Orlando Magic Youth Foundation awards $775,000 to 21 youth nonprofits, the first part of $1.8 million this season
The NBA team's foundation presented its summer grants on Sept. 22 to groups in four Central Florida counties. Letters of intent for its winter cycle open Oct. 2 and close Oct. 23.
Orlando. The Orlando Magic Youth Foundation presented $775,000 in grants to 21 nonprofits serving children in Central Florida on Sept. 22, the first part of the $1.8 million the NBA team says it will distribute through its foundation this season. They were handed out at a luncheon at Kia Center, the team's arena.
The grants, from the foundation's summer cycle, range from $25,000 to $50,000 and go to organizations in Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Brevard counties. By the team's count, 11 education programs received $435,000, five health and wellness programs $190,000, three homelessness programs $100,000 and two arts programs $50,000.
Nine organizations received $50,000 each, among them Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida for its school partnerships, Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida for a youth emergency shelter and Heart of Florida United Way for a science, technology, engineering, arts and math program. The Mental Health Association of Central Florida received $40,000 for free counseling and care for uninsured and underinsured youth.
The rest of the season
The remaining money is to go out through a winter grant cycle, microgrants for smaller nonprofits, the Linda Landman Gonzalez Leadership Grant and year-round training, the team said. Winter grantees are to be announced in February 2027.
The team also announced the OMYF Collective, which brings nonprofit leaders together for year-round training and peer learning.
Last season the team announced $1.6 million, with 18 organizations in its summer cycle. It says it has now distributed at least $1 million 19 times, and more than $32 million through the foundation over 37 years.
How nonprofits apply
For the winter cycle, letters of intent open Oct. 2 and close Oct. 23 in the foundation's online grant portal, according to its grants page. Every applicant, new or returning, must file one; those invited then have until Nov. 13 to finish the application, and awards are to be announced in January or February.
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) public charities serving children or families with children in Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole or Volusia counties, with at least a year of program results and audited financial statements, not reviewed or compiled ones. The foundation does not fund general operating support, capital campaigns, public schools, government agencies or new programs without results, and asks that a request not exceed half of the program's budget.
Microgrants of up to $10,000 are open all year to nonprofits with budgets under $500,000 that have held their IRS determination letter for at least a year; they need no audit and are awarded each quarter. The leadership grant, for a nonprofit leader with at least five years in a leadership role, takes applications from Oct. 15 to Nov. 13.
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