Grants and funding opportunities

Councilmanic Grants

Each Councilmember can allocate a small amount of grant funding directly to eligible entities. These funds will be prioritized to support efforts that meet an important need, center equity in the approach, delivery, and outcomes of service, and benefit county residents, especially in District 4.  

Grants will be awarded through the county’s approved budgets, typically 2 to 3 times per year. Applicants will be invited to complete an Expression of Interest (EoI) form to be considered. If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities, including when the EoI form will be available, please contact Lan Nguyen (lan.nguyen@kingcounty.gov). For information on the WaterWorks grant, please reach out to Clara Manahan at (clara.manahan@kingcounty.gov).

Councilmanic grants may be available through these efforts:

Community Service Organization (CSO) Grants

These funds are available to non-profit organizations or government entities for capital or operating costs. Examples of eligible organizations include food banks, social service providers, public schools, tribes, and tribal organizations. Grant award amounts will depend upon funds available in each budget cycle but may be in amounts of up to $5,000. 

Local Solutions Grants

Funds are available to support health, housing, and human services through the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL), Strategy 8. Examples of services include but are not limited to addressing food security, housing stability, behavioral health, healthy living, and other efforts. Grant award amounts will depend upon funds available through the VSHSL levy, but may be in amounts of up to $10,000.

Veterans Service Organization Grants

Veterans Service Organizations are eligible for grants through the Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services (VSHSL), Strategy 6 to support veterans and their families. Grant award amounts will depend upon funds available through the VSHSL levy, but may be in amounts of up to $5,000

Youth and Amateur Sports Grants (Get Active, Stay Active)

These funds support fit and healthy communities through youth and amateur sports, fitness programming, and increasing access to sports, play, and outdoor recreation. Eligible applicants include local governments, tribal organizations, non-profit organizations, fiscally sponsored organizations, public school districts, parks districts, and public agencies. Eligible project types include capital and program operations. Grant award amounts will depend upon available funds in each budget cycle but may be in amounts of up to $10,000

Please note that these grants are available through two avenues - the District 4 councilmanic grant process, and directly through the Department of Natural Resources and Parks. To learn more, visit the Youth and Amateur Sports Grants website and sign up for the Parks Grants email list.

WaterWorks Grants

The WaterWorks Grant Program provides $5 million in funding every two years to organizations carrying out projects that improve water quality in the service area for the King County regional wastewater system. Eligible applicants include non-profits, schools and educational institutions, tribes, and local governments. 

Applications are expected to open in 2025. Please note that there are two tracks for this funding: one through the King County Council, and a second through the King County Executive. To be notified of this and similar funding opportunities through the Department of Natural Resources and Parks, sign up for their newsletter. For more information on the Council-side allocation process, please contact Clara Manahan (clara.manahan@kingcounty.gov).

Grants available through County Departments and Partner entities

These grants are administered through King County Departments and partner entities. Follow the link provided to learn more about each opportunity and access the most up-to-date information on that opportunity.

Please note that each of these grants have distinct schedules and may not be currently accepting applications on the day that you are reading this information. If you are interested in any of the below opportunities, click the link and consider signing up for their newsletters to hear about new funding opportunities as soon as they are available.

4Culture

4Culture is the cultural funding agency for King County. Through support for arts, heritage, preservation, and science and technology, they work to ensure that cultural opportunities are accessible to all. 4Culture provides numerous grant projects in King County with rolling deadlines throughout the year. Visit 4Culture’s website to see what may be a fit for you.

Best Starts for Kids

Best Starts for Kids (BSK) is King County’s commitment to ensure that all children in King County can reach adulthood happy, healthy, safe, and thriving. BSK provides resources that focus on promotion, prevention, and early intervention for kids from the prenatal stage through age 24. BSK partners with community organizations, non-profits, school and school districts, tribal organizations, and local government agencies across King County to implement programs, provide technical assistance to partner organizations, and address critical needs in the community. Funds are distributed through a competitive request for proposals process. Learn more and look for current funding opportunities on the BSK website.

Crisis Care Centers Initiative

The Crisis Care Centers Initiative began implementation in 2024 to create a countywide network of five behavioral health crisis care centers, restore and expand mental health residential treatment beds, and strengthen the community behavioral health workforce. This effort was approved by voters in 2023.

The nine-year levy also aims to promote continuity of care by linking telephone crisis lines, mobile crisis teams, and other behavioral health resources to support people’s recovery. Funds are distributed through a competitive request for proposals process. Learn more and look for current funding opportunities on the Crisis Care Centers Initiative webpage.

Conservation Futures 

Conservations Futures funds can be used to purchase or conserve sites that will be used as parks and open spaces. These may include urban greenspaces, natural areas, sites for habitat and stream restoration, forests, community gardens, farms, and trails. Additional information can be found on the Conservation Futures fund webpage, including the application process, schedule, and workshops. 

Flood Reduction Grants

The King County Flood District provides four grant programs to address countywide flood issues. These grants are for medium and small flood reduction projects across the county, as well as for projects to address flood issues associated with urban streams, coastal erosion/coastal flooding, and culvert placement/fish passage restoration. Find more information about these programs on the Flood District website.

Parks Levy Grants

King County Parks has several grant programs that are awarded to community organizations for projects to increase accessibility to parks, green spaces, and recreation opportunities for King County residents. Eligible applicants include local governments, non-profits, tribal organizations, school districts, or park districts. Public access or public benefit is a requirement, and recipients are obligated to ensure long-term public access or benefit. Applications can be submitted directly through the King County Parks website. For general questions, email King County Parks directly (ParksGrants@kingcounty.gov) or for D4-specific questions, reach out to Clara Manahan (clara.manahan@kingcounty.gov) in our office.

Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA)

The Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA) invests in improving educational opportunities for children, youth, and young adults in early learning, K-12, and college, career, and technical education. Investment priorities include addressing current gaps in the education system and improving outcomes for historically underserved youth. Emphasis areas include increasing and improving access to early learning facilities (including capital), culturally relevant youth programs, and college and career access and supports. Resources may be available for capital and operational costs depending on the intended use of the funds. Learn more and look for current funding opportunities on the PSTAA website.

Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services 

The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) connects servicemembers and their families, residents aged 55 years and older, and resilient communities to resources that promote healthy living, financial stability, social engagement, housing stability, access to services, and more. Funds are distributed through a competitive request for proposals (RFPs) process. Learn more and look for current funding opportunities on the VSHSL website.