Grants Program- 2026 Guidelines

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida extends its impact by awarding grants to local 501(c)(3) organizations and programs dedicated to improving the lives of children in our community. Since 1988, we have awarded over $4.9 million to South Florida-based organizations that directly benefit children and families. Each year, our grants committee meticulously reviews applications from nonprofit organizations that demonstrate a proven ability to meet the critical needs of children and families in a tangible, hands-on way delivering measurable, positive outcomes.

RMHC provides funds in the areas of:

• Social and Civic Concerns

• Education and the Arts

• Health and Fitness Education

• Healthcare and Medical research

Grant Program Details / Qualifications

To be considered for funding, a childrens organization must be designated as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) and tax-exempt as defined under IRS codes.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Board of Trustees is most interested in organizations that demonstrate the following:

• Programs that directly benefit children from birth through 18 years of age
• Strong, consistent, and effective organizational management
• Clearly articulated goals, objectives, and implementation strategies
• A broad and sustainable base of funding support
• A proven ability to address the needs of specific populations of children with measurable outcomes
• A clearly defined program or initiative for which funding is being requested

RMHC does not fund:

• Advertising or fundraising campaigns
• Partisan, political or denominational programs
• Ongoing general operating or administrative expenses
• Intermediary funding agencies
• Endowment campaigns
• Ongoing salaries or travel expenses

Grant amounts: range from $5,000 to $10,000.

Grant Funding

Financial support through our grant program is exclusively funded by donations collected in the donation boxes at McDonald’s restaurants throughout South Florida. For 2026, a total of $50,000 will be available for grant requests. Organizations may be awarded a grant once every two years.

2025 Grant Recipients:

Clinics Can Help, Inc.
K.I.N.D.E.R. Project (Kids In Need of Durable Equipment Right Now) granted $10,000

Education Foundation of Palm Beach County
Backpack Initiative Program Granted $10,000

Greater Fort Lauderdale Diaper Bank 
Broward Diaper Program Granted $10,000

Imago por las Artes
Empowering Voices through Storytelling Program Granted $6,000

SOS Children’s Villages
Mental Health Program Granted $10,000

STEP ONE: Letter of intent

A Letter of Intent (LOI) is the first step in applying for funding from Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida.

To be considered, the LOI must not exceed two pages and must include the following components:

  1. Organization cover sheet

  2. Organization information

  3. Purpose of the proposed project

  4. Project description

  5. Project evaluation plan

  6. Project budget

If the Letter of Intent is approved, applicants will receive an email invitation to submit a full application.

Deadline to submit a letter of intent: Friday, May 22, 2026

STEP TWO: Full Grant Proposal and Application

This only applies to those who receive full grant application invitations via email.

The following information must accompany your completed Grant Application form:

  • A one or two-page cover letter on your organization s letterhead, signed by a senior management official, briefly outlining your proposal.
  • A letter of endorsement from a McDonald s representative on company letterhead, who is familiar with your organization and the project you are submitting your funding request.
  • A copy of the Internal Revenue Service ruling of the organization as tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3).
  • A detailed budget specifically outlining the total amount of funds you are requesting from RMHC of South Florida.
  • A broad base of other sources of funding and support.
  • A review by an independent CPA if annual income is between $250,000 and an audited financial report if income is over $500,000.
  • A 990 or 990EZ that has been submitted to the IRS in the past 12 months.
  • The complete application needs to be emailed to grants@rmhcsouthflorida.org

Incomplete or late applications will be declined and returned.

Deadline to submit full application: Friday, August 21, 2026.

Grantees will be notified of the decision in September 2026.

FINAL STEPS AFTER FUNDING

FINAL STEPS AFTER FUNDING

If your proposal is approved, grantees will be required to use the forms for submitting their final report within six months of receipt of the award. This allows Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida to ensure our grants are used to their full potential.

Submit completed reporting forms via email to:
grants@rmhcsouthflorida.org

For questions, please call  (786) 476-2212

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