| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2019 |
MEDIA CONTACT Savannah Kelly savannah@volunteerflorida.org (850) 556-9799 |
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Volunteer Florida announced the availability of grant funding to help nonprofits recruit and retain skills-based volunteers. The Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) allows nonprofits to use these volunteers to serve Florida students, families and communities. Special consideration will be given to organizations involved in disaster services and organizations that work to reduce or prevent prescription drug or opioid abuse.
This year, Volunteer Florida will distribute up to $395,000 in grant funding. New organizations and second year sub grantees will be eligible to receive $15,000 in grant funding. Third year sub grantees will be eligible to receive $20,000 in grant funding. Sub grantees must provide a full match for their funding. This match brings an additional $395,000 in local investments which increases the total investment in Florida communities to $790,000.
VGF is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and administered by Volunteer Florida. It is expected that this year’s VGF programs will help local nonprofits manage and support approximately 9,600 skills-based volunteers who will collectively contribute 72,000 hours of service throughout the state – a value of $1,442,880.
“Floridians should be proud of the work that Volunteer Florida does to better communities across our state,” Senator Marco Rubio said. “I commend Volunteer Florida for making these funds available for nonprofits throughout the Sunshine State to further our shared goal of uplifting our fellow Floridians, and I look forward to our continued partnership.”
Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram said, “As Florida’s lead agency for volunteerism, we are proud to announce this grant funding that will strengthen the operations of many nonprofit organizations across our state. Florida receives the second highest amount of VGF grant funding in the nation which is a true testament to the impact our sub grantees have had over the past eight years of the program’s history.”
Along with funding, sub grantees will receive additional training and administrative support associated with the Volunteer Generation Fund program.
To view the notice of funding opportunity and learn more, visit Volunteer Florida’s grant page. A technical assistance call is scheduled for Tuesday, July 23 from 10 am to 11 am (ET) via GoToMeeting.
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Volunteer Florida is the Governor’s lead agency for volunteerism and national service in Florida, administering more than $43 million in federal and state funding to deliver high-impact national service and volunteer programs in Florida. Volunteer Florida promotes and encourages volunteerism to meet critical needs across the state, and also serves as Florida’s lead agency for volunteers and donations before, during and after disasters. For more information, please visit www.volunteerflorida.org.