The Small Magic Foundation
Minor Acts Generate Immense Change
Potential. Powered.
About the Program
The M.A.G.I.C. Grants program funds community service projects designed and led by young people across the Greater Tampa Bay region, organized in groups through a nonprofit organization, school, or church. Students don't just participate. They lead.
Project Guidelines
All funded projects must meet three core criteria. Every M.A.G.I.C. Grant project is built around a SMART goal framework, ensuring that young people design work that is realistic, focused, and achievable from start to finish.
Projects must be built around a SMART goal. Each proposal must clearly define what will be accomplished, how success will be measured, and why the project matters to the community it serves. Vague or open-ended projects are not eligible.
The grant must fund the project in full. Awards range from $500 to $1,000. Projects must be scoped so that the grant covers the entire cost. SMF does not fund a portion of a larger project; the full scope must be executable within the awarded amount.
Projects must be completable within the grant cycle. In keeping with the time-bound element of SMART, projects should be designed to reach completion within approximately one month. Projects that extend significantly beyond that window are outside the scope of this program.
Who We Serve
M.A.G.I.C. Grants are designed for young people who already see a problem and already want to solve it. The funding fills the gap that stops most of them from ever starting.
Motivated to make change
Our grantees are self-starters who have identified a real need in their community. They come with a vision, not a vague interest. The grant gives their idea a runway.
Without access to do it alone
These are students who would not otherwise have the financial resources, institutional backing, or network to execute a meaningful project. Supplemental funding is the difference between an idea and an impact.
Pilot Program
Ryan Nece Foundation
Greater Tampa Bay · Rubric-Based Grant Model
SMF's inaugural M.A.G.I.C. Grant pilot works with the Ryan Nece Foundation, whose 28-member youth cohort will serve as the first participants. Students will break into smaller groups, develop community service proposals, and work to meet the program's rubric requirements rather than compete against one another. Any group that meets the rubric receives grant funding to execute its project. The pilot is designed to pressure-test the application and review process, build a replicable model, and produce the foundation's first cohort of M.A.G.I.C. Grant alumni before the program opens to the broader public.
Organization Applications
Nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches can apply to bring one or more groups of students through the M.A.G.I.C. Grants program. Multiple groups from the same organization can complete a single workshop together. Each organization is approved for a number of groups based on available funding, and funding is released as each group completes the process. Reach out directly to start the conversation.
Apply to Bring a GroupHow It Works
Organization applies
A nonprofit organization, school, or church applies to bring one or more groups of students through the program and is approved for a number of groups based on available funding.
Groups attend the workshop
Multiple groups from the same organization can attend a single workshop covering how to identify community needs, build a SMART goal, and design a project.
Groups submit their proposal
Each group designs a community service project and submits a proposal covering the project plan, budget, timeline, and rubric requirements.
Groups execute the project
Each group carries its project to completion, meeting the program's rubric requirements along the way.
Funding is released
As each group completes the process, funding is released to the organization to cover that group's project, and a final report is submitted.
Requirements
Student Groups
Sponsoring Organizations
What Makes a Strong Project
Student Voices
The chance to know that if there's something that I wanted to do that the funds wouldn't stop me and I have the opportunity to do that.
— M.R.
That smart goals are really good to have.
— A.P.
Before this, I didn't know much about grants, but now I realize the power of grants and how they can help my project.
— I.B.
Corporate Sponsorship
Every sponsorship dollar goes directly toward expanding grant access for young people who need it most. Sponsors are recognized throughout the grant cycle and in all program materials.
Community
$500/yr
Entry level
Champion
$1K/yr
All Community benefits
Catalyst
$3K/yr
All Champion benefits
Magic Maker
$5K/yr
All Catalyst benefits
Named Grants
$10K+/yr
All Magic Maker benefits