How to apply for a grant

What's new!

1. Check eligibility

Applicant eligibility - you must be one of the following to apply:

• School
• Special district (such as utility district)
• Tribe
• Local government
• Private non-profit organization

If you are not incorporated, you must designate a sponsor. Businesses, individuals and King County departments are not eligible.

Eligible costs:

• Purchased services, such as printing
• Supplies and equipment
• Equipment rentals
• Rent, utilities and other office costs (competitive only)
• Staff costs allowed for competitive only, must not exceed 50 percent of total project costs (award plus cash and in-kind match)
• Local travel
• Postage
• Certain types of real-estate transactions (such as securing a conservation easement)
• Other costs deemed by King County as essential to the execution of the project

Please note the following restrictions:

• Funds cannot be used for property acquisition proper, but may be used for related costs.
• Funds cannot be used for food, drinks, or mementos such as T-shirts .
• Only 13% of the award can be used for charter busses and only up to $600.
• Other restrictions are explained in the application.

2. Investigate grant programs

Find out which program best fits your project, based on the issue your project is addressing and your location. Check grant programs for an overview, and links to guidelines for more details. Please note that each program has different requirements and eligibility restrictions regarding location and activities.

3. Put together your proposal

Check out how to write a grant for tips on grant writing.

Make sure to read the guidelines for individual grant programs, particularly regarding criteria and conditions. The Community Salmon Fund and Natural Resources Stewardship Network are co-administered with other agencies and have different submission and review processes.

4. Apply!

For all other programs, click on the links below for forms in rich text format (edit with any word processing software) and .pdf format (universal form only).

To read or download .pdf format files, you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. Help with Acrobat.

5. Review process

For Community Salmon Fund applications, visit the CSF website (external link).

For Natural Resources Stewardship Network, see NRSN guidelines (MS Word file).

The review process is outlined below for the following programs:

• WaterWorks
• Wild Places in City Spaces

1. Application is submitted.
2. Proposal is scored by an External Review Panel. They must receive a minimum total score of 70 percent and 70 percent for each of five criteria, and are ranked in the order of their score. See individual programs for details.
3. Up to 10 focus points are added if the project specifically addresses job creation. Indicate on the application that you are seeking focus points, and answer the appropriate supplemental questions.
4. All finalists are interviewed in order to evaluate information that further supports the project's strength in meeting the criteria. A site visit or an interview will be conducted. Reviewer questions are provided to the applicant in advance.
5. The Advisory Committee makes the final recommendations based on available funding and the interview recommendations.
6. Final Approval is made by the Director of the Water and Land Resources Division.
7. Applicants are usually notified about their award one month after submitting application. An award may be offered with or without conditions, and may be lower than the requested amount.

Get going!

If the award is accepted, a standard agreement is executed between the recipient and King County. This agreement must include:

1. A detailed scope of work specifying the project "deliverables",
2. a fully detailed budget,
3. letters of commitment from the named partners and,
4. a description of how King County will be recognized in its publications.

Make sure that all permits for your activity, if any, have been obtained to or are in the process of being obtained prior starting your project and that you have received permission from the owner if your project is on private or public property.A final report must be submitted using the scope of work as an outline. Keep copies of press releases, posters, pictures, articles and other public outreach documents as well as information describing the success of your project or effort when applicable, and submit with your final report.

For more information on: all grant programs (except Natural Resource Stewardship Network), please contact:

Ken Pritchard, Grant Exchange coordinator
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
201 Jackson Street, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
(206) 296-8265
(800) 325-6165 ext. 68265
ken.pritchard@kingcounty.gov

Natural Resource Stewardship Network, please contact:

Linda Vane, Urban Forestry Program coordinator
King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
201 Jackson Street, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
(206) 296-8042
(800) 325-6165 ext. 68042
linda.vane@kingcounty.gov

Information presented here is available in alternate formats upon request.

TTY: (800) 833-6388.