Austin, Texas is one of the nation’s fastest growing cities, and over the years has become a major tech hub and professional sports destination, furthering the enhancement of its culture and diversity. With this growth, the opportunity to support the city’s diverse population has become more apparent. Austin FC and Q2 are envisioning a Central Texas community where everyone has the opportunity and access to the resources they need to thrive.

Together, Austin FC + Q2 are teaming up to support local nonprofits dedicated to promoting inclusion within Central Texas. As part of the annual program, Austin FC and Q2 will award three (3) separate $50,000 grants to three (3) nonprofit organizations that focus on the advancement of underrepresented communities, through the following impact areas: Education, Job Skills & Readiness, and Health & Wellness.

• Nonprofit organizations must be committed to promoting inclusion within the Central Texas Community
• Program/project must fall within one or more of the following impact areas: (1) Education, (2) Job Skills & Readiness, (3) Health & Wellness
• Program/project must be in the Central Texas community
• Request must come from nonprofit organizations (no funding to individuals)
• Requested funds must be used to implement a project. Capacity grants are not awarded by Austin FC and Q2 Q-mmunity Gives.
• Nonprofit organizations must be certified as tax exempt under Section 501© (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and not a private foundation as defined in section 509(a) of that code. Nonprofit organization must be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Texas Franchise Tax Board and the Texas Secretary of State.

*Nonprofit organizations who are awarded a 2024 Austin FC and Q2 Q-mmunity Gives grant will be ineligible to apply for the Q-mmunity Gives grant for two (2) consecutive years, following the year it was awarded. Nonprofit organizations who apply but are not awarded a Q-mmunity Gives grant may apply again the following year.

• Individuals
• Political, legislative, lobbying or religious organizations
• Sports, athletic events or athletic programs
• Travel-related events, including student trips or tours
• Development or production of books, video or television programs
• Memorial campaigns
• Individual schools, including charter schools, pre-schools, elementary, middle or high schools (public or private)
• Organizations that do not have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, or the equivalent
• Nonprofit organizations that do not have programs or projects in the Central Texas community

Grant applications are accepted between Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 12am CST and Friday, October 11, 2024, 11:59pm CST. All entries submitted during that time will be accepted and reviewed by the Austin FC and Q2 Q-mmunity Gives Grant Committee on the following schedule:

• Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 12am – Application open
• Friday, October 11, 2024 at 11:59pm – Application closed
• Monday, October 14, 2024 through Thursday, November 5, 2024 – Applications reviewed
• Wednesday, November 6, 2024 or Thursday, November 7, 2024 – Communication to the three (3) chosen grant recipients
• Monday, November 18, 2024 – Recipients’ Breakfast, from 9am-11am

If your nonprofit organization is selected for a grant, please be prepared to:

• Attend Recipients’ Breakfast Event on Monday, November 18, 2024 at Q2 Stadium.
• Supply contact information of a spokesperson for potential media coverage once recipients are publicly announced, as well as any social media channel information.

In an effort to encourage other eligible nonprofit organizations to participate in this process, continue to support Q-mmunity Gives grant recipients and understand the impact of each grant, we require the following be submitted to Austin FC on or before September 1, 2025:

• Organizational impact report
• Q-mmunity Gives Recipient Questionnaire (to be provided by Austin FC)
• Approved images showing the grant’s impact

APPLICATION QUESTIONS AND DOCUMENTS

Besides a primary contact’s information, as well as the organization’s name, address, website and social media platforms, the application will also solicit the following, with every entry being required:

• Name, address and number of people in the organization.
• The geographical area(s) the organization serves.
• What community needs does the organization meet?
• Project name, duration, area of focus, description of the concept, goals and objectives, and if it is new or existing.
• Results expected, impact on the population and measurement of success for the project
• How the project will be funded and if there is other funding outside for the Q-mmunity Gives Grant
• Names and biographies of staff implementing the project
• The need to upload a budget for the project, organizational financial statements, a tax determination letter and W-9

TIPS ON HOW TO BEST APPLY USING OUR PLATFORM

Prep:

• Write out all answers in advance (to avoid any issues with entering them into the portal)
• Make sure all answers are within the allotted maximum number of words
• Applicants are required to fill in all answers, so please have information for all questions

Timing:

• Make sure to schedule time between the application deadline and the time it is submitted

Support:

• In fairness to all applicants, representatives from Austin FC and/or Q2 will not have direct conversations about the contents of any application
  • If there are questions about the application platform or process, please visit the Q-mmunity Gives Landing Page on AustinFC.com, and if there are still questions, submit those to community@austinfc.com

See Terms and Conditions here.

• 2023 Recipients
• 2022 Recipients
• 2021 Recipients