Best Local Government Grants in Washington

With a mission to support community needs, Muckleshoot Indian Tribe provides Washington nonprofits, government agencies, and public schools with grants for education, health and human services, culture, arts, environmental work, and civic engagement. Awards of US $1,500 - US $5,000 are reviewed quarterly, with one grant allowed per agency every 12 months.

Local government and other eligible organizations in Washington can seek funding to coordinate and strengthen a statewide developmental disabilities community advocacy coalition. The Washington State Department of Commerce supports civic engagement and leadership development by funding coordination, facilitation, capacity building, and community-driven policy advocacy activities, with awards up to US $98,000.

Local governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Washington providing social services, education, medical care, or community engagement programs may be eligible for support. Grants from Foster Foundation help organizations serving Pacific Northwest communities strengthen basic human needs, literacy and mentoring, health and hospice care, arts and culture, recreation, and civic engagement, especially for underserved children, women, and seniors.

Local government and other 501(c) public charities in Washington supporting children, youth, and families can seek funding for programs in civic engagement, education, social services, health, arts, sports, and enrichment. Grants from Korum for Kids Foundation help South Puget Sound–area initiatives that improve quality of life, especially for those facing illness, disability, mental health, or basic needs challenges.

Washington nonprofit and fiscally sponsored projects building community power through civic engagement, civil rights, immigrant justice, youth organizing, or asset-building may be eligible for Infrastructure Opportunities Grants. Focused on power-building work, Inatai Foundation invites community-led organizations addressing systemic inequities, especially in rural counties and marginalized communities, to seek support for their organizing and advocacy infrastructure.

Washington-based nonprofit organizations and Sovereign Nations running community-led policy or issue campaigns in Washington can apply for the Campaigns, Litigation, Issues & Policy (CLIP) Fund from Inatai Foundation. Funding supports ballot measures, litigation, legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and related research, and may benefit local governments partnering with civic engagement and racial justice efforts.

Washington civic engagement and policy organizations leading community-driven campaigns can access funding through Inatai Foundation’s CLIP Fund to support ballot measures, litigation, legislative advocacy, grassroots organizing, and related research. Eligible efforts must be led by communities most impacted by structural inequities and focused on advancing racial justice and equity across the state, including rural and overlooked areas.

Washington organizations ready to launch or renew an AmeriCorps program can seek operational funding to run national service projects across focus areas like disaster services, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, economic opportunity, and veterans support. Serve Washington’s New & Recompete AmeriCorps Operational Grant may benefit local governments managing civic engagement and community service initiatives.

Local government and other organizations with existing AmeriCorps operational grants in Washington can seek continuation funding to sustain civic engagement, education, environmental stewardship, and community service programs. Serve Washington’s AmeriCorps Continuation Grants support year two or three of a three-year grant cycle for currently funded programs, not new or recompeting applicants.

Local government entities and 501(c)(3) organizations in Washington working where Cox Enterprises operates can apply for James M Cox Foundation support for capital projects or special initiatives. Funding may benefit conservation, early childhood education, family empowerment, health, and human services programs, especially where there is an existing relationship with local Cox businesses.

Suncadia Fund For Community Enhancement

The mission of the Fund is to provide a source of funding and organization for activities and investments that will create and enhance a dynamic and vital community experience. The Fund will have the ability to participate in a broad range of activities intended to improve the social, cultural, economic, and environmental conditions of Suncadia and its immediate environs, including the Town of Roslyn, the City of Cle Elum, and the City of South Cle Elum.

Grant Program

The intent of the Grant Program is to provide funding for projects that will benefit the quality of life and sense of community for people who live and work in Suncadia and the immediately surrounding communities (Communities).

Grants will only be considered for registered non-profit organizations, Suncadia Resort community functions, or local governmental agencies. Requests for grants associated with private residences, for personal financial gain, for-profit businesses or other for-profit ventures will not be considered. 

Grants are reviewed quarterly (Grant Month) January, April, July, and October. Grants should be submitted at least 15 days prior to the Grant Month. 

The M J Murdock Charitable Trust offers Strategic Projects: Equipment & Technology Grants to nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest. These grants focus on capacity-building projects and essential equipment, requiring recipients to cover at least 50% of costs. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and tribal entities. Priority is given to projects enhancing community services, education, and environmental stewardship, supporting initiatives that foster human flourishing and demonstrate diversified funding.

The Strategic Projects: Capital Grants by the M J Murdock Charitable Trust offer vital funding opportunities for nonprofit organizations in the Pacific Northwest. These grants support transformative projects that enhance community well-being through construction, renovation, and infrastructure investments. Eligible entities include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government entities. The Trust emphasizes projects that demonstrate strong community impact and funding diversification, ensuring sustainable growth and lasting benefits for the communities served.

The AJ Muste Foundation's Rapid Response Grants support U.S.-based organizations engaged in grassroots activism for social justice. These grants, up to $5,000, are aimed at addressing immediate needs of groups fighting for equality and liberation. The funding is designed for unexpected opportunities and emergencies, promoting powerful organizing efforts. The foundation prioritizes groups lacking traditional funding sources and those focused on systemic change rather than individual support.

Graduating high school seniors interested in communications, journalism, leadership, or historic preservation can apply for Coral Gables Community Foundation’s Jeannett Slesnick Community Spirit Scholarship, awarding US $500 - US $2,500 for college tuition. Students in Washington working on civic engagement and education may be eligible if they meet the listed school and enrollment criteria.

Local governments and other eligible entities in Washington working with rural communities can access funding for experimental civic participation programs through Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ Trust for Civic Life. Civic Experiment Grants provide up to US $25,000 for nonpartisan, community-led projects that engage residents in shaping local vision, identifying challenges, and collaborating on solutions, especially in priority rural regions.

Youth-led teams working on civic engagement and youth leadership projects in Washington and nationwide can receive up to US $4,500 through the Carnegie Young Leaders for Civic Preparedness Fellowship Program from the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. Focused on civic participation, this fellowship supports 14–24-year-olds to design and implement community change projects with coaching and stipends.

Youth-led groups and young changemakers ages 5–25 in Washington can receive US $250 - US $500 to design and lead community service, advocacy, and civic engagement projects. With a mission to empower youth leadership, Youth Service America provides funding for projects during Youth Service Month that engage diverse peers as volunteers and build social and emotional skills.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working on civic engagement and voter participation in Washington and nationwide can seek support for year-round, on-the-ground organizing. Park Foundation funds efforts that educate, motivate, and mobilize voters, protect voting rights and election integrity, and counter voter suppression, with eligibility subject to IRS public support limits.

Public charities with 501(c)(3) status working on national or multi-state democracy and civil liberties initiatives, including voting rights, money in politics, or gun violence prevention, may be eligible for funding in Washington and beyond. The Lisa & Douglas Goldman Fund accepts letters of inquiry and considers invited proposals quarterly.

Local governments and 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving the Mansfield community in Washington can seek grants for arts, civic projects, environment, education, and health and human services programs. The Community Foundation of North Central Washington prioritizes enhancements to existing initiatives, especially those with limited other funding and strong community volunteer involvement.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations and fiscally sponsored groups working on civic engagement, financial literacy, housing insecurity, technology education, or community enrichment can receive funding for scalable, measurable programs. Affirm Cares provides Washington civic engagement and community organizations with rolling grants supporting initiatives that build vibrant communities, expand technology access, and promote equitable economic growth.

Nonprofits, schools, and government agencies in Washington can receive support for community health programs, events, and local memberships that promote well-being and civic engagement. Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation’s Thriving Community Impact Fund backs health fairs, workshops, awareness campaigns, and economic development memberships that advance physical, mental, and social health and strengthen community partnerships.

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Grant supports organizations dedicated to preserving American exceptionalism through a commitment to individual liberty, free markets, and civic responsibility. It prioritizes proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that promote informed citizenship and strong communities. With ongoing acceptance of Letters of Inquiry, the Foundation seeks to empower initiatives that align with its principles of limited government and the rule of law, fostering a rich community culture.

Foundation of the Federal Bar Association

The Foundation of the Federal Bar Association provides the best way for practitioners to give back to the Federal legal community. Chartered by Congress in 1954, the Foundation serves people in communities across the United States through its generous grants, scholarships, and programming.

Our Mission: The Foundation’s mission is to:

• Promote and support legal research and education;
• Advance the science of jurisprudence;
• Facilitate the administration of justice;
• Foster improvements in the practice of Federal law

Foundation Grants

Foundation grants support community service projects and civics programs which comply with the Foundation’s mission to promote and support legal research and education; advance the science of jurisprudence; facilitate the administration of justice; and foster improvements in the practice of Federal law.

Civics Education Grant

The Civics Grant Program is designed to support projects and initiatives that promote a wider public understanding of democratic principles, the judicial system and the rule of law. Through targeted funding, the program empowers FBA chapters, sections, divisions, national standing committees (FBA entity), and other organizations to develop and support projects in their communities that foster public understanding of the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship, particularly among younger Americans.

Applicants may only receive one (1) Foundation grant per year.

The Lewis-Houghton Civics and Democracy Initiative, under the Teaching with Primary Sources program, aims to empower organizations in the U.S. and its territories to create innovative projects that leverage digitized primary sources from the Library of Congress. This initiative, named after Reps. Lewis and Houghton, promotes education in civics, democracy, and history, fostering critical thinking and literacy among students. Grants will be awarded based on the proposal's alignment with these educational goals, enhancing community engagement.

Community Foundation for Mason County, MI

At the Community Foundation for Mason County, we work with donors, grantees, and advisors to address key community issues. As a leader in community philanthropy, building a vibrant community with great opportunities for all, we are focused on advancing education, increasing recreation opportunities, and community and economic development.

The mission of the Community Foundation is to engage donors and connect them with opportunities to make a lasting impact, build community endowment, provide leadership on key issues, and make grants that reflect the communities we serve.

Oriole Foundation / Michael Oakes Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship has been made possible by the generosity of the Oriole Foundation. The Michael Oakes Memorial Scholarship award intends to honor late superintendent, Mike Oakes.

Mike Oakes's spirit of generosity, community service, and passion for education is commemorated by this Oriole Foundation award. With an emphasis on creating a positive community impact, this scholarship recognizes the value of individual and organizational service within the community.