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Community Events and Program Grant

Community Events and Program Grant

The City of Burbank is pleased to announce the Pilot Community Events and Program Grant. The purpose of this program is to provide monetary grants to eligible non-profit organizations to provide events and/or program initiatives that foster community engagement and benefit the Burbank community at large.

About the Grant

Grant amounts will generally fall within a range of $2,500 to $10,000 per organization. All eligible groups are encouraged to apply, however, not all groups may receive funding. A total of $50,000 is available for the program. Funding is limited for Grant Year 2025. The proposed community event or program must be completed in Burbank and directly serve Burbank residents, businesses, and visitors. 

Please download and read the full guidelines, elgibility, and application instructions. Sign up for the application workshops below under APPLICATION ASSISTANCE.

Eligibility Standards

To be eligible to apply for grant monies under the City's 2025 Community Events and Program Grant, a community non-profit organization must satisfy the following standards: 

  1. Must be a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with a principal place of business within the City of Burbank (if the organization is not based in Burbank, provide a written justification of how the organization makes an impact in the Burbank community); and
  2. Serve the greater City of Burbank community.

Important Dates

Applications are due Friday, April 4, 2025 no later than 5:00 pm.

March 10, 2025 Application Submission Period Opens
March 19, 2025 In-Person Application Workshop
March 27, 2025 Virtual Office Hours Workshop/Q&A
April 4, 2025 Applications Due no later than 5:00 PM PST
April 2025 Staff Committee Review
May 20, 2025 (tentative) City Council Review (City Council meeting)
By June 31, 2025 Grant funds dispersed to Selected Recipients
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026 Event/Program Delivery Period*

*For the pilot year of the grant program, applications will be accepted for events/programs that have taken place between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025 and may be considered retroactively.

Complete and submit an application form, including required uploads. A link to the application form will be added to this webpage at 9:00 AM on March 10, 2025, once the application submission period opens. 

Download Full Guidelines. 
Eligibility Criteria:
The event/program should benefit locally based organizations and causes and/or provide recreational, cultural, social benefits to Burbank residents. All applications/proposals for grant monies must meet the following additional criteria:
  • The proposed event/program must occur within the City of Burbank;
  • The event/program must be scheduled between July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026, and the date(s), time(s), and location (within Burbank) have been determined; for the pilot year of the grant program, applications will be accepted for events/programs that have taken place between January 1, 2025 and June 30, 2025 and may be considered retroactively; and
  • The event/program is not required to be free of charge but should be accessible to the entire community/public.
Ineligibility Criteria:
The City will not provide financial support to:
  • Events/programs that serve a political or religious purpose or are sponsored by political organizations.
  • Event/program organizers and organizations that have not fulfilled previous City sponsorship or special event/program obligations or have an outstanding debt to the City of Burbank.
  • Individuals.
  • Invitation-only events/programs; those not open to the general public.
  • Events/programs that conduct any illegal or illicit activity.
  • Events/programs that will result in damage to any City property, or result in irreparable harm to any resident.

All applications and support materials will be reviewed by the City Manager’s Office staff for completeness. Applicants will receive confirmation that their application was submitted and will also be notified if there is an administrative issue with their application (i.e., the applicant missed a section or did not include the correct attachment). Applications will be reviewed by a dedicated internal City Staff Committee for consideration. Evaluations will be based upon how well each applicant fits the grant program’s eligibility, qualification, and evaluation criteria, and will present its recommendations to the City Council. The City Council will review the Staff Committee's recommendations and consider an award of funds to selected non-profit organizations.

The Staff Committee will consider the following when reviewing applications for funding recommendations to City Council:

Organization Capacity:
  • Details sound management practices, strong financial stability, and established partnerships with other organizations.
  • Demonstrates success in community engagement with qualified staff and relevant expertise to execute events/programs effectively.
Event/Program Feasibility:
  • Outlines well-defined project goals with a clear, feasible methodology and approach to achieve them within the given resources and timeline.
  • Includes a comprehensive work plan outlining timelines, deliverables, and the event/program’s overall feasibility
Community Impact/Need:
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the Burbank community and details how the event/program will make a positive impact for City residents and visitors
  • Demonstrates the need for the event/program in addressing a gap in existing services
Budget/Financial Management:
  • Outlines a clear and detailed budget breakdown with cost justifications and efficient use of grant funds
  • Includes well-prepared contingency plans to address potential budget challenges
Community Event and Program Grants shall be expended from the General Fund in the amount of $50,000 for FY 2024-25. Individual grant awards may vary subject to the total number of qualified applicants and the requested amounts. All applications and support materials will be reviewed by City staff to ensure satisfaction of eligibility requirements. All completed applications will be provided to City Council for review; Council retains sole and absolute discretion in administering the program, including selecting award recipients and determining the level of funding for each approved recipient.
March 19, 2025: In-Person Application Workshop 1:30pm - 2:30pm
Staff will review the guidelines, criteria, and application process. The session will be recorded and posted here for those who cannot attend.

March 27, 2025: Virtual Office Hours Workshop/Q&A 11:00am - 12:00pm
Staff will provide a quick review of the guidelines and application process, followed by an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. The meeting link will be provided to those who have confirmed their attendance via email. The session will be recorded and posted here for those who cannot attend.

Contact staff via email with questions, to schedule a call, or to RSVP to the above workshops: [email protected].

Staff is available on a limited basis to offer guidance and clarification in preparing your proposal. Be sure to contact staff far enough ahead of the deadline to ensure you can be accommodated. Staff cannot guarantee a response for questions sent on or after April 4, 2025.