Now accepting applications for the 2023-2024 Voter Education Fund!

Posted on by Hana Rubin

By Vanesa Gutierrez

Photo credit: Andrew McGinnis, Gay City

We are excited to share that the 2023-2024 Voter Education Fund is now open!

Seattle Foundation and King County Elections are partnering once again to increase engagement and voter participation in underserved communities through the Voter Education Fund. The partners have committed $950,000 in grants over the next two-years to organizations working to address low voter turnout within historically excluded communities. As a result of the changing landscape and in response to the needs of our community, we will be launching two grant types for the 2023-2024 funding cycle.

  • Multi-year Level Funding: Selected organizations will be funded for two years to do voter outreach and activities for the 2023 and 2024 election cycles. Grants will range between $20,000 and $25,000 per year totaling between $40,000 and $50,000.
  • Seed Level Funding: Selected organizations will receive a one-year grant for smaller voter outreach events, and/or to acquire resources to be utilized for voter education, outreach, and/or registration events. Grants will range between $5,000-$10,000. Applicants can apply now and in 2024 for these resources.

Priorities

The Voter Education Fund will provide grants to organizations working to reduce inequities in voting access in historically marginalized communities including, but not limited to, communities of color, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, limited-English speaking (LES) communities, LGBTQIA community members, formerly incarcerated individuals, and residents in South King County.

We are prioritizing applications that are:

  • Led and staffed by individuals reflecting the ethnic and cultural communities being served.
  • Showcase a history or demonstrated ability to reach and engage members from the communities, especially as it relates to voting access; and
  • Have a plan for engaging first time voters, youth of color, people living with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness or people convicted of a felony, BIPOC and historically excluded communities in South King County.

GRANT TYPES

Organizations are invited to apply for funding in one of two categories through the Voter Education Fund:

  1. Multi-year Funding – grants up to $50,000 over two years (up to $25,000 a year).
    Multi-year Funding will support organizations that provide ongoing voter registration and education activities throughout 2023 and 2024. Grantees are expected to offer a variety of approaches to educating and engaging voters or potential voters in their community throughout the next two years. Organizations should consider applying for this level of funding if they have prior experience doing successful non-partisan voter engagement work within historically excluded communities.
  2. Seed Level Funding – grants up to $10,000 a year.
    Seed Level Funding will support organizations that are newer to this work who aim to provide events to potential voters in 2023 and 2024. This is intended to grow the capacity of organizations representing focus communities who desire to increase their capability of doing effective, non-partisan voter education work.

INFORMATION SESSIONS

If you are interested in learning more about this grant opportunity, we highly encourage potential applicants attend an information session to learn more. We will offer ASL interpretation on a per request basis.

Once you have registered, a confirmation screen will appear. Please use the “add to calendar” button to save the login information. To ensure a timely start, be sure to download the Zoom app in advance of the webinar.

Once you have registered, a confirmation screen will appear. Please use the “add to calendar” button to save the login information. To ensure a timely start, be sure to download the Zoom app in advance of the webinar.

HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Proposals must be submitted online in Seattle Foundation’s Application Portal.

TIMELINE

RFP Issued– January 23, 2023
Information Sessions (optional)– February 3, 2023. 11am-12:30pm. RSVP Here February 15, 2023. 1-2:30pm. RSVP Here 
RFP Application Due– Multi-year Level: Friday, February 24, 2023, by 11:59 p.m.
– Seed Level: on a rolling basis from January 23, 2023, through September 30th, 2024. First opportunity is due February 24, 2023, by 11:59 p.m.
Applications Reviewed– Multi-year Level: March – April 2023
– Seed Level: on a rolling basis from January 23, 2023, through September 30th, 2024. First review will be completed in April 2023
Site Visits (if applicable)– Multi-year site visits will take place between April 17 – 28, 2023
Notification of Selected and Non-Selected Applicants– Multi-year Level: May 2023
– Seed Level: on a rolling basis from January 23, 2023, through September 30th, 2024

QUESTIONS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

For additional questions, please e-mail Vanesa Gutierrez at [email protected] or Naheed Aaftaab at [email protected].

All Relevant RFP Materials and Links