Neighborhoods & Communities 

Annual Grants Program

Our grant deadline for 2012 has passed.
The next deadline for Neighborhoods & Communities is January 15, 2013.

2012 Priority Funding Strategies for Neighborhoods & Communities

The Foundation’s Neighborhoods & Communities Annual Grants Program will prioritize organizations or programs that are aligned with one or both of the following funding strategies:

1. Increase Civic Engagement and Community Action:
Support organizations or programs that increase civic engagement, develop local leadership, or encourage community organizing and advocacy.

Potential Examples:

• Organizations that provide opportunities for low-income or underrepresented individuals and groups to advocate for policy changes.
• Community-based organizations that authentically engage residents and other stakeholders in working towards neighborhood development goals that also address disparities.
• Programs that develop local leadership skills so community members can effectively organize and lead positive change in their communities.

2. Build Community Connections:
Support organizations or programs that build relationships and trust within and across communities (geographic and non-geographic).

Potential Examples:

• Local community spaces or events that provide programming and opportunities for people to meet and build relationships.
• Programs or organizations that work to increase interfaith, intergenerational or cross-cultural understanding.
• Neighborhood or cultural groups that bring people together to share resources and build social networks.

Eligibility

To qualify for the N&C Annual Grants Program, an organization must:

• be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization (or fiscally sponsored by one);
• serve residents of King County; and
• provide programming that aligns with one of our two strategies.

Please note that we have eliminated our two-year eligibility period. While all eligible organizations are free to apply for Neighborhoods & Communities funding for our January 15, 2013 deadline, relatively few organizations will receive grants every year from The Seattle Foundation.

We require that all nonprofits call us before submitting an application (even if you have received funding in the past) so we can discuss our current funding focus and whether your organization would be a strong fit. Please contact grantmaking@seattlefoundation.org or call (206) 515-2109.

Funding Decision Criteria

We will select grantees for the Neighborhoods & Communities Annual Grants Program based on the following criteria:

• Strongly aligns with one or both of our 2012 funding strategies.
• Priority for programs or organizations that address disparities and serve low-income, underrepresented and/or underserved communities, particularly communities of color.
• Authentically engages community members and is culturally relevant.
• Works in partnership with other related efforts where appropriate.
• Has identified effective ways to measure impact and progress.
• Has diverse funding sources or a plan for how to sustain its ongoing work.

Other Things to Consider

• Capital campaign funding requests are typically considered a low priority.
• Organizations that have an annual operating budget less than $100,000 as reflected in the most recently filed IRS Form 990 are considered a lower priority for the Annual Grants Program, but may be eligible for Neighbor to Neighbor funding, which focuses on the White Center, South Seattle and Kent neighborhoods.
• Multi-year grants are not currently considered.
• Follow this link for a comprehensive list of what we don’t fund.

Grant Types

The Foundation’s Annual Grants Program typically provides general operating support grants, but may also award program/project funding when the overall organization’s work does not align with the specific strategies. Capital campaign funding is also awarded in some cases, but is not a priority for the Foundation.

Deadline

The deadline for the Neighborhoods & Communities Annual Grants Program is January 15, 2013. Applications should be submitted online by 5:00 p.m., January 15, 2013. Grants will be awarded in June 2012.

Application Instructions

The following steps outline the application process and information we are requesting. Please use this information to help you get started so that you are ready to submit your application. 

Step One
If you have not received funding from the Foundation in the past, the first step of the process is to contact the Foundation’s grantmaking staff to ensure that you are currently a strong fit for our refined funding strategies. Please contact grantmaking@seattlefoundation.org or call (206) 515-2109.

Step Two
The second step is to create an account login on our website. If you don't have one yet, we encourage you to create an account as soon as possible, as it can take up to two business days to validate your login.

Step Three
The third step is to edit or create a profile for your organization on our website. You will need to submit our Profile Request Form, available by going to www.seattlefoundation.org/nonprofits and clicking on the “Profile Access Request Form” link in the right-hand column. (If you are new to our website, you will be taken to a login/registration page first, where you will need to create an account -- see Step Two above.)

The information required to establish your nonprofit organization's profile includes: mission statement, organization and program description, and recent successes and challenges.

Step Four
The fourth step is to complete an online application (available November 2012). Once you have created a login and completed your organization’s profile you will be able begin the online application.

The online application includes the following: responding to narrative questions, providing a three-year financial snapshot, and submitting attachments. Please refer to the Application Components for a complete list of narrative questions and required attachments.

Step Five (For current grant recipients only)
The fifth step requires completion of a Status Report within nine months from the date an organization receives a grant. Grant recipients will receive final report guidelines with grant letter. If you received funding in 2011, please submit your report describing results to date before applying for 2012 funding.

Application Submission

Please do not submit any books, DVDs or videos with the application.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact our grantmaking team at grantmaking@seattlefoundation.org or (206) 515-2109.