United Arts Receives $100K Truist Charitable Fund Grant to Strengthen Central Florida Communities Through the Arts

Overview

United Arts of Central Florida received a $100,000 grant from the Truist Charitable Fund to expand programs that strengthen nonprofit leadership, revitalize communities through the arts, and increase access to arts-integrated learning for young people across Central Florida. This grant supports programming identified through United Arts’ participation in the DeVos Institute Capacity Building Initiative and the development of its FY30 Strategic Plan.

Key Priorities

• Strengthening nonprofit leadership capacity.
• Expanding economic vitality through arts-driven community development.
• Increasing access to arts-integrated learning for young people.

Grant Activities

• Expand capacity building for nonprofit leaders through Executive Director Learning Circles, grant writing workshops, marketing and fundraising training, the Board Leadership Pipeline, and quarterly Arts & Health convenings.
• Increase investment in community revitalization through Community Impact Grants, creative placemaking initiatives, DTOLive!, the Chalk Art Festival, and cultural tourism efforts.
• Expand arts-integrated learning through Teaching Artist Residencies, educator training, and partnerships with school districts and community organizations.

Impact

These initiatives build on United Arts’ role as Central Florida’s local arts agency, supporting local artists and over 125 arts and cultural organizations across Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, making arts accessible for over 3.1 million residents and visitors annually. Participating businesses in existing initiatives have reported up to a 70% increase in foot traffic and a 35% increase in sales.

Additional Initiatives

• Oct 23, 2026: Arts in Health Network brings Central Florida leaders together to explore ways to reach more people through arts programs, build partnerships, and show how the arts can support health and wellbeing.
• Sep 10, 2026: United Arts Honors Mayor Jerry L. Demings as a National Champion for the Arts.
• Aug 31, 2026: United Arts to Administer a new $5 million investment in Osceola County cultural facilities, supporting capital projects that strengthen cultural infrastructure, enhance visitor experiences, and expand access to arts and culture.