Participatory budgeting in Unincorporated King County

Participatory Budgeting is a unique program that shifts decision-making power directly to community members. Through this approach, residents determine how public funds are allocated—strengthening civic participation, advancing racial equity, and making impactful community investments that reflect the needs of these communities which have historically been underrepresented.

Members of the Double Dutch Divas celebrate after the Skyway community voted to fund their project in King County's first round of Participatory Budgeting.

Purpose

Launched in 2021, King County’s Participatory Budgeting program has funded nearly 90 community projects in unincorporated King County.

The program aims to:

Invest public dollars in community-identified priorities and identify funding opportunities through a community led process
Center racial equity and community voices
Build trust through transparent decision-making Strengthen civic participation in historically underinvested communities

2026 grantmaking process

In 2026, the Participatory Budgeting program puts residents in Skyway/West Hill and White Center/North Highline in charge of deciding how $2.7 million in county funding will be invested directly in the urban unincorporated areas of Skyway/West Hill and White Center/North Highline.

Elevate Skyway Community Fund - $1.6 million
Uplift White Center Community Fund - $1.1 million

The investments will be made via a community-led grantmaking process designed by a Community Advisory Board of local leaders and residents. This will ensure that funding priorities, proposal guidelines, and decision-making reflect the voices and needs of the community.

Throughout July, the Community Advisory Board has been building the foundation for an equitable and transparent grant-making process. They have…

Grounded their work in the core values and principles of participatory budgeting and participatory governance.
Developed a clear governance structure and decision-making approach.
Formed committees to design key components of the grantmaking process, including the Request for Proposals (RFP), proposal review process, community outreach strategies, and funding recommendations.
Begun crafting the tools, policies, and engagement plans that will guide this year’s participatory grantmaking process.

How participatory budgeting works

Community Advisory Board

Community leaders in the urban unincorporated areas of Skyway/West Hill and White Center/North Highline design the Participatory Grantmaking process.
Community outreach (current step)

Residents are invited to participate through local events, partnerships, outreach campaigns, and community information sessions.
Request for proposals

Community organizations submit proposals that address local needs and priorities with community-driven solutions.
Community review and engagement

A diverse panel of community members reviews and rates proposals based on impact, feasibility, equity, and community benefit. Community information sessions gather additional community insight, input, and feedback to help inform proposal prioritization.
Award and implementation

Selected projects are awarded funding and supported through implementation and ongoing program oversight (through Dec. 2027).

Participatory budgeting preliminary timeline

Community Advisory Board applications open

Spring 2026
Community Advisory Board designs grantmaking process

Summer 2026
Request for proposals open

September 2026
Community review

Fall 2026
Award announcements

Winter 2026

How to get involved

Request for proposal to open September 14

The Request for Proposal (RFP) period is anticipated to open on September 14, with specific funds for Skyway/West Hill ($1.6 million) and White Center/North Highline ($1.1 million):

Who can participate? Community projects, nonprofit organizations, and grassroots group. We will provide free technical assistance for those interested in submitting a proposal.
Deadline: Proposal will be due by Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Technical assistance will be available for proposal writers.

Apply to become a proposal reviewer

Help decide where Participatory Grantmaking funds go. We are looking for people to review and rate proposals.

Who can participate? Applicant must live, work, go to school, worship, and/or have a strong community connection to the areas of Skyway/West Hill or White Center/North Highline.
Paid volunteer opportunity: $30/hour
Volunteer hours: Estimated 4 hours per week for 3-5 weeks
Must have intermediate level proficiency with Google Suite
Apply Now!

Learn more and share information with your community. Participatory budgeting works best when more people are involved! We hope you can attend upcoming community meetings and share information about this unique opportunity with your family, friends, neighbors, and networks.

Community events

There will be two opportunities to learn how to access these funds and meet and celebrate with the Community Advisory Board that designed the process, and two technical assistance sessions to learn how to write a proposal.

Uplift White Center Community Fund - Info session

Date: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Location: White Center Library
Address: 1409 S.W. 107th St., Seattle, WA 98146

Direct King County Metro Routes to the White Center Library

Route 128 - North Admiral, Alaska Junction, South Seattle College, White Center, Tukwila, and Southcenter
- Exit at S.W. 108th St. and 8th Ave. SW - Approximately 0.5 miles from the White Center Library

RapidRide H Line - Burien, White Center, Westwood Village, Delridge, Seattle Ferry Terminal, and Downtown Seattle
- Exit at 15th Ave. SW and S.W. 107th St. - Less than 400 feet from the White Center Library

Elevate Skyway Community Fund - Info session

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Skyway Resource Center
Address: 12610 76th Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98178

Direct King County Metro Routes to the Skyway Resource Center

Route 106 - Renton, Skyway, Rainier Beach, and Chinatown/International District
- Exit at Renton Ave. S. and 76th Ave. S. - Less than 400 feet from the Skyway Resource Center

Technical assistance for proposal writing presentation - Virtual

Date: Monday, Sept. 21, 2026
Time: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Join via Zoom: Virtual session link
Meeting ID: 863 0765 0352
Interpretation available for the virtual session: Please register and indicate which language is needed

Technical assistance for proposal writing presentation and 1-on-1 support - In-person

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23. 2026
Time: 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Location: TBD

Participatory budgeting stories and videos

Department of Local Services Participatory Budgeting Black History Month Celebration in Skyway, WA

On Feb. 28, 2026, the King County Department of Local Services celebrated Black History Month with a community event in Skyway, Wash., one of the most ethnically diverse communities in Washington state.

Hosted at the Skyway Resource Center, the celebration featured performances, black elected leaders, testimonials from organizations that King County has supported, a tour of a several businesses in the area, and a visit to the new home of the Silent Task Force resource group.

Made Possible by Participatory Budgeting: Speak With Purpose

This video focuses on Speak With Purpose, a Skyway-based organization that's the only public speaking program directly offered in classrooms throughout King County near Seattle, Wash.

The community of Skyway – one of the most culturally diverse in the state - voted to direct $96,000 in public funds to Speak With Purpose to deliver sessions at low-income schools (Lakeridge, Bryn-Mawr and Campbell Hill Elementary, as well as Dimmitt Middle School) for students in the fourth-through-eighth grade that take place during the school day.