Browse Answers by Topic

According to our Strategic Framework, our priority investment areas are parenting, early childhood development, youth development, health and wellness, family and neighborhood supports, community engagement, awareness and advocacy, and learning and quality improvement. A detailed look at where our funding goes can be found there.

The use of Trust funds is governed by the Budget Manual. Some things that Trust funding CANNOT be used for include: food and beverage; gift cards and cash incentives for program participation; purchase of buildings, construction costs, mortgage costs, leasehold or capital improvements; direct medical care; expenditures for lobbying; Florida sales tax; purchase of vehicles; staff entertainment costs; alcohol; severance pay, unless required by law; overtime pay, bonus pay, accrued vacation pay, accrued sick pay and/or pay to employees who are suspended; and capital equipment purchases for subcontractors. Refer to the Budget Manual for a comprehensive list of allowable and unallowable expenditures. 

Governmental entities, not-for-profit, for-profit and faith-based organizations providing direct services within Miami-Dade County. The Children’s Trust is prohibited by section 125.901, Florida Statutes, from allocating and providing funds to programs or agencies that are under the exclusive jurisdiction of the public school system. However, collaboration with and/or use of school facilities by other entities may be permissible on a case-by-case determination.   

Funding for direct services is awarded through competitive grants opportunities (such as a request for proposal aka an RFP) on up to a five-year cycle. Funding for the selection of proposals that do not involve direct services is available on a rolling basis (e.g., one-year innovation projects, small grants program for community awareness and community engagement efforts). 

Frequently visit The Children’s Trust website; subscribe to our Weekly Provider Bulletin; and follow The Children’s Trust on social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram). 

A recent annual financial statement audit is required for most grant opportunities. We recommend utilizing a Trust-approved CPA vendor; a list can be found here. You must show proof that your agency is currently qualified to conduct business in the State of Florida; and confirm that you owe no funds to The Children’s Trust. Any amounts owed must be repaid to The Trust prior to the release of any solicitation for which you wish to apply. 

The Trust uses an online solicitation process; register in the system as early as possible, even if you decide not to apply. You should review the grant opportunity in its entirety prior to completing the application and ensure that you are able to provide all required documentation. Your application and all required attachments must be submitted on time; do not wait until the last minute. Prior applicants have said that it takes them approximately 80 hours to complete an application. And be aware that after-school programming for elementary school children requires service sites to be certified by DCF. Approval must be received by the time the program starts; please note that the DCF approval process may take some time. 

Each competitive grant opportunity describes the type of services we seek to fund; make sure you read the entire document to understand what is required. You should also review all posted materials and attend all relevant meetings before applying, as well as the debriefing meeting after applying (dates are posted on The Trust website). Signing up to be a volunteer reviewer for other grant applications to familiarize yourself with the review process, gain a better understanding of what we look for in a winning proposal, and learn how to write a solid application, is also recommended. 

Visit The Children's Trust website frequently for grant updates and notifications; subscribe to our Weekly Provider Bulletin; make note of all requirements and important dates and meetings outlined in the grant opportunity; and, if you have additional questions while working on your application, submit those in writing through the online grant application. Answers to all submitted questions are posted regularly within the grant opportunity. Applicants should regularly review all questions and answers posted.  

Each grant opportunity outlines how its applications will be reviewed and scored. Rating teams are comprised of Trust staff, experts in the field and trained community reviewers, with each member scoring an application independently. The team then convenes in a public debriefing meeting to discuss their reviews and insights, and to reach consensus on a team score for each application. Members of the public are welcome to attend as silent observers. The highest-ranking numerical score does not assure a funding recommendation, as other factors may be considered, such as alignment with Trust priority investment areas, effective and economical distribution of funding across Miami-Dade County and/or in underserved geographic areas/populations in Miami-Dade County (if applicable), minimizing duplication of efforts, and reasonable program cost for the services and outcomes proposed. Once all application scores have been confirmed and other factors considered, The Trust CEO and staff submit funding recommendations to the board of directors for its consideration. Board meetings are open to the public and applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. 

If The Trust board approves the recommendations, applicants are awarded a grant with The Children’s Trust. The terms of the grant are bound by a contract, negotiated and approved by both parties, with typical requirements including promotion of The Children’s Trust and your program in all materials; adherence to all program management, fiscal and programmatic reporting requirements; and compliance with Trust program performance metrics expectations. Pending successful program implementation, contracts may or may not be recommended for renewal annually during the funding cycle