Community & In-Kind Donation Program

The City of Sunny Isles Beach offers two types of support to eligible nonprofit organizations that benefit the community: monetary donations (Community Donations) and non-monetary assistance (In-Kind Donations). Below is a quick guide to understanding how the program works.

What Are Community & In-Kind Donations?

• Community Donations provide monetary support to eligible nonprofit organizations.
• In-Kind Donations offer the use of city facilities, park space or equipment without charge providing that it doesn’t interfere with city programming or business operations.

Who Can Apply?

• Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Organizations must support a public purpose such as arts, education, health, social services, or environmental efforts.
• All requests must be sponsored by a current elected official and approved by the City Commission. 

Application Periods

• Applications must be submitted between July 1 and September 1.
• Awards by October
• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Exceptions may be made for emergencies such as natural disasters or public health crises.

Funding & Limits

• Community and In-Kind contributions are limited to $5,000 per organization – per year, based on the funding allocated by the City Commission each budget year.
• Each elected official (Mayor, Vice Mayor, or Commissioner) will have a portion of the total donation budget to allocate at their discretion.
• Elected officials (sponsors) may recommend:
  • Fully funding a request,
  • Partially funding a request, or
  • Not funding a request.

Important Notes

• Each organization may only submit one application per year per donation type.
• If requesting both monetary and in-kind support, two separate applications are required.
• Use of the City logo, branding, or likeness is only permitted with the approval of the City Manager’s Office. 
• All funding and donations must be used strictly for the purpose described in the application.
• A final report with results and key performance indicators (KPIs) is required after the program or event.

Community & In-Kind Donation Guidelines

After reviewing the program overview, the following section provides more details on how monetary (Community) and non-monetary (In-Kind) donation requests are reviewed and awarded by the City of Sunny Isles Beach. These guidelines help ensure the City’s resources are used fairly and effectively to support programs that directly benefit our community.

Organizations must be a designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, educational, or other specified purposes and that meet certain other requirements are tax exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).

Donations may not be made to religious organizations. 
Per Article I, Section 3 of the State of Florida constitution.
“No revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian institution.”

All requests must be sponsored by a current elected official (Mayor, Vice Mayor, or City Commissioner) and approved by resolution.
The donation sponsor must not have a personal interest (direct or indirect) in the organization (i.e. familial ties or an active Board Member). Contact information for the current Commission can be found on the City’s website, www.sibfl.gov.

All donations must align with the mission statement of Sunny Isles Beach.
The City of Sunny Isles Beach’s mission is to enrich the quality of life by providing excellent service, building on its reputation as a culturally rich and inclusive community, and cultivating a safe and harmonious environment where residents, businesses, and visitors can thrive.

All donations must support the public purpose of Sunny Isles Beach.
Donations must support the public purpose.

Organizations can only submit one request per fiscal year. 
The City of Sunny Isles Beach’s fiscal year is October 1 – September 30. Multiple requests will not be considered.

Application period and expenditure of funds.
Applications may be submitted for consideration July 1 – September 1. Donation requests will be awarded by October. Applications received after September 1 will not be considered.

Funds must be used according to the use described on the application. Unspent funds must be returned to the City of Sunny Isles Beach by September 30.

Applications must be submitted by September 1, at 5:00 p.m. via the city’s website. Applicants will receive a confirmation email; incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Please note, emergency exceptions may be made with City Commission approval for events such as disasters or public emergencies. 

Funding sources and donation amounts. 
Donation requests received by the City of Sunny Isles Beach should not be considered as a secured funding source in an organization’s budget. Funds may only be used for the public purpose, funds should not be used for salaries, office supplies, or expenses not explicitly stated on the request.

Awarded donation amounts may vary by organization; when submitting a request, please specify the amount of intended support. The maximum amount awarded per organization is $5,000.

Use of City of Sunny Isles Beach Logo & Likeness
The use of the City of Sunny Isles Beach logo, marketing collateral and likeness must be approved by the City Manager’s Office.

Request Requirements:

•  Formal request letter to appropriate sponsor on organization letterhead, include how the request benefits the public purpose
•  Proof of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization status
• Donation request form/completed application
• Budget breakdown
• Key performance indicators for program success

Please note, submitting a donation request does not guarantee funding. All donation requests require approval by the City Commission.

Community & In-Kind Donation Application

Applicant Checklist

The following items must be submitted with Community Donation Application or In-Kind Donation Application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please note, the application window is from July 1 – September 1 of each calendar year, within the fiscal year (October 1 – September 30).

1. Completed Application (submit online via the link at the bottom of this page)
2. Donation Request Letter on organization letterhead. Include how the request aligns with City’s mission statement and the public purpose
3. Proof of Non-Profit status
4. Budget of Project/Organization related to request
5. Key Performance Indicators for success

Sample Request Letter

 

Proof of Nonprofit Status

Proof of nonprofit status must be submitted by private nonprofit organizations with the application. Any of the following is acceptable evidence of nonprofit status:

• A reference to the applicant organization’s listing in the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in section 501( c) (3) of the IRS Code.
• A copy of a currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
• A statement from a state taxing body, State Attorney General, or other appropriate State Official certifying that the applicant organization has a nonprofit status and that none of the net earnings accrue to any private shareholders or individuals.
• A certified copy of the organization’s certificate of incorporation or similar document that clearly establishes nonprofit status.
• Any of the above proof for a State or national parent organization and a statement signed by the parent organization that the applicant organization is a local nonprofit affiliate.

Budget Breakdown

A budget breakdown regarding the use of funds or in-kind donations should be included with the application materials.

The breakdown should include:

• Total event/program cost
• Cost breakdown including how donation funding will be utilized

The donation request is intended to supplement a program or event, not be the sole funding source.

All funds must be allocated by October. All unspent funds must be returned by September 30 of the following year.

Key Performance Indicators

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are quantifiable metrics that help evaluate the success of a program or project. They can provide insight into a program's performance and progress and can vary depending on the program's nature and desired outcome.

The agency should identify KPIs for the program or event with an application. Following the conclusion of the program or event, a summary should be submitted along with KPIs. The final report should provide a summary of how the funds were spent and if there are outstanding funds remaining. Final reports should be submitted by August 30 of the calendar year. Failure to submit a final report will result in suspension of awarding future donations.

Online Application Form

Applications must be submitted online via the form below.