Inspiring Florida and South Georgia students, one grant at a time!
Get awarded for up to $10,000 for programs and activities that help area students.
McDonald’s is proud to support our local communities through the Golden Grants program to help non-profit organizations that serve children from ages 5 -18, including those in grade levels K-12.
Grants will be awarded in the following amounts based on creativity and hands-on application of projects:
Three grants awarded in the amount of $10,000
Seven grants awarded in the amount of $5,000
Twelve grants awarded in the amount of $2,500
Five grants awarded in the amount of $1,000
Total: $100,000
Qualifying activities include the following, as long as need is demonstrated:
Arts activities
Education initiatives
Mentorship and empowerment programs
After-school programs
Community service
Sports activities
Technology
Click for eligibility requirements.
Applications Open: Monday, May 1, 2023
One application per program/initiative/organization will be accepted.
Notification of Applicants
All applicants will be notified via email in November of 2023. If selected, the applicant might be asked to submit additional information. Failing to provide additional information could result in program disqualification. Please only submit once.
Contact: goldengrantsinfo@hl.agency for more information.
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED. We want to thank you for your hard work and dedication to teach our next generation of leaders, and for submitting your program for our 2023 Golden Grants. We wish you the best of luck!
Our judges will be reviewing all applications and selecting winners.
Educators who have been selected as a Golden Grants recipient will be notified in November, with additional details on ceremonies to celebrate the winners!
Please click here to see the 2022 Golden Grants recipients.
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Eligibility Requirements
No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning.
This program is limited to activities benefiting K-12 students in the following counties:
In Florida: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Brooks, Broward, Charlotte, Charlton, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lakeland, Lee, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia Counties, the cities of Sarasota and Venice in Sarasota County, and the cities of Bushnell and Wildwood in Sumter County.
Golden Grants begins at 12:00:01am Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 1, 2023 and ends at 11:59:59pm ET on September 15, 2023 (the “Program Period”).
2. Eligibility requirements.
Only completed applications with itemized budgets will be considered. Programs should take place in the Florida, South Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina areas only, serving students in one or more of the following counties:
In Florida: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Brooks, Broward, Charlotte, Charlton, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Glades, Hamilton, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Indian River, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Lakeland, Lee, Leon, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia Counties, the cities of Sarasota and Venice in Sarasota County, and the cities of Bushnell and Wildwood in Sumter County.
Program/initiative/organization must support students in grades K-12. Program/initiative/organization must utilize grant within 12 months of receipt. Grants will be awarded based on creativity, innovation and community impact on application of project/s. Only one application per program/initiative/organization and must be submitted by the program’s leader. Applications received after 12 AM ET on September 15, 2023 will not be accepted. Employment is subject to verification.
3. How to enter.
To enter, entrants must visit www.GoldenGrantsFL.com (the “Online Website”) during the Program Period and complete the Online Program entry form in its entirety including: complete name, email address, phone number and project details. Then, click the “Continue” button to receive one (1) entry into the Program. All online entries must be received by 11:59:59pm ET on September 15, 2023. There is a limit of one entry per Entrant for the entire Program Period. Any attempt by an Entrant to obtain more than the stated number of entries by using multiple/different identities, and/or any other methods will void that Entrant’s entry and that Entrant may be disqualified from the Program. Entries submitted by anyone other than the Entrant are void. In case of dispute as to the identity of any Entrant, entry will be declared made by the registered name and address on such entry. Any potential grant winner may be requested to provide Sponsor with proof that such person is the grant winner. Neither Sponsor nor any Program Entity is responsible for any entry that is late, illegible, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, whether due to system errors, omissions, interruption, deletions, defects, delay in operations or transmissions, theft or destruction or failures, faulty transmissions or other telecommunications malfunctions, human error, entries not received resulting from any hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, failed, incomplete or garbled computer transmissions, typographical or system errors and failures, faulty transmissions, technical malfunctions, or otherwise. Only fully completed entries are eligible. Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor or Program Entity.
4. Selection.
On or about November 2023, potential grant recipients will be selected from all eligible entries received by the Sponsor Representative. By entering the Program, Entrants fully and unconditionally agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and Program Entities, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Program. To be eligible to receive a grant, all Entrants must have provided all submission information when prompted at the time of entry. Grants will be awarded based on creativity, innovation and community impact on application of project/s.
5. Golden Grants prize.
Three (3) $10,000 grants, seven (7) $5,000 grants, twelve (12) $2,500 grants, and five (5) $1,000 grants will be awarded. Total approximate retail value (“ARV”) of the grant is $100,000.
First Prize grants: Three (3) first prize grants will be awarded, consisting of $10,000 (each “First Prize”). Total approximate retail value (“ARV”) of all First Prizes is $30,000.
Second Prize grants: Seven (7) second prize grants will be awarded, each consisting of $5,000 (each “Second Prize”). Total ARV of all Second Prizes is $35,000.
Third Prize grants: Twelve (12) third prize grants will be awarded, each consisting of $2,500 (each “Third Prize”). Total ARV of all Third Prizes is $30,000.
Fourth Prize grants: Five (5) fourth prize grants will be awarded, each consisting of $1,000 (each “Fourth Prize”). Total ARV of all Fourth Prizes is $5,000.
Total ARV of all grants prizes to be awarded is $100,000.
6. Grant restrictions.
Limit of one (1) grant per person/household. All grants are non-transferable or assigned and no substitutions or cash redemptions. Program/initiative/organization must utilize grant within 12 months of receipt. No more than the stated number of grants set forth in these Official Rules will be awarded. Potential grant recipients consent to the use of his/her name, likeness, biographical information, and voice in advertising worldwide without additional compensation.
7. Notifications/claims grant recipients.
All Potential Grant recipients will be notified by email in November 2023 (the “Notification”). Grant recipients will be required to sign and return (except where prohibited) a notarized Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability/Publicity Release (the “Paperwork”) within seven (7) days of the Notification.
8. Conditions.
By participating in this Program, Entrants and grant recipients agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor and Program Entities, which are final in all respects and not subject to appeal. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify permanently from this Program any Entrant it believes has violated these Official Rules and verify eligibility of Entrants. Neither Sponsor nor anyone acting on its behalf will enter into any communications with any Entrant regarding this Program, except as expressly set forth in these Official Rules. By participating in this Program, Entrants, and grant recipients release the Sponsor and each and all of the Program Entities, from any and all liability, damages or causes of action (however named or described) with respect to or arising out of participation in the Program, and/or the receipt or use/misuse of any grant awarded, including, without limitation, liability for personal injury, death or property damage. Failure to comply with these Official Rules may result in disqualification from the Program. All Program materials are subject to verification and are void if (a) not obtained in accordance with these Official Rules and through legitimate channels, (b) any part is counterfeited, altered, defective, damaged, illegible, reproduced, tampered with, mutilated or irregular in any way, (c) are obtained where prohibited, or (d) they contain printing, typographical, mechanical, or other errors. Entrants assume all risk of loss, damage, destruction, delay or misdirection of Program materials submitted to Sponsor. In the event any portion of this Program is compromised by activities beyond the control of the Sponsor which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play of the Program or this Program, Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to modify, suspend or terminate the Program. Winning a grant constitutes permission for Sponsor and its agencies to use grant recipients’ names, voices and/or likenesses for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity, for this Program only, without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. Sponsor may prohibit an Entrant from participating in the Program or winning a grant if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said Entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Program by cheating, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other Entrants, Sponsor, or Program Entities. If for any reason this Program is not able to be conducted as planned, including, but not limited to, by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud or any other causes beyond the reasonable control of Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Program, then Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Program and randomly draw from those entries received up to the cancellation/suspension date to award grant. Caution: Any attempt by a person to deliberately damage or undermine the legitimate operation of the programs may be in violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, sponsor reserves the right to seek remedies and damages (including attorney’s fees) from any such person to the fullest extent of the law, including criminal prosecution. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these official rules shall not constitute a waiver of these provisions.
9. Eligibility restrictions.
Deficit reduction
Contributions to cash reserves and/or endowment funds
Loan repayments, interest and/or penalties, fines or litigation costs
Capital expenses (e.g., buildings, roads, major immobile equipment, furniture, fixtures or musical instruments, artwork, etc.)
Fundraising events and activities
Food or beverage for hospitality or entertainment functions
Private events closed to the general public and activities restricted to an organization’s membership
Lobbying expenses
Tuition for academic study
Scholarships and awards for use outside the applicant’s programming
Projects of a religious nature designed to promote or inhibit religious belief and/or practice and which have no basic underlying secular theme or topics
Competition prizes
10. No liability.
By participating, Entrants and grant recipients agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless the Sponsor, the Program Entities, and each of their respective parents, affiliates, franchisees, and subsidiaries, as well as each of their respective officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from and against any claims made by any Entrant, grant recipients, or any other third parties, related in any way to the operation of this Program as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses to any person (including death) or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from receipt, acceptance, possession, misuse or use of a grants or participation in any promotion related activity or participation in this Program.
11. Use of data.
Sponsor will be collecting personal data about Entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy. Please review the Sponsor’s privacy policy at www.GoldenGrantsFL.com. By participating in the Program, Entrants hereby agree to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledge that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.
12. Sponsor.
McDonald’s of Florida and South Georgia – 2222 Ponce de Leon Blvd, 3rd Floor Coral, Gables, FL 33134
This Program shall not be published without the written permission of the Sponsor.
Winners will be notified by email in November 2023. If selected, recipients might be asked to submit additional information. Not providing additional information could result in program disqualification.