overseeing the grant or a written report submitted through Allegany’s online grant portal. Reporting will include organizational updates, challenges encountered/lessons learned, and an accounting of grant funds. Reporting schedule information for your organization’s awarded grant can be found in Allegany’s online grant portal in your grant agreement.

Contact Erin Baird with Tau Grant program questions via email. Contact Carla Batts via email with grant portal questions. Grants Administration & Quality Manager New & Improved Apply Page and Applicant Dashboard starting July 1, 2025!

Reference resources to help navigate: Information Webinar Recording & Slide Deck and Written Tutorials on Apply Page & Applicant Dashboard . Applications must be accessed and completed through our online grant portal. Returning and new applicants and active grant partners can access the grant portal here.

Contact Carla Batts at cbatts@afmfl. org for questions about Grant Portal. View Portal Instructions & FAQs Demographics via Candid (DvC) Partner Mission, Vision, Values & History Climate Justice & Care for Creation Nonprofit Capacity & Leadership Initiative