BSK: Non-BSK Funding Opportunities List – February to April deadlines

We will always promote our Best Starts funding opportunities here on the blog and our website. But we’re also posting a monthly blog series, highlighting funding opportunities from other agencies and organizations that support groups that promote the health and well-being of our babies, children, and young people

APPLY NOW - 2026 HSBTP Application Open

The King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is pleased to release a noncompetitive application process for the HSBTP, with allocations from DCHS and King County Metro (Metro). Through this application process, these departments are making available access to discounted bus tickets – up to $444,440 in allocation value ($4,444,400 in face value). The HSBTP provides subsidized bus tickets to eligible human service agencies serving persons who are experiencing homelessness and/or have low income. Agencies awarded an allocation pay approximately 10 percent of the value of the tickets, with King County Metro covering the remaining 90 percent of the ticket value. Please review the 2026 Human Services Bus Ticket Program before completing an application

 Application Process - This year there will be no formal Request for Proposal (RFP), but instead a noncompetitive open application process.  After December 1, 2025, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis each month through September 1, 2026. Approved Agencies will receive a Letter of Agreement for a term state date of their award letter, through December 31, 2026.

Human Services Workforce Stabilization – Apply by February 19! 

The FS 6: Human Services Workforce Stabilization RFP seeks to allocate VSHSL funds to improve staff recruitment and retention within organizations that have active DCHS awards and provide human services in King County.  Funds may be used to support staff across an organization who work in King County through related expenses. Interested applicants are invited to attend one of two informational sessions to learn more about eligibility requirements, allowable uses of funds, and the application process. Both sessions will be held remotely via Microsoft Teams. 

Communities Rise Capacity Building Cohort – Due Fri Feb 20th

The Capacity Building Cohort Applications are open! Submit an application by Friday February 20th, 2026 to this 9-month program supporting leaders of color in nonprofit and grassroots leadership. Application materials can be found at: Capacity Building Cohorts – Communities Rise  To be considered for this cohort, your organization must demonstrate meeting the following criteria: Annual operating budget under 500K - 50% of staff and board must represent target community served - Ability to describe program accomplishments from previous year - 80% of population served must be located in Seattle. Learn more and apply here: Capacity Building Cohorts – Communities Rise  Have questions about cohorts? Email cohort@communities-rise.org with any questions or to set up a meeting to learn more.

Kuni Foundation Intellectual & Developmental Disability Grants Applications due February 27

Apply now at this link! The Kuni Foundation offers two types of Intellectual & Developmental Disability Grants with the same deadline. For both grants, organizations must have a primary focus of serving people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Programs eligible for funding include education, advocacy, employment, the arts, and supportive, inclusive, or independent housing. Organizations must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. For more details, please visit the grant website here, or contact the Kuni Foundation at grants@kunifoundation.org contact or 360-663-5864.

Imagination Grants: Advancing Opportunity and Inclusion for People Experiencing Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Imagination Grants serve as a catalyst for strengthening or expanding the capabilities of an organization in service to its mission. These one-year grants are intended to fulfill an unmet need or provide a spark to advance initiatives or access additional funding in pursuit of broader community goals. Average grant awarded is $30,000. Maximum funding request is $75,000.

Imagination Planning Grants for IDD Housing: The lack of quality, affordable housing options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is an ongoing crisis in the U.S. Planning grants reflect the Kuni Foundation’s commitment to supporting the exploration of new, inclusive housing efforts in urban and rural areas of Oregon and Washington that are affordable, scalable, and sustainable. These grants are designed to support the creation of a viable action plan for project development and funding. Maximum funding request is $75,000.

New Funding Opportunity: A Crisis Care Center in East King County Submit mandatory Letter of Intent by 2 p.m. on March 3, 2026 

King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) today released the second Request for Proposals (RFP) to find a qualified partner to stand up and operate a new Regional Crisis Care Center in King County’s East Crisis Response Zone.  If your organization is a licensed Behavioral Health Agency (BHA) dedicated to providing mental health or substance use care, and committed to equity, this opportunity could be for you!  The selected BHA for the East Regional Crisis Care Center will be responsible for clinical operations, capital development, as well as partnering with local jurisdictions to identify a location for the center.   

Local Data for Equitable Communities – Due Tue March 3rd at 12 Noon PT

 This call for proposals (CFP) from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) invites eligible nonprofit organizations in the U.S. to apply for a grant to collect, analyze, and use data to address inequities in the physical, economic, and social conditions of a place under the Local Data for Equitable Communities grant program. Eligible Topics: Applicants must select only one of the following conditions of their selected geography as the primary focus of their project: - Built environment, Climate and environment, Community safety, Healthy food access,  Housing, or Transportation. The awards are up to $50,000 for a 9-month period. Data collected can be qualitative or quantitative – whatever best meets the needs. Applicant webinar: Listen to the recording and view the slides.   Questions? Contact localdata@urban.org

Apply Now: 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grants Apply by March 4, 2026

The AARP Community Challenge is now accepting applications for 2026. This annual quick-action grant program funds local projects that make communities more livable for people of all ages, with a focus on adults age 50 and older. Projects can improve public spaces, transportation, housing options, digital access, and disaster resilience. Eligible nonprofits and government entities can apply by March 4, 2026 for grants ranging from microgrants to larger awards. Selected projects must be completed by December 15, 2026 Learn more here! January 27: Question & Answer Webinar, 11 am PT (Attendance is optional. A link to the webinar recording will be posted here after the event.) Register Today!

King County Request for Applications (RFA): Language Access Program: Community Language Services – Due Thu March 12 at 2 PM

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to 1) fill the gap of emerging language gaps in our current pool of contracted languages which include; Somali, Tigrinya, Khmer, Samoan, Marshallese, Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic (standard), French, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), and Vietnamese 2) to fill emerging language needed for urgent short-term FIFA event translations with reliable days available to work June 15 – July 5, 2026 and 3) interpretation for Spanish, American Sign Language (ASL), Black American Sign Language (BASL). These experienced Contractors will use lived experience and connection to their local communities to provide language access services as detailed in this RFA. Services of Contractors may be requested by King County on an As-Needed Basis, and therefore no compensation to the Contractor is guaranteed. Contractors are not considered King County Employees. Visit the Language Access Program: Community Language Services webpage to access the application document and related exhibits. Questions? Contact Kishan Scipio: cpres-ODIR@kingcounty.gov

Dept of Commerce: funding to expand homeowner opportunities Apply by March 16, 2026

Commerce’s Community Reinvestment Program (CRP) is now accepting applications from organizations, lenders and tribes to assist people disproportionally experiencing wealth disparities with buying homes and building generational wealth. Funding will support expanding affordable homeownership opportunities. Pre-proposal conference Feb 11 &12th.

2026 Social Justice Fund Seed Grant for new organizing groups – Due Thu March 19th

Seed grants provide small unrestricted funds for grassroots groups developing their community organizing work who do not yet meet all of SJF’s community organizing framework and would not be eligible for our regular grants. If your organization or project is less than three years old, has never been funded by SJF, and is currently doing or planning community organizing work, then you are eligible! Learn more and apply: 2026 Seed Grant - Social Justice Fund NW

VSHSL Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Mini Grants due Friday, March 20 @ 4 p.m

Apply now at this link! VSHSL Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Mini Grants aim to strengthen the capacity and improve performance of programs, services, and processes within small to mid-size organizations with an active VSHSL contract providing human services in King County. For more details, please visit the grant website here, or contact Emily Mirra at emirra@kingcounty.gov.

The Frontline Funding Collaborative HEAL Capacity Grant Program – Round 1 Due Thu Apr 30

 These HEAL capacity grants are intended to support community organizations whose capacity building efforts are aligned with, and will advance the goals of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. Nonprofit, 501 (c)(3) community-based organizations (and organizations that they fiscally sponsor) throughout Washington State who work with overburdened and vulnerable communities are encouraged to apply for these unique capacity grants. Amount and number of grant awards: eighteen (18) capacity grants in the amount of $20,000 each. Want to learn more about the HEAL capacity grant program or the Frontline Funding Collaborative? Get in touch! Front and Centered - healfund@frontandcentered.org Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) - glenda@asiapacificculturalcenter.org Latino Community Fund of Washington State (LCF) - lcfgrant@latinocommunityfund.org Na’ah Illahee Fund - janine@naahillahee.org Washington State Coalition of African Community Leaders (WSCACL) - yalonda@wscacl.org

Medic One Foundation Community AED Grants

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply now at this link! Medic One Foundation offers a limited number of grants for the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be placed in public areas such as local government facilities, community centers, playfields, parks, and law enforcement vehicles within King and Snohomish counties. Priority will be given and grants awarded based upon demonstrated financial need, population served, location, and potential impact. Organizations must be a nonprofit or public entity. For more details, please visit the grant website here, or contact Medic One Foundation at info@mediconefoundation.org or 425-625-2137

Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grants

VA grant funding is now open to community-based organizations helping prevent Veteran suicide locally. Congress has authorized $174 million to be appropriated to carry out the SSG Fox SPGP, a three-year community-based grant program that provides resources to community organizations serving certain Veterans and their families across the country. Organizations can apply for grants worth up to $750,000 and may apply to renew awards from year to year throughout the length of the program.

Youth Sports Grants Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

All Kids Play provides funding to families and communities who lack the resources to pay for youth sports. Grants are available to qualifying families with kids in grade K-12 and not-for-profit community-based recreational sports organizations in low-income areas on a need and first-come, first served basis as funds are available. Individual grants can be used for registration, equipment and other associated fees for sports classes, recreational leagues, and travel sports. For more details, please visit the grant website here, or if you have questions, please email info@allkidsplay.org. Apply now at this link.

Commerce Clean Energy Federal Grants Assistance

If your organization (non-profit, local government, businesses, and other groups eligible to receive Federal Funds) is looking to apply for Federal funding, please check out Commerce’s Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program. This program is to support both preparation and submission of Federal Grant Applications, specifically ones focused on clean energy. You are invited to complete this Program Design Survey and share your thoughts on how the Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program (FFGWAP) would be most useful to you. The survey should take 7-10 minutes to complete: survey. For more information, please reach out to Sarah Vorpahl (Commerce’s Policy and Program Alignment Manager in the Energy Division) at sarah.vorpahl@commerce.wa.gov

Horizons Foundation of Washington Grants Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Apply now at this link.

Horizons is a private family foundation whose primary purpose is to address social and environmental concerns in Washington State. They award grants to non-profits in three areas: the environment, social services, and arts and culture. Grants are awarded from as low as $1,000 and up, and grants to applicants in the Arts and Direct Emergency Services categories are typically capped at $5,000. For more details, please visit the grant website here, or if you have questions, please email horizonsfoundation1@gmail.com.

Inatai Foundation Connecting, celebrating, and building power together

Funding opportunity for community events that connect, celebrate, and build power together. Range - $2,500 - $5K. Applications Due – At least 60 days before and up to 1 year before a planned event. Inatai Foundation – Sponsorship Grants

Solidaire: Supporting Racial, Gender and Climate Justice

Solidaire’s members move money to the frontlines of social change movements in order to fund urgent needs, support bold and innovative ideas that others may not fund, and help build long-term infrastructure for the movement.

King County: Best Starts For Kids Programs and opportunities including Open Funding Opportunities

The funding calendar shares upcoming funding opportunities beginning in January of 2022 and staggered throughout the year. Please note that we will continually update this calendar as we implement Best Starts for Kids 2.0. We encourage everyone to subscribe to our newsletter and blog to receive notices whenever we post a new funding opportunity.

Social Justice Fund NW Grant Opportunities

Social Justice Fund NW provides essential resources to organizations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming to strengthen grassroots efforts in the broad-based movement for progressive, systemic social change. Our funding prioritizes organizations that use a community organizing (see below) approach to make lasting change from the bottom up.

Department of Community and Human Services: Funding Opportunities

This page serves as a resource to agencies and individuals contracting with DCHS. There are links to required contract compliance forms, useful information about the contracting process and contact information for staff who can provide technical assistance.