2026 COCA Cultural Grant

The Cultural Grant for FY26 is administered by the Council on Culture & Arts (COCA) on behalf of Leon County and the City of Tallahassee. COCA serves as the region’s local arts agency and is a nonprofit organization committed to promoting arts and culture in Florida’s capital area. It operates collaboratively with municipal, county, and state entities to provide funding opportunities for local cultural programming. This grant is specifically designed to fund cultural programs that attract out-of-county visitors to Tallahassee and Leon County, thereby enhancing the region’s tourism industry. The primary objective of the Cultural Grant is to support arts, history, and cultural programs that have exemplary standards, provide educational opportunities, or serve unique or diverse populations. Eligible programming should be demonstrably designed to attract tourists and must show out-of-county promotion and attendance tracking. The grant is funded through the Leon County Tourist Development Tax (TDT) and is thus governed by Florida Statute §125.0104, which requires funded activities to promote and advertise tourism as a central purpose. Applicants must be either nonprofit organizations with specific financial qualifications or designated state partners affiliated with state universities or institutions. All applicants must operate within Leon County or Tallahassee, demonstrate professional staffing and governance, and maintain a strong record of community engagement and program accessibility. Applicants may request funding based on their allowable operating income from the previous fiscal year. Requests range from $28,000 to $350,000 depending on income tiers and applicant classification, with a separate cap of $30,000 for certain state partners. Applications must be submitted via Submittable by June 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Prior to submission, applicants can attend a webinar on May 9 and request consultations through June 6. The review process includes an eligibility review by COCA and the County, followed by a scoring panel. Review meetings will take place on September 2, 2025, with approvals continuing through mid-September. The funding period begins October 1, 2025, and ends September 30, 2026. First payments are issued in November 2025, and second payments (for awards over $10,000) follow mid-year reports due May 1, 2026. Allowable expenses include programming-related costs such as personnel, outside services, production, marketing, and supplies directly connected to tourist-attracting activities. Non-allowable expenses include general overhead, capital expenditures, food, travel for staff, and private events. Final reports with documentation of spending, programming, and logo use must be submitted by October 31, 2026. Failure to comply may result in fund repayment or ineligibility for future grants. Application review is based on three main scoring areas: organizational capacity, program evaluation, and tourism impact. Organizations must also adhere to strict non-discrimination policies and properly acknowledge COCA and its funding partners in all promotional materials. Questions and consultations are directed to Summer Callahan, Grants Manager, at [email protected].