Youth Arts Miami (YAM) Grants Program

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Contact:  Christina Tassy  | CMT@miamidade.gov

Deadline:  Friday, March 14, 2025, 11:59 PM

Maximum Request:

  • Category A Applicants:  $160,000
  • Category B Applicants:  $65,000
  • Category C Applicants:  $35,000

FY 2025-2026 Youth Arts Miami (YAM) Grant Program Guidelines


Youth Arts Miami provides operational funding support to established non-profit youth arts organizations having a year-round presence in Miami-Dade County, whose primary mission is to create, present or exhibit cultural arts programs for and/or with children and youth. Applicants to this program must have at least a 3-year consecutive track record of providing a year-round season of youth arts activities for children/youth in Miami-Dade County. Programming must include public access components such as performances or exhibitions. Units of government and educational institutions such as schools, colleges and universities may not apply.

The Youth Arts Miami (YAM) grants program is structured into three funding categories:

Category A funds large-sized professional youth arts organizations possessing the potential to achieve regional, national, or international visibility as evidenced by the organization’s current programs and structure.

To be eligible to apply for YAM Category A, an organization must:

  • have been invited by Department staff to apply for Category A funding 
  • have operating revenues of more than $500,000 for the last completed fiscal year, (including in-kind services support not to exceed 25% of total cash operating revenues)
  • have at least one full time paid professional administrator
  • have a significant youth-arts programming history with demonstrated success in:
    • steadily leveraging previous Department grants for organizational and artistic growth and advancement
    • creating, producing, and presenting innovative work
    • commissioning new/significant work
    • providing training and developing proficiency in a variety of genres within or across artistic disciplines
    • producing a comprehensive set of year-round programs encompassing direct, high-quality arts experiences for youth


Category B funds mid-sized semi-professional and professional youth arts organizations demonstrating operating revenues of between $200,000 and $500,000, for the last completed fiscal year (including in-kind services support not to exceed 25% of total cash operating revenues), and that employs at least one paid professional administrator.  

Category C funds small and/or developing youth arts organizations demonstrating cash operating revenues of between $50,000 and $200,000, for the last completed fiscal year as demonstrated by IRS 990 tax filing.


Mandatory Pre-Application Requirements: 

As stated in the Youth Arts Miami (YAM) grant guidelines, all applicants are REQUIRED to have a pre-grant submission consultation (or attend a workshop) at least one week prior to the application deadline, either by telephone or by virtual platform (such as Zoom or GoTo Meeting) with the YAM program administrator before access will be granted to the online application. In addition, if you are a first-time applicant and/or a new staff member unfamiliar with SurveyMonkey Apply (SMA), your consultation will require additional time to cover system basics. There are no exceptions to these requirements.

To RSVP to attend one of the virtual YAM Pre-Grant Workshops, click here.


FY 2024-2025 Youth Arts Miami Grants Program Panel Members | FY 2023-2024 YAM Grantees List


YAM Grants Program Timeline*

Grant Funding Period October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026
Applications Available February 3, 2025
Consultation Period with Department Staff February 3, 2025 - March 7, 2025
Virtual Pre-Grant Workshops

YAM Pre-Grant Workshop #1
February 4, 2025, 11:00 AM

YAM Pre-Grant Workshop #2

February 6, 2025, 3:00 PM

Courtesy Review Deadline March 7, 2025, 11:59 PM
Deadline March 14, 2025, 11:59 PM
Application Comments / Corrections Issued April 4, 2025
Revised / Final Application Due

April 11, 2025, 11:59 PM

Panelist Site Visits April 21, 2025 - May 21, 2025
YAM Panel Meeting

Thursday, May 22, 2025, 1:00 PM

Cultural Affairs Council Approval June 2025
Board of County Commissioners Approval September 2025
Award Notifications Issued October/November 2025
Availability of Grant Funds No earlier than January 2026

*Dates/times subject to change.

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It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to comply with all of the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  To request materials in accessible format, sign language interpreters, CART, and/or any accommodation to participate in Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs sponsored programs or meetings, please contact Francine Andersen 305-375-4634 / culture@miamidade.gov, five days in advance to initiate your request. TTY users may also call 711 (Florida Relay Service).