Gun Violence Prevention Sponsorship
Sponsorship Request Guidelines & FAQ
What is the Gun Violence Prevention Mini-Grant and/or Project Sponsorship Program?
*Please note that a request does not guarantee sponsorship or funding*
Gun Violence Prevention Mini-Grant and/or Project Sponsorship Program Tampa Youth Violence Prevention Week
How do we begin to solve the problem of gun violence in our community? By engaging the community!!!
In 2024, the City of Tampa, through the Tampa Police Department was awarded a grant from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to provide a Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CVI) to address and prevent youth gun violence. Safe & Sound Hillsborough is a proud sub-recipient of this funding opportunity and is excited to be able to provide support for neighborhood groups, small nonprofits, and other interested parties committed to the overall safety and wellness of our youth and families in the city of Tampa.
Through this opportunity, Safe & Sound Hillsborough is seeking to provide grant funding and/or project/event sponsorships to non-profit and community-based organizations, including smaller organizations, to provide services focused on building awareness, education, and prevention related to reducing youth gun violence.
Funding available in this round of grants will be awarded between May and June of 2025 with projects needing to be completed by June 30, 2025. Awards may range between $2,500- $5,000 and shall specifically support programming, events, activities, trainings, campaigns, resource development and distribution, or other activities related to prevention and reduction of youth gun violence. Funded activities may engage youth, adults or the community at large.
Proposed projects and events must be within the City of Tampa. Projects, events, locations, and services outside of the city limits will not be approved.
This is a competitive process. Some applications may not be funded, and some may be only partially funded.
Please read this entire document before you start filling out your application. If you have a question or need help understanding these guidelines or the application, email Idalia Rivera at irivera@safeandsoundhillsborough.org
Week of Programming
Approved projects will be conducted during "Tampa Youth Violence Prevention Week", designated for June 22, 2025, through June 28, 2025. All projects will need to be conducted through this period.
Applying for an Sponsorship
This opportunity provides sponsorship for events or projects that organizations, neighborhood associations, faith-based groups, crime watch groups or any other group that does not meet non-profit guidelines and does not have a partnership with a fiscal agent. Under this category, applicants may still be able to apply for support and must outline needs of the event or project. If approved, Safe & Sound Hillsborough will, at the discretion of the committee, purchase goods or provide direct payment to vendors and/or suppliers on behalf of the applying group.
Any items purchased will be made in accordance to purchasing guidelines of Safe & Sound Hillsborough to include making the most cost-effective with quality purchase possible, receiving comparable quotes from other potential vendors and negotiating as needed to maximize sponsorship of event/project. Items purchased under this category may remain property of Safe & Sound Hillsborough after completion of project, at the discretion of Safe & Sound Hillsborough.
HOW FUNDS CAN BE USED
Funds must be used to support efforts related to the prevention and reduction of youth gun violence and engage youth, parents/custodians/caretakers, educators, service providers, faith leaders, other identified groups and/or the community-at-large.
Examples of allowable use of funds:
- Printing and Marketing costs of event
- Supplies for event/project
- Workshop facilitator costs
- Vendor payments (DJ, stage rental, artist, instructor, etc)
- Neighborhood beautification/cleanup
Examples of restricted or non-allowable costs:
- Administrative Costs
- Alcohol purchases
- Food and Drink Purchases
When completing the required Budget Form, applicants should estimate the actual costs of supplies, services, and other costs that are expected to be needed to support the proposed activities.
Which Organization can apply?
This project is designed to partner with the following types of organizations:
- 501c3 designated Non-Profits
- Faith-Based Organizations
- Civic Organizations
- Mentoring Organizations
- Neighborhood Associations
Deadline for Applications
Applications must be received via online submission, mail, email, or in person no later than 4:30 p.m. May 23, 2025. No applications will be accepted beyond this deadline.
Please submit all applications to:
- By email: cvigrant@safeandsoundhillsborough.org
- In person or by mail: Safe & Sound Hillsborough 1907 E. Hillsborough Avenue, Suite 100 Tampa, Florida 33610
Any applications that are not received by 4:30 p.m. on May 23, 2025, or that do not have all requested paperwork, will not be accepted.
No applications by fax, please.
Requirements for Non-Profit Organizations:
- Your nonprofit organization must have 501(c)3 tax exempt status. You must enter your organization's valid Tax Exempt ID number on the online form in order for your request to be considered.
- All national nonprofit organizations submitting a sponsorship request must have an affiliate entity Hillsborough County that retains all funds genera event.
- Donations will not be provided to national organizations who do not currently hold a Florida Certificate of Exemption.
How funding will be disbursed?
SPONSORSHIP
This opportunity provides sponsorship for events or projects that organizations, neighborhood associations, faith-based groups, crime watch groups or any other group that does not meet non-profit guidelines and does not have a partnership with a fiscal agent. Under this category, applicants may still be able to apply for support and must outline needs of the event or project. If approved, Safe & Sound Hillsborough will, at the discretion of the committee, purchase goods or provide direct payment to vendors and/or suppliers on behalf of the applying group.
Any items purchased will be made in accordance to purchasing guidelines of Safe & Sound Hillsborough to include making the most cost-effective with quality purchase possible, receiving comparable quotes from other potential vendors and negotiating as needed to maximize sponsorship of event/project. Items purchased under this category may remain property of Safe & Sound Hillsborough after completion of project, at the discretion of Safe & Sound Hillsborough.
What are the mandatory activities?
Each applicant must outline their plan to address the following activities during this opportunity:
- Community Discussions on Gun Violence Prevention (Short Film Series and Talkback): Safe & Sound Hillsborough has produced two short films on gun violence, "Blink: A Gun Violence Prevention Short Film" and "Atone: A Blink Short Film". The successful respondent will, during the Tampa Violence Prevention Week, host a viewing of either (or both) films and host a community discussion on gun violence, utilizing the talkback guide provided to the respondent.
- Gun Safety Discussion with Law Enforcement Participation: Applicants must include a portion of programming focused on bringing youth and adults together to discuss gun safety and encouraged to reach out to local law enforcement to provide tips to attendees.
- Blight Removal/Community Cleanup: Applicants will organize a neighborhood cleanup or beautification project
OTHER SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES TO BE PROVIDED
In addition to the mandatory components, the following activities are suggested:
- Parenting Classes
- Stress Management
- Mental Wellness
- Family Support Youth
- Collaborative Workshops
Events must support violence prevention efforts under one of more of the following categories:
- Community Building
- Youth Development
- Mental Health
- Gun Prevention
- Policy & Advocacy
- Resident Leaders
Development - Day of Service Activities
What are the program reporting requirements?
Program Reporting Safe & Sound Hillsborough will require an exact accounting of how all funds are spent. Funded organizations will consent to allowing Safe & Sound Hillsborough staff to observe funded programs in action.
Funded organizations will file a post-project report, due no later than July 15, 2025.
The report must be accompanied by receipts for all expenditures paid through this award. Failure to provide a report and receipt in a timely manner may result in the organization's forfeiting of any grant funds held by Safe & Sound Hillsborough and/or the organization's suspension from future consideration for funding.
ADDITIONAL TERMS
Funded entities will be required to enter into an agreement with Safe & Sound Hillsborough that includes the following requirements:
- Comply with all applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq. ("ADA")
- Not discriminate against any participant, employee, or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, familial status, or national origin.
- Take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, familial status, or national origin.
- State in all solicitations or advertisements for employees that all qualified applicants shall receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, familial status, or national origin.
- Include these same Non-Discrimination provisions above are included in subcontracts, subleases, etc. relevant to funded work.
- Religious organizations receiving funding under this program may not utilize grant funds to engage in any of the following activities:
- Perform inherently religious activities such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization;
- Acquire, construct, or rehabilitate structures or properties that shall be used for inherently religious activities, including sanctuaries and chapels; and
- Discriminate against any beneficiary or prospective beneficiary of the grant on the basis of religion or belief
- Agree to indemnify/hold harmless Safe & Sound Hillsborough using terms standard to Safe & Sound Hillsborough agreements
What is the evaluation criteria?
The Review Committee uses the following criteria to evaluate each application. Each question is assigned a point value. Maximum number of points an application can receive is 100 points. The MINIMUM score required to be considered for approval is 80. The applications are then ranked accordingly.
- Does the application clearly describe the project and its goals? (up to 5 points)
- Is the project or event located within the city of Tampa? (up to 5 points)
- Does this project address youth violence prevention? (up to 10 points)
- Does this project promote activities that support violence prevention? (up to 10 points)
- Does this project have the potential to strengthen the community? (up to 10 points)
- Does this project specifically outline an effort to recruit and involve youth? (up to 10 points)
- Does the application show evidence of community consensus for the project? (up to 10 points)
- Does the application show evidence of community involvement in the implementation of the project? (up to 10 points)
- Are the budget revenues and expenses clear and justifiable? (up to 5 points)
- Is this the most appropriate source of funding? (up to 5 points)
- Does this project show a collaborative effort amongst other neighborhood associations, residents, businesses, etc? (up to 10 points)
- Does the applicant show sufficient evidence of leveraging of community resources (cash or in-kind)? (up to 10 points)
How can I submit an sponsorship request?
All sponsorship requests must be submitted through this online process. Request submitted via email, fax, mail, or phone will NOT be considered.
The online sponsorship request form must be filled out completely.
Examples of approved projects
| TYPE | Example (Summary) |
| SPONSORSHIP | Blessings Church identifies as a safe haven for youth afterschool in an area where gun violence has plagued the neighborhood recently. They do not have a 501c3 and do not have a fiscal agent, but want to request a total of up to $500 to purchase basketballs and 2 basketball goals that will be put up as part of a "Shoot baskets not guns" initiative where youth can stop by on their way home from school and play basketball with background screened community mentors. They have a letter of support from Tampa Police Department that agrees to have an officer when available onsite to engage with youth. The committee agreed and received quotes from Amazon, Walmart and Dicks Sporting Goods. Safe & Sound Hillsborough purchased both goals, 4 basketballs, referee whistles, cones for drills and even a scoreboard with partner logos for $500, after inkind donations were made. |