Washington Capacity Building Grants

This program provides financial support to new and emerging cultural and science organizations in King County, Washington, helping them build sustainable operations and enhance public access to arts and science.

This funding opportunity is designed to strengthen the internal systems and infrastructure of nonprofit organizations serving Whidbey Island, focusing on projects that enhance management, governance, or administrative capacity.

This grant provides unrestricted funding to nonprofit organizations in specific communities of North Central Washington to support their general operations or community-focused projects.

This funding opportunity provides financial and strategic support for the early development of cultural, historic, scientific, or artistic facilities in King County, Washington, specifically targeting nonprofit organizations and tribal governments serving historically underserved communities.

This grant provides funding to Seattle-based community organizations focused on developing and preserving affordable housing, particularly for those serving communities affected by discriminatory practices and displacement risks.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits in the Methow Valley for innovative projects that address significant community issues and create lasting change.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Seattle-based community groups and organizations for projects that enhance neighborhood connections and improve local spaces through community involvement and matching contributions.

This funding opportunity is designed to support organizations that provide financial education initiatives in Washington State, helping to improve financial literacy among residents.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that assist small businesses, particularly those with five or fewer employees, focusing on underserved communities across Washington.

This funding supports grassroots organizations in South Seattle, White Center, Kent, and SeaTac/Tukwila that empower community members affected by poverty and racial disparities to engage, advocate, and create positive change.

The Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Washington Innovation Fund enhances the criminal legal system in Washington state by funding innovative, sustainable, and data-driven practices. Its goals are to improve community safety, foster collaboration, and support victims and those involved in the system. Donor Name: Washington State Department of Commerce State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: Washington has a fair and equitable criminal legal system that prioritizes community safety, victim support, cross-sector collaboration, collective accountability, and data informed stewardship of criminal legal system resources. The Edward Byrne Memorial JAG program is the leading federal source of criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions. Administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), the JAG Program provides states, territories, tribes, and local governments with critical funding necessary to support a range of criminal legal system improvement and community advancement programs. Purpose Areas The JAG includes nine Purpose Areas to allow for diverse and flexible criminal legal system improvement projects: Planning, Evaluation and Technology Improvement Behavioral Health Prevention and Education Crime Victim Programming, Support and Advocacy Community Safety Enhancement and Law Enforcement Programs/Support Substance Use Treatment and Support Prosecution and Courts Corrections, Community Corrections and Re-Entry State Crisis Intervention Programs (Byrne SCIP). Funding Priorities Organizational or program capacity building New ideas, projects or promising practices Enhancing system and community collaborations Expanding or supplementing existing programs or practices. Funding Information Approximately $1,000,000 dollars of JAG funding will be dedicated to the JAG Innovation Fund each award cycle. JAG Innovation Fund awards will support project proposals with budgets up to $150,000 per project. Funding Period Nov. 1, 2024 – Dec. 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must: Be a unit of local government Be a private community-based or non-profit agency Letter of Support Requirement: If an applicant is not a unit of local government, the applicant must include one or more letter(s) of support from a unit of local government in the jurisdiction where the proposed project will be conducted. This letter of support must explain how the proposed program will benefit the local government agency and jurisdiction. A non-governmental agency applicant must satisfy this requirement in order to be considered responsive and have their proposal evaluated Be licensed to do business in the state of Washington or submit a statement of commitment that it will become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as the Apparent Successful Applicant. Have a Federal Tax ID number/employer identification number (EIN) Meet all applicable licensing and registration requirements (e.g. Washington State Business License (501C3 fillings). For more information, visit WSDC.

The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) offers surplus vanpool vans to not-for-profit organizations and government entities through the Community Van Grant Program. This initiative aims to enhance public transportation options by providing retired vans to organizations that can address community transportation needs unmet by WTA services. Eligible applicants include Whatcom County community organizations with 501(c)(3) status or government organizations. The program is competitive due to the limited availability of vehicles. Selected recipients will receive the vehicle title upon award and must submit performance reports for the first year. Up to eleven retired vanpool vehicles will be available in 2024, with a deadline for applications on August 23, 2024.

This program provides funding of up to $5,000 to local organizations in Grays Harbor County for quick-impact projects that address community needs, such as educational materials, food supplies, and essential items for shelters.

This program provides financial assistance to owners of historic buildings, non-profits, and community groups in Ellensburg, WA, to help preserve and restore historic properties and murals.

Whidbey Community Foundation (WCF) supports the organizational strength and effectiveness of nonprofits on Whidbey Island. Donor Name: Whidbey Community Foundation State: County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/31/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Capacity-building grants are awarded to nonprofits for one-time projects that address a part of the organization’s strategic plan to improve the management, governance, and administration of the organization, not direct programmatic improvements. By strengthening the internal capacity of an organization, WCF believes the programs and services will also be strengthened. Types of Projects that Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants Support Organizations can request up to $10,000 for a Nonprofit Capacity-Building Grant. We anticipate that most grants will range between $1,000 – $5,000. Project examples include but are not limited to: Evaluation of core programs Staff or board training Assessment of technology systems or implementation of technology upgrades Planning (HR, succession, fundraising, financial sustainability) Merger planning and implementation Diversity, equity, and inclusion policy development and implementation Eligibility Criteria Any organization that operates with a charitable status or for a charitable purpose on Whidbey Island is eligible to apply for a grant. The following projects are NOT eligible for grant support: Operating costs, including salaries, other than those related to the capacity-building project. Expansion of existing programs or creation of new ones Brick-and-mortar projects or endowment campaigns Pass-through grants to other nonprofits Grants to supplant lost funding or eliminate budget deficits. For more information, visit WCF.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and agencies working to meet community needs in the Methow Valley, with grants available for various projects that promote a healthy and vibrant community.

The City of Bellevue is currently requesting proposals from organizations with projects that may be suitable for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding. Donor Name: City of Bellevue State: Washington City: Bellevue Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/17/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The City is considering non-construction Capital projects (e.g. architectural & engineering and other soft costs; single-family home rehabilitation; weatherization; acquisition or pre-acquisition costs) and Economic Development projects (e.g. microenterprise business assistance). The City is not seeking Public Services projects (e.g. homeless services, counseling, food banks, senior services, etc.) at this time. Projects must comply with U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) CDBG program regulations (24 CFR Part 570). The amount of funding available for this Request for Proposals is estimated to be $1,000,000 in PY2025 funds ($850,000 in estimated entitlement funds and $150,000 in estimated program income). The actual amount available is dependent upon the 2025 federal CDBG budget, HUD’s allocation formula, and actual program income received by the City. The City makes no guarantees regarding the availability or awarding of CDBG funding. Projects selected via this RFP will be part of the 2025-2029 CDBG Consolidated Plan. Eligible Activities  Examples of CDBG eligible activities that the City will consider funding include: Acquisition of real property, pre-acquisition costs, or design-related (architectural and engineering) and other soft costs (i.e., non-construction). Acquisition/Rehabilitation of public facilities. Home repair/rehabilitation, maintenance and weatherization activities. Microenterprise business assistance and development. Eligibility Criteria  CDBG projects must be implemented by a nonprofit organization or public agency. Nonprofit organizations leasing a facility may request CDBG funds to improve the facility provided the property owner agrees to a restricted use of the property for a specified length of time. The City will prioritize funding recommendations for agencies/organizations with a verifiable history of receiving and administering funds from HUD. For more information, visit City of Bellevue.

The Washington State Department of Commerce is accepting applications for its 2025 Religious and Nonprofit Security Grant. Donor Name: Washington State Department of Commerce State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/02/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: The Department of Commerce awards grants for nonprofit organizations including, but not limited to: religious nonprofits by-and-for organizations or cultural community centers to fund renovation or other security investments. All applications must demonstrate that their sites have been subject to, or at risk of physical attacks, threats, or other damages because of the mission, ideology or beliefs. Funding Information Applications in excess of $50,000 will be rejected as non-responsive and will not be evaluated. Grant Period August 7, 2024 – June 30, 2025. Eligibility Criteria  Applicant minimum qualifications include: Licensed to do business in the State of Washington or submit a statement of commitment that it will become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as the Apparently Successful Applicant. Are a non-profit organization including, but not limited to, religious nonprofits, “by and for” organizations, or cultural community centers. Application Considerations In order for applications to be considered for this funding and be evaluated and scored, applications must: Have reasons to believe they have been subject to or at risk of physical attacks, threats, vandalism, or damages based on their mission, ideology, or beliefs and; Demonstrate a need for investments in physical security enhancements, construction or renovation, target hardening, preparedness planning, training, or exercises and; Use the funding for physical security enhancements, construction or renovation, target hardening, preparedness planning, training, or exercises. Own the property or if leasing/renting have permission in writing from the owner to make proposed security enhancements. At the time of the application, the organization is actively occupying and functioning out of the location listed in the application. For more information, visit WSDC.

This grant provides funding for Fife residents to undertake community improvement projects that benefit their neighborhoods, such as cleanups, community gardens, and local events.

The Washington State Department of COMMERCE, hereafter called “COMMERCE,” is initiating this Request for Applications (RFA) to fund clean energy projects in Washington through a combination of funding sources. Donor Name: Washington State Department of Commerce State: Washington County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 06/14/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Commerce is now accepting applications to support the planning, design, and construction of clean energy projects through a general round which is open to all eligible project types and applicants. Approximately $34 million will be available in the general round to support the following project areas: Electric grid modernization and innovation Innovative large-scale and dual-use solar Solar energy retrofits for public buildings Clean energy project siting and permitting Building, industry, aviation and maritime Decarbonization Clean energy projects that leverage private and federal funding. Project Categories  Large scale solar innovation Planning or a construction project. Planning project must lead to a capital asset. Solar array(s) must have alternating current (AC) nameplate capacity of more than 100 kW at a single site or more than 1 MW across multiple sites Cannot displace critical habitat or productive farmland Dual-use solar Planning or a construction project Must involve commercial, dual-use solar power demonstration Hard to decarbonize and economic development Planning or a construction project. Planning project must lead to a capital asset. Project must achieve one or more of the following goals: Reduce emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sector Bring private investment and federal funding to the state Grid integration and innovation Planning or a construction project Must develop and demonstrate distributed energy resources and non-wire alternatives Must be for electrical grid integration and innovation projects Must do at least one of the following: Support implementation of demand response Improve integration of renewable energy and energy storage Advance community resilience Support implementation of sustainable microgrids Accelerate beneficial load integration and demand management for at least one of the following: Building electrification Equipment electrification Electric vehicle charging Clean energy siting and permitting Planning projects only Must support siting and permitting of clean energy projects through at least one of the following methods: Support pre-development work at sites for clean energy projects Support land use studies Conduct or engage in planning efforts such as planned actions and programmatic environmental impact statements (EIS) Improve permit timeliness and certainty with staff, expertise or databases Solar installations on existing public buildings Construction projects only Must purchase and install solar PV only at an existing public building (must have a certificate of occupancy prior to application). Funding Information The minimum award amount is $50,000, and the maximum award amount for a single award is $3,000,000. Eligibility Criteria  Unless the Applicant is a federally recognized tribe, applicants must be licensed to do business in the State of Washington or submit a statement of commitment that it will become licensed in Washington within thirty (30) calendar days of being selected as an Apparently Successful Contractor. Applicants must be in good standing with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and requirements, including with the Department of Commerce. Applicants must be one of the following entities (please note, not all entities are eligible for all project categories. Associate development organization Federally recognized tribal government For-profit entity Investor-owned, co-operative, or public retail electric utility K-12 school district Local government Non-profit organization Private educational institution or public higher education institution Other academic or research institution State agency Tribes’ contracted service providers. For more information, visit WSDC.