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Voter Education Fund

Voter Education Fund

Breaking down barriers to voting

King County Elections and Seattle Foundation LogosThe Voter Education Fund (VEF) is a government, philanthropic, and community partnership to remove barriers to voting.

Led by King County Elections, the Seattle Foundation, and local organizations, the fund provides grants for community-based organizations working to increase access to the ballot among historically excluded communities.

After a successful pilot program in 2016, the VEF was launched in 2017. Over the past several years, VEF partners have registered thousands of Washingtonians to vote, provided non-partisan voter education, and helped many of our neighbors make their voices heard.

Multi-Year grants of up to $50,000 over two years

  • For organizations looking to increase their reach and build capacity in existing voter education and registration efforts.
  • This application period is now closed for 2023-2024. Below is the list of multi-year grantee organizations for this cycle: 
  • African Community Housing and Development Asian Counseling and Referral Service
    Chinese Information and Service Center
    Eastside for All
    Freedom Project
    Hearing, Speech, & Deaf Center
    Institute for Community Leadership
    Korean American Coalition of Washington
    Latino Community Fund of Washington State
    OneAmerica
    Para Los Niños
    Real Change Homeless Empowerment Project
    Refugee Women’s Alliance
    Somali Family Safety Task Force
    Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness
    The Vera Project
    The Washington Bus Education Fund
    Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
    UTOPIA (United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance)
    Villa Comunitaria
    Voices of Tomorrow
    Washington Indian Civil Rights Commission

Seed Grants of $5,000 to $10,000

  • For organizations new to voter education and registration, and/or those that provide smaller events and programs.
  • Applications accepted and grants awarded on a rolling basis. 
  • Organizations who have received seed grants thus far include:
  • Alphabet Alliance
    Amigos de Seattle
    El Centro de la Raza
    Entre Hermanos
    Fanikia Foundation
    Gay City: Seattle’s LGBTQ Center
    LGBTQ Allyship
    Malawi Seattle Association
    Muslim American Youth Foundation
    Native Vote Washington
    Sea Mar Community Health Center
    Serve Ethiopians Washington
    South Sudan Kuku Association of North America (SSKANA)
    West Hill Community Association
    Wing Luke Museum
    yəhaw̓ Indigenous Creatives Collective

Who we fund

  • 501c3 organizations (or those who have a 501c3 fiscal sponsor)
  • Organizations closely connected to their communities
  • Organizations representative of the communities they serve
  • Organizations with clear and actionable field plans

We prioritize proposals that seek to decrease inequities in voter registration and voting, specifically in historically disenfranchised communities.

What we fund

Ongoing campaign or events focused on one or more of the following:

  • Voter education or outreach informing underrepresented voters about how voting works in King County
  • Voter registration activities where our communities work, play, or connect
  • Nonpartisan community events on elections and voting
  • Culturally appropriate technical assistance in navigating the voting process
  • Interpretation and translation services for voters

Selection process

Applications will be reviewed by a panel including members from King County Elections, Seattle Foundation, and community members. Evaluation criteria include:

  • Connection with their communities
  • Experience in non-partisan voter education and voter programs
  • Capacity to complete proposed projects
  • Approach to tracking progress
  • Detailed field plan and budget

Questions

For questions or assistance please contact:

Naheed Aaftaab
King County Elections
naaftaab@kingcounty.gov
206-477-5219

Vanesa Gutierrez
Seattle Foundation
v.gutierrez@seattlefoundation.org
206-515-2120

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