The Tourist Development Council (TDC) Grants Program is responsive on a quarterly basis to organizations/events which promote Miami-Dade County’s appeal as a tourist destination by sponsoring tourist-oriented sports events, cultural and special events (visual and performing arts, including theater, concerts, recitals, opera, dance, art exhibitions, and festivals) and television origination projects.
Donor Name: Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs
State: Florida, Florida
County: Miami-Dade County (FL), Miami-Dade County (FL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/06/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The TDC’s objective in funding events is to position Miami-Dade County as a must-experience destination through quality events and projects that attract tourists from outside of Miami-Dade County into the area; have a strong cultural component; encourage overnight stays in Miami-Dade County motels and hotels; and perpetuate an environment for growth in the tourism industry in Miami-Dade County.
The TDC is funded in part by the 2% Hotel/Motel Food and Beverage Surtax and the 2% Tourist Development Room Tax Revenue (established by Florida Statute 125.0140) applied to the rental fees paid by visitors for short-term accommodation such as hotel/motel rooms, condominiums, vacation homes and rental sources, like Airbnb. The TDC administers the funds collected from the tourist development tax on transient lodging sales and designates it to promote Miami-Dade County as a preferred visitor destination. Ideally the funds allocated by the TDC will eventually be returned through an increase in transient lodging sales and the tourist development tax generated from those sales. Events funded through this program must demonstrate the intent and ability to attract visitors to Miami-Dade County. The TDC investments are focused on further developing exemplary existing programs and stimulating new activities. Applicants not meeting these criteria should consider applications to other Department programs.
Funding Information
As outlined in the divisions below, funding request caps for New/First Time and Ongoing projects will be based on the applicant’s total project budget (cash expenses + no more than 25% in-kind):
- Division A – Total Project Budget of $50,000 or less may request up to $5,000
- Division B – Total Project Budget of $50,001 – $100,000 may request up to $10,000
- Division C – Total Project Budget of $100,001 – $250,000 may request up to $25,000
- Division D – Total Project Budget above $250,000 may request up to $35,000
Allowable Expenditures
Grant dollars may be used only for expenses directly related to the proposed project in the categories indicated below. General overhead or other operating expenses not directly related to the proposed project are not permitted.
- Personnel: Administration, Artistic, Technical/Production salary support (no more than 25% of grant request can be allocated amongst any combination of these line items), and/or outside other fees (i.e., consultant fees, but not including grant writers) related to the proposed program, project or event
- Marketing and public relations
- Printing
- Postage
- In-County travel and transportation costs (i.e. event-related busses or shuttle services – gas, rental cars and parking fees are not accepted)
- Equipment rental
- Space rental (specific to performance/exhibition venues only)
Insurance (specific to the event/project only) - Expendable supplies/materials (specific to the event/project only)
- Honoraria
- Direct program costs
- Production costs related to proposed program, project, or event
Publications directly related to the proposed program, project or event (must have a public outreach component and meet the TDC Grants Program’s objectives) - Equipment rental and personnel necessary to provide program accessibility as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply, an organization must:
- be legally incorporated as a NOT-FOR-PROFIT corporation, with a designated tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, or a unit of local GOVERNMENT/MUNICIPALITY, with a designated Federal Employment Identification number. Applications from not-for-profit organizations designated tax-exempt under other subsections of 501(c) will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Proof of incorporation (entire document with State stamp) and IRS tax-exempt designation is required at the time of application; or
- be a FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION with a designated Federal Employment Identification number. Proof of incorporation (entire document with State stamp) and IRS designation is required at the time of application. FOR-PROFIT projects must have less than a three-year track record in Miami-Dade County. Funding for FOR-PROFIT activities and projects shall be considered only when such funding may be instrumental in attracting large-scale annual events to establish Miami-Dade County as their permanent location and/or in providing incentive to encourage FOR-PROFIT organizations to choose Miami-Dade County as the location for major, one-time tourism-attracting activities or projects;
- be active and in good standing with regard to its registration status with the Florida Division of Corporations pursuant to Chapter 617, Florida Statutes;
- present the project for which funding is being sought in Miami-Dade County for the benefit of
- Miami-Dade County tourists and residents;
- ensure that projects are open and accessible to Miami-Dade County tourists and residents;
- have both a strong tourism and cultural component;
- utilize hotels located within the boundaries of Miami-Dade County as their “event hotels”
- NOT be an educational organization or facility (such as a daycare/preschool or school)
- NOT be a higher education institution whose proposed project is:
- for the benefit of degree seeking academic purposes;
- in service of other academic purposes;
primarily for the academic community’s benefit.
- NOT be a school support organization (such as parent-teacher association, booster club or auxiliary organization);
- NOT be a religious organization whose proposed project, in whole or in part, is designed to promote religious or sectarian activities or to encourage the preference of a particular religion; and
- be in full compliance with grant agreement requirements of any previous grants provided through the Tourist Development Council or other Miami-Dade County funding sources, including timely and satisfactory submission of all reports.
For more information, visit MDCDCA.
