The Jacob's Touch Grant

Grant applications will open on December 1st, 2025, and submissions will close on January 15th, 2026. Following the submission deadline, all applications will be reviewed, and the official announcement of the grant recipients will be notified on January 28th, 2026.

Jacob’s Touch Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3), community-based organization in the Tampa Bay area, dedicated to providing financial care 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 be completing 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 are central to helping children with autism achieve their full potential. Family and parental commitment and involvement in a child’s treatment is critical to the success of any treatment program. Therefore, Jacob’s Touch Foundation will consider the child’s family’s dedication and involvement in their child’s treatment as an important factor in awarding grants for treatment.

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 recipients must reside in the Tampa Bay area (Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties). Jacob’s Touch Foundation board members and their families are not eligible for treatment grants.

Applicants must demonstrate financial need by providing the following:

• Proof of household income
• Number of dependents and number of dependents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Information about access to third-party funding sources

Provider Certification

• Grants to be paid periodically to approved providers.
• Jacob’s Touch Foundation reserves the right to require documentation from the child’s provider, including documentation of progress, continuing need for therapy and parental / familial involvement in the child’s prescribed treatment.

The following must be submitted in order to be eligible for grants:

• 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 tax return.
• We encourage families to share photos and stories.

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 taken 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. Incomplete grant applications will not be considered. Grants will be approved for only the following: Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), alternative communication devices and alternative communication therapy, direct medical costs associated with the child’s ASD diagnosis and direct educational costs associated with the child’s ASD diagnosis. The grant must be used in one calendar year from the date of award. 

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