A quick guide for applicants. Full details are in the FSBA Grant Program Policies & Procedures Handbook.
About the Grant
The Save the Bees Grant (SBG) is funded by revenue from the Save the Bees Specialty License Plate and operates under Florida Statute 320.08058. It supports projects in three statutory categories — research, education, and husbandry — that deliver a clear, measurable public benefit to Florida beekeepers, pollinator health, or the general public.
Who Can Apply
Organizations able to receive funds through an organizational bank account, including:
- Nonprofit organizations and educational institutions
- Beekeeping clubs or associations
- Government agencies, municipalities, and community programs
- Research institutions and other organizations approved by FSBA
- Applicants do not have to be based in Florida. Out-of-state organizations — including universities and research institutions — may apply, provided the funded project delivers a clear, documented public benefit to Florida's beekeepers, pollinators, or the public.
- Not eligible: individuals, for-profit businesses, projects that do not deliver a documented Florida public benefit, and applicants with unresolved noncompliance from prior funding.
What the Grant Funds — and What It Doesn't
- The grant covers direct project costs in research, education, and husbandry. It does not cover indirect, facilities and administrative (F&A), overhead, or general administrative costs — for any applicant, including universities and research institutions. If a purchase would go to a business or person related to your officers, directors, or members (or their family), you must disclose it in advance, keep that person out of the decision, show the price is fair with two independent quotes, and get FSBA's approval before you buy.
Who Owns What You Buy?
- Items bought with grant funds belong to your organization for shared, ongoing educational use — not to any individual, officer, director, or member. As an exception, you may run an open-enrollment (not members-only) earn to-keep program that awards starter colonies or beginner equipment to youth who complete it — up to $200 in value per youth each year, with anything above that covered by matching funds or documented in-kind donations.
- Outreach materials. Save the Bees Grant funds support research, education, and husbandry.
- Public-awareness outreach — brochures, flyers, and general awareness materials — is delivered by FSBA so that consistent, professional materials are shared with every Florida community rather than funded one club at a time. This is a benefit available to all applicants and clubs may request FSBA outreach materials for their events, at no cost to their grant budget. Contact: FSBAgrant@fsbabee.org to request available materials.
PLANNED OPENING DATES OF THE GRANTS
We will be opening the grant application program after the 2026 year plate funds have been collected f.
Planned Opening Date of the Grant application:
January 4th, 2027
Closing Date February 16th, 2027
Total Awards available TBD
How to Apply
- Complete the official Save the Bees Grant Application Form (electronic only — no handwritten or altered forms).
- Include all required attachments, such as quotes, agendas/curricula, letters of support, and proof of status.
- Submit in a single email or upload using the required subject line, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the published deadline.
What Happens Next
- FSBA sends a confirmation of receipt within five business days (receipt only — not approval).
- Applications pass through intake review, independent scoring, a consensus process, committee recommendation, and final Board approval.
- If awarded, you sign a funding agreement before funds are disbursed, follow the approved scope, keep documentation, and submit a final report at closeout.
- A note on taxes: a grant award may have tax or reporting implications for your organization. FSBA does not provide tax or legal advice — please check with your own tax advisor about how an award may affect your organization.
Need more details? See the full FSBA Grant Program Policies & Procedures Handbook or email FSBAgrant@fsbabee.org
AUGUST 20th, 2026 UPDATE.
THE HANDBOOK AND SAMPLE APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
BEE CLUB MINI GRANTS
Q&A Quick answers to common questions.
Q&A Quick answers to common questions.
Because of the tight regulations for the Specialty License Plate Program funds, there might be situations where the request for a grant from a Florida, FSBA-Affiliated, Bee Club would not fall under the approved funding requirements as set forth by the State of Florida. The Florida State Beekeepers Association (FSBA) will accept Mini-Grant applications from all FSBA-affiliated Florida beekeeping clubs for education and training events that further promote the FSBA's objective of developing and promoting beekeeping and its methods to the public and the community and fostering the best practices and techniques in apiary management
Grants are awarded based on the committee’s assessment of the request's significance, the current funding availability, and the number of applications submitted.
The FSBA Mini-Grant Committee reserves the right to fully support, partially support, or deny any grant request.
A majority committee vote awards grants after thoroughly evaluating all relevant information.
Mini-grants cannot fund cosmetic or beautification projects, donations, prize money, or operating support (i.e., travel, printing costs, office supplies, and personnel expenses, except for start-up costs in educational programs.
Mini-grants can only be awarded to organizations, or institutions without personal financial gain.
Planned Opening Date of the Mini Grant application:
January 4th, 2027
Closing Date February 16th, 2027
Total Awards Available TBD
If you have any questions, please email FSBAgrant@fsbabee.org
AUGUST 20th, 2026 UPDATE.
THE HANDBOOK AND SAMPLE APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Q&A Quick answers to common questions.
Q&A Quick answers to common questions.
Q&A Quick answers to common questions.
For full policy, see the FSBA Grant Program Policies & Procedures Handbook.
- Q: What is the Save the Bees Grant?
- A: It is funded by the Save the Bees Specialty License Plate under Florida Statute 320.08058 and supports research, education, and husbandry projects with statewide or regional public benefit.
- Q: Who can apply?
- A: Nonprofits, educational institutions, beekeeping clubs and associations, government agencies, community programs, and research institutions.
- Q: Can an individual apply?
- A: No. FSBA funds organizations only. You must be able to receive funds through an organizational bank account.
- Q: Does my organization have to be based in Florida?
- A: No. Out-of-state organizations — including universities and research institutions — may apply, as long as the funded project delivers a clear, documented public benefit to Florida's beekeepers, pollinators, or the public.
- Q: How is the Save the Bees Grant funded?
- A: Through revenue from the Save the Bees Specialty License Plate, governed by Florida Statute 320.08058. This is a separate funding source from the Educational Mini Grant.
- Q: What kinds of projects qualify?
- A: Projects that fit a statutory category (research, education, or husbandry), show clear public benefit, include measurable outcomes, and can be completed within the proposed timeline.
- Q: What costs are not allowed?
- A: food, beverages, catering, or hospitality; gifts, prizes, giveaways, or awards; alcohol or entertainment; fundraising activities or membership-only events; membership dues; general operating or administrative expenses; equipment or supplies for private apiaries or personal use; PPE for individual ownership; and cash-based or undocumented expenditures. Indirect, F&A, and overhead costs are also not reimbursable, for any applicant.
- Q: Can we buy from a board member's or member's business?
- A: Only with safeguards. Disclose the relationship in advance, keep that person out of the decision, show the price is fair with two independent quotes, and get FSBA's written approval before buying.
- Q: Who owns equipment or colonies purchased with grant funds — and can youth keep what they earn?
- A: Items purchased with grant funds belong to the recipient organization for shared, ongoing educational use — not to any individual, officer, director, or member. As an exception, a recipient may run an open-enrollment (not members-only) earn-to-keep program that awards starter colonies or beginner equipment to youth who complete it, up to $200 in fair-market value per youth per year, with any amount above that covered by matching funds or documented in-kind donations.
- Q: Can we use grant funds for brochures or awareness materials?
- A: Outreach materials are provided by FSBA and shared statewide, so they are not budgeted in your grant. You can request FSBA outreach materials for your events at no cost — email FSBAgrant@fsbabee.org This keeps materials consistent and available to every Florida community.
- Q: How do I submit?
- A: Use the official form and submit electronically in a single email or upload with all attachments and the required subject line, by 11:59 PM ET on the deadline.
- Q: Will I get a confirmation?
- A: Yes — within five business days. It confirms receipt only, not completeness or eligibility. Contact FSBA before the
- deadline if you do not receive one.
- Q: How are applications reviewed?
- A: Intake review for completeness and eligibility, independent scoring by trained reviewers, a documented consensus process, a committee recommendation, and final Board approval.
- Q: What happens if I am awarded?
- A: You sign a funding agreement before funds are disbursed, follow the approved scope, maintain documentation, and submit a final report with receipts and evidence of public benefit.
- Q: Will an award affect our taxes?
- A: It may. FSBA does not provide tax or legal advice — please consult your own tax advisor about how a grant award affects your organization.