Best Seattle Grants for Nonprofits in Washington

Seattle City Light's Wildlife Research Grant provides funding for projects aimed at understanding and protecting wildlife resources in the North Cascades ecosystem. Since 1995, the program has supported diverse research initiatives, producing significant academic contributions and informing wildlife management practices. Researchers are encouraged to focus on key priorities such as habitat connectivity and the effects of climate change on vulnerable species. The program seeks projects that complement existing research and adhere to professional standards.

The Medical Funds Grant, administered by the Seattle Foundation, aims to support medical research and address healthcare needs for low-income children. It prioritizes funding for specific equipment requests related to cancer, cardio-pulmonary diseases, and other significant health conditions. Additionally, it supports capital campaigns and facility renovations that enhance healthcare accessibility for underprivileged youth. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt charities based in King County, with updated organizational profiles.

The Ross Wagner Foundation Scholarship offers significant financial support for students pursuing degrees in various engineering fields, including civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. With awards up to $25,000 annually, students can receive up to $100,000 over four years. Applicants must maintain a B average, work in engineering labs, and be enrolled in top-ranked engineering schools in the U.S. and Canada. This scholarship honors Ross Wagner's legacy, promoting excellence in engineering education.

The Estuary and Salmon Restoration Program (ESRP) offers Beach Restoration Small Grants to support projects that enhance and conserve near-shore environments in Puget Sound. This initiative, managed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, aims to maintain resilient estuaries and shorelines in the face of climate change. Grants are provided to create demonstration sites for local landowners, promoting effective restoration practices and fostering community engagement.

The JetBlue Foundation is dedicated to enhancing aviation-related education and STEM initiatives, aiming to inspire future aviation leaders. Offering grants up to $50,000, it supports educational organizations that focus on aviation technology, engineering, operations, and maintenance. The foundation prioritizes programs benefiting under-represented communities in aviation, including veterans, women, and diverse groups, ensuring a broader range of voices in the industry.

The Puget Sound Stewardship and Mitigation Fund Grant aims to enhance water quality in Puget Sound through community-based projects. Funded by the Rose Foundation, the grant supports 501(c)3 organizations and governmental entities focusing on pollution mitigation, conservation, and education. Grants typically span one year with a maximum of $40,000. The foundation prefers locally-led initiatives and encourages applications from environmental justice organizations to foster equity in project implementation.

The Garneau-Nicon Family Foundation Grant supports charitable initiatives in the Puget Sound Region, offering small grants between $1,000 and $25,000, and large grants from $26,000 to $50,000. Open to organizations and individuals, it aims to empower applicants to enhance their communities. The foundation seeks projects that can make a positive impact in areas such as education, arts, and health, encouraging innovative proposals that address unmet needs.

The Nesholm Family Foundation Grant supports performing arts initiatives in Seattle, emphasizing programs that enhance accessibility, professional standards, and community engagement. Established in 1987 by Elmer J. Nesholm, the foundation aims to benefit the community through arts funding that develops human potential and addresses critical issues. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt organizations, focusing on projects that positively impact the arts and culture in the region while fostering long-term sustainability.

The Emergency Capital Needs Fund, managed by the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, provides crucial support to Jewish community organizations facing emergency repairs or replacements. With loans up to $75,000 available, it assists institutions and synagogues in addressing urgent capital needs, including physical plant equipment and security upgrades. This fund plays a vital role in ensuring the sustainability and safety of community facilities in Western Washington.

The Seattle FY 2021 – FY 2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance program, managed by the US Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, aims to support economic development and job creation in distressed areas. It offers planning awards to eligible recipients for developing regional economic strategies that enhance local capacities and promote job retention and creation, particularly for the unemployed. This initiative includes local technical assistance to strengthen organizations through impactful projects.

The National Estuary Program Watersheds Grant Program, administered by Restore America’s Estuaries and supported by the EPA, funds competitive projects addressing critical threats to estuaries. Key priorities include habitat restoration, enhancing coastal resilience against extreme weather, managing nutrient impacts, and mitigating stormwater runoff. Established in 1987, the program aims to improve ecological integrity and water quality in 28 estuaries nationwide, providing essential funding and guidance to local initiatives.

The Healthy Communities and Parks Fund - Tier 2 (WA) promotes access to parks and recreational facilities in underserved communities, aiming to reduce health disparities. Grants ranging from $15,000 to $250,000 support projects like enhancing urban farms, renovating park areas with cultural art, and providing inclusive recreational programs for Latino communities in South King County, thus fostering community engagement and health equity.

The Parks Capital and Open Space Grant in Washington supports projects enhancing recreation opportunities for a growing population. Funding up to $1 million is available for initiatives like park development, trail facilities, and open space acquisition. Eligible applicants include cities, towns, and park districts, with project types encompassing construction, feasibility studies, and planning. Successful examples include improvements at Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park and a new community center in Tukwila, promoting accessibility and environmental quality.

The Aquatic Facilities Grant (WA) aims to enhance public access to aquatic facilities in King County as demand grows. This program supports renovations, expansions, or new constructions of public pools. Eligible applicants include cities, school districts, and public entities. Projects may involve accessibility improvements, feasibility studies, and diverse programming for all ages. With awards of up to $5 million, the grant fosters community engagement and supports vital aquatic resources for residents.

The Open Space - River Corridors Grant in Washington supports projects that restore river ecosystems, enhance public access, and raise awareness of river corridors. With funding up to $1 million, it encourages multi-benefit projects that combine recreation and habitat restoration within King County's river systems, including the Duwamish and Green Rivers. Eligible applicants include local governments, nonprofits, and tribal organizations, fostering community engagement in environmental sustainability and conservation efforts.

New and emerging arts, heritage, historic preservation, science, and museum nonprofits in Seattle, Washington and greater King County can apply for 4Culture’s Launch operating support grants, with awards up to US $180,000 over three years. Funding covers general operations, start-up costs, staff, and capacity-building for organizations serving King County residents and visitors.

The Leland J. and Dorothy H. Olson Charitable Foundation aims to transform lives in Omaha, NE, and Stanwood, WA, through impactful grants. Focused on education, family support, health initiatives, and environmental preservation, the foundation seeks to address local needs by funding projects that foster community well-being. With an annual funding cycle, they are committed to awarding grants in various amounts to support essential programs that enhance the quality of life for residents in these areas.

The King County Department of Community and Human Services is seeking Behavioral Health Agencies to develop new Residential Treatment facilities. This initiative aims to restore the capacity of Mental Health Residential facilities to 355 beds and enhance the sustainability of various treatment options. Eligible costs include land acquisition, renovations, and construction. This RFP does not cover operational funding, which must be secured by the selected operators before opening.

The Operating Support: Launch Grant for Emerging Organizations by 4Culture provides essential funding for new cultural and science organizations in King County. Selected organizations will receive three years of general operating support, allowing them to cover various expenses including start-up costs and staff salaries. The program aims to empower emerging entities to build capacity and enhance community engagement through arts and culture.

The 'Moving Stories' project invites six artists to create short-form graphic novels that illustrate narratives from communities along King County Metro's RapidRide lines. Each artist will receive $54,000 to develop two graphic novels, focusing on community engagement, storytelling, and visual narrative creation. This initiative supports the expansion of public transit by showcasing diverse local stories, encouraging artists with ties to the area to apply, regardless of prior public art experience.

Puget Sound Chapter

The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Puget Sound is a pooled fund consisting of recurring payroll contributions from generous Boeing employees. It funds local nonprofits that help thousands of families and individuals in the Puget Sound region where Boeing employees live and work.

ECF focus areas

ECF makes grants to 501(c)(3) Health & Human Service nonprofits such as food banks, job-training programs, shelters, transitional housing, mental health services, and low-income medical clinics. ECF seeks the direct client benefit of each grant to ensure that our employees’ contributions directly help those in need.

About Public Health – Seattle & King County

Public Health — Seattle & King County ("PHSKC," "Public Health,"or "the department") is the public health department for King County, Washington which includes 39 cities, including the City of Seattle, and unincorporated areas. Public Health is one of the largest metropolitan health departments in the United States with about 1,600 employees. The department serves approximately 2.3 million people of King County who reside in urban, rural, shoreline, foothill, and mountain communities with distinct environments and unique public health needs.

Health Care for the Homeless Senior Mobile Medical Outreach Teams (SMMO)

Senior Mobile Medical Outreach Team Description

The goal of the senior mobile medical outreach (SMMO) team is to provide services that assess and address the medical, behavioral health and social service needs of low-income older adults (aged 55+) in King County. SMMO services should include a mix of outreach, medical services, behavioral health services and social services. Services delivered in this model will be nurse-led and informed by stakeholder engagement regarding local needs.

In consideration of the geographic diversity of King County, PHSKC envisions that applicants will need to develop separate and distinct approaches to serve urban/suburban and rural residents of King County. Applicants may apply to serve one or both areas of geographic focus, and funds may be awarded to up to two agencies.

ECF of Boeing Washington: Puget Sound

The Employees Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound (ECF) is a pooled fund consisting of recurring payroll contributions from generous Boeing employees. It funds local nonprofits that help thousands of families and individuals in the Puget Sound region where Boeing employees live and work.

ECF funding criteria

ECF has two distinct grant categories – Supporting Grants and Capital Campaign Grants.

1. Supporting Grants: Consideration is given to nonprofits/agencies that are performing well and are seeking to upgrade, replace or modify elements of their infrastructure

2. Capital Campaign Grants: Capital Campaign grants are targeted to nonprofit organizations who strive to significantly expand the numbers of people they serve.

Grant Amount: Supporting grants cannot exceed $50,000. The requested amount cannot be more than 10% of an agency’s gross annual revenue.

Seattle-area 501(c)(3) nonprofits and fiscally sponsored groups focused on arts and culture, health and wellness, education, environment, or children and families can access funding through Impact 100 Seattle. Small, community-based organizations in the Puget Sound region may receive US $100,000 in unrestricted, trust-based support for transformative, equity-focused work with underserved populations.

The Snoqualmie Tribal Organization Grant supports nonprofit organizations in the Snoqualmie Valley, offering up to $50,000 to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations located in Washington State. Since 2010, the Snoqualmie Tribe has donated over $8 million to various community initiatives, including arts, sports, and food banks, fostering community development and support. This grant aims to enhance the welfare of diverse communities by funding vital services and programs.

Major Grant Fund

Apply for $50,000 to $200,000 per year, renewable up to two times for a total of three years of funding. Funds may support health-related direct service delivery or advocacy efforts. New for 2026, Major Grant funds can also support evaluation projects.

Funding Principles

Projects funded by the Health Equity Fund should align with the following funding principles:

Improving health outcomes and access

for communities and populations experiencing the deepest and most persistent health and economic disparities in King County.

Actively addressing the issues of systemic, structural, and institutional barriers

including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, income inequality, and other forms of oppression or discrimination that negatively impact healthcare delivery and health outcomes.

Partnering or collaborating with other organizations

to enhance the impact of addressing health disparities.

Building capacity and empowerment

for communities addressing health disparities.

Funding for service delivery is limited to King County. There are no geographic restrictions on the residence of clients served or advocacy efforts, as long as the program can demonstrate the use of funds addressing disparities in health among residents of the Puget Sound region (King, Snohomish, Pierce, and Kitsap counties).

Organizations may not receive two PHPDA grants in the same year for the same project. Applicants can request grant funds for a different project as long as the time period covered by funding ends by the new contract period.

Organizations may only submit one application.

Focus Areas

Specific populations are facing heightened threats to their safety, security, and access to care, and the organizations that support them are experiencing drastic funding cuts. Our Major Grant program aims to support these organizations who are facing disproportionate burdens to their wellbeing. This year, Major Grants will be limited to organizations with projects in one or more of these three focus areas:

• Gender Affirming Care and/or HIV Prevention and Care for LGBTQIA2S+ Communities
• Barrier-Reducing Healthcare Delivery for Immigrant and Refugee Populations that is Responsive to Community Concerns 
• Access to Birth Control and Abortion Care

Performing arts nonprofits focused on dance or theatre in the Puget Sound region, including Seattle, can seek project support up to Up to US $25,000. Grants from Seattle Foundation’s Morgan Fund also consider organizations in Washington, DC, and may interest 501(c)(3) groups or fiscally sponsored projects expanding local performing arts programming.