The Jacob's Touch Grant

Grant applications will open on December 1st, 2026, and submissions will close on January 15th, 2027. Following the submission deadline, all applications will be reviewed, and the official announcement of the grant recipients will be notified on January 28th, 2027.

Jacob’s Touch Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) community-based organization in the Tampa Bay area dedicated to providing financial support and assistance to families and organizations supporting autistic and neurodiverse individuals.

Applicants who meet the following grant program criteria and complete the grant application will be considered for Jacob’s Touch Foundation grants. Since, in most cases, the applicant’s parent or guardian will complete the application, it is understood that the applicant will be the individual receiving the benefits of the grants. Grant payments will be made directly to pre-approved treatment providers.

Parental/Family Involvement

Parents and family members play an essential role in helping children with autism reach their full potential. Because family involvement is so important to the success of treatment, Jacob’s Touch Foundation considers a family’s commitment to and participation in their child’s care when reviewing grant applications.

Grant Amounts and Selection of Recipients

Grants of up to $5,000.00 will be allocated based on annual fundraising activities. Recipients will be evaluated and ranked based on all information provided. The Board of Directors will make the final decision and determine the number and amounts of each grant.

Grant Eligibility & Demonstration of Financial Need

• Grant recipients must reside in the Tampa Bay area (Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties).
• Proof of household income
• Number of dependents and number of dependents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Information about access to third-party funding sources, including but not limited to whether the child has private insurance, Medicaid, Step Up for Students scholarship, school-based services, other scholarships, or any other funding assistance
• Whether those funding sources have already been applied for or used

Provider Certification

• Grant payments are made directly to approved providers. Providers are paid no more than once per month.
• Jacob’s Touch Foundation reserves the right to require documentation from the provider, including documentation of progress, continuing need for therapy, and parental/familial involvement in the prescribed treatment.
• Credit card processing fees, convenience fees, late fees, finance charges, or similar administrative fees are not covered by grant funds and must be paid by grant recipients.
  

Grant Submission Requirements

We encourage families to share photos and stories!

• Completed, signed, and dated grant application
• Verification of diagnosis (please provide documentation as proof of diagnosis)
• Documentation from the provider of your requests, stating costs of the requested item
• Brief description of current family situation
• Copy of previous year’s complete tax return
• Complete information about all insurance coverage, scholarships, grants, and other funding sources available to your family
• Documentation showing what is covered, what is not covered, and what has already been used, if applicable

Important Note: Incomplete applications will be instantly denied; please include all required documentation at the time of submission.

Additional Grant Payment Rules

Please read carefully before applying for additional information on how grant funds may and may not be used.

• Grant payments begin on the date listed in the grant award letter and expire one year from that date.
• Grant funds may be used only for approved services provided during that grant period.
• Grant funds cannot be used for services received before the grant start date, previous balances, outstanding bills, past-due invoices, or existing account balances.
• Grant funds cannot be used to pay insurance deductibles.
  Families must disclose and use all other available funding sources first, including insurance, Step Up for Students scholarship, other financial scholarships, school-based services, Medicaid, and other third-party assistance. Falsification or misrepresentation may lead to ineligibility for grant or repayment of funds.
• Jacob’s Touch will consider payment only for eligible expenses that remain after those other funding sources have been used, and documentation may be required.
• Only services and providers approved by Jacob’s Touch Foundation are eligible for payment.
• Jacob’s Touch Foundation board members and their families are not eligible for treatment grants.

Saving Your Application

If you need to save and return your grant application later before submission, you can click SAVE at the bottom of any page.  You will then be prompted to copy a link, which you will need to pick up where you left off. 

Reviewing and Submitting Your Application 

On the final page of the application, you will be provided the opportunity to review all responses before submitting your grant application. Simply press REVIEW. If you need to modify any of your responses, you will be able to go back and make the necessary changes. Once you have successfully submitted your application, you will be redirected to a “Thank You” page.

Any applicant receiving a grant agrees to repay the grant if any services paid for with the grant are reimbursed by another funding source, such as a school district, state scholarship funding, Medicaid, or private insurance company. The grant deadline is posted below.

Reminder: Incomplete grant applications will not be considered.

Please direct any questions to: Kimmie@JacobsTouch.org.