The 2024-25 Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention Grant from the Portland Children’s Levy (PCL) seeks to fund programs that prevent child abuse and neglect and support vulnerable families. Funding of $12.6 to $15.7 million is available over a 36-month period, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. Each grant request must be between $300,000 and $2.5 million, with the total requested amount not exceeding 30% of the applicant organization’s annual revenue from the most recent fiscal year. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local education agencies, community colleges, universities, or partnerships led by a designated fiscal agent.
Programs must address at least one of PCL’s priorities for child abuse prevention and intervention, such as connecting families with basic resources, reducing caregiver isolation, supporting coping skills for those experiencing stress or grief, navigating child welfare and mental health systems, healing from family violence, and assisting teen parents. Projects with features like access to services during non-traditional hours or the use of confidential youth advocates may receive higher scores during evaluation.
The grant application process involves registration on WebGrants by October 21, 2024, and submission of a complete application by November 4, 2024. Applicants need to provide a comprehensive narrative covering organizational purpose, program design, budget justification, and additional required materials like current and past fiscal year budgets and recent audited financial statements. Organizations lacking annual audits must budget for one by September 2026, with PCL reimbursing up to $15,000 of the cost.
The selection process includes evaluation by volunteer review panels based on scoring criteria related to community needs, equitable outcomes, program staffing, accessibility, and alignment with PCL’s priorities. Top-scoring applications will be reviewed further by the Community Council and Allocation Committee, with final decisions anticipated by May 2025, pending City Council approval. The process includes options for applicants to submit testimony but prohibits lobbying of review committee members.
Pre-application information sessions on September 19 and 24, 2024, aim to help prospective applicants understand the requirements and application procedures. Awarded programs must adhere to Portland’s guidelines on equity, hiring practices, and insurance, ensuring services are accessible and responsive to diverse community needs, including children and families facing multiple barriers.
