Grants and Funding

Share & Bookmark, Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option
Print

How Funding Works

In recognition of the significant need for human services support in our community, the Kent City Council allocates a portion of the General Fund budget to grant funding to organizations delivering direct service in our community. In the spring of every even year (2024, 2026, etc.) Kent, along with 16 other King County cities, accepts requests for human services funding using one common application. The City will also receive from the federal government’s Community Development Block Grant and a portion of those funds are allocated for public services. Funds will be dispersed to organizations quarterly over a two-year period. Occasionally, other opportunities to apply for funding to provide programs and services to Kent residents will be announced. Sign up to receive notices via email!

Applications are submitted through the Share1 app and reviewed through a competitive process to award funding grants to non-profit agencies serving Kent residents. The application for the 2027-2028 Human Services funding cycle will open in the Spring of 2026. Additional information regarding funding priorities will be posted in early 2026. 

The Human Services Commission is responsible for making recommendations to the City Council regarding which organizations and programs to support. The overall fund is ultimately included as part of the city budget adoption process.


2027-2028 Application Process

Human Services Funders Collaborative 2027-2028 Application Overview

The application for 2027-2028 funding process will open on Monday, March 2, 2026 and close on Monday, April 6, 2026 at 4pm. To learn more about the application process, visit the Human Services Collaborative webpage.

There will be a Funders Workshop reviewing the application and City-specific information on the following dates:

  • SeaTac City Hall (4800 S 188th St, SeaTac) 
    - Tuesday, March 3, 2026
    - 1-3pm
    - REGISTER ONLINE

  • Redmond City Hall (15670 NE 85th St, Redmond)
    - Wednesday, March 4, 2026
    - 10am-12pm
    - REGISTER ONLINE

More information regarding technical assistance will be posted soon!

Funding Criteria

Please refer to city minimum requirements for detailed information on what the City of Kent requires in order to be considered for and/or to receive funding. The City recognizes that many high-quality programs serve Kent residents and contribute meaningfully to our community well-being. A program’s inability to meet City funding requirements or receive funding does not reflect its value or effectiveness. To find a list of eligible and non-eligible expenses, please see the City of Kent Human Services webpage. 

To be eligible for City of Kent funding, agencies must be able to:

  1. Be current with all Federal, State and local licensing requirements, including maintaining active 501(c)3 status.
  2. Meet minimum insurance requirements.
  3. Be willing and able to operate under a reimbursement-based payment model.
  4. Demonstrate additional funding sources to support the proposed program. Given limited City resources, Kent cannot fully fund programs; diversified funding helps ensure continuity and program viability.
  5. Demonstrate that the program has been operational for at least two years prior to the application. With limited funding available, the City prioritizes programs that are already active in the community, and the two-year operational requirement helps support consistent and equitable review across applications.
  6. Regularly track and submit required reports related to services provided, participant demographics, and outcomes.
  7. Minimally meet federal governing board requirements (at least five board members is preferred) and meet at least quarterly.
  8. For proposals utilizing a fiscal sponsor or applications involving a formal partnership or collaboration, staff will require applicable MOU’s or agreements prior to application review.

In addition to the funding requirements outlined above, agencies seeking to receive federal funding through the City’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program must meet the following criteria:

  • A minimum of three (3) years of experience in federal reporting and data collection
  • Active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM).
  • Compliance with all applicable federal funding requirements

Agencies are advised to ensure HUD-eligible activities, and full compliance with all federal funding requirements prior to selecting the CDBG option in the Share1app application.

For additional information or questions, please contact Brittany Gaines, Senior CDBG Planner, at bgaines@kentwa.gov.

Funding Priorities

The City of Kent allocates human services funding to support programs that address a broad continuum of needs for Kent residents. Funding decisions prioritize programs that demonstrate clear, measurable outcomes, sound program design, and the ability to effectively serve Kent residents. Because City funds are intended to benefit Kent residents, preference is given to organizations that are physically located within Kent or that can demonstrate a consistent, measurable service footprint serving Kent residents. The City values programs that are accessible, responsive to community needs, and coordinated with the City and regional partners. If you have questions about your program applicability, please contact staff. 

The City of Kent Human Services Commission is committed to ensuring that Kent residents can access the services they need most. Equity considerations emphasize programs that are informed by community needs, designed to reduce barriers to access, and responsive to the lived experiences of Kent residents.  

To be considered for funding, organizations must meet one of the goal areas:

  • Goal 1: Children and youth are healthy, ready to succeed in school, and connected to their community

Expand access to affordable, culturally responsive early learning, childcare, and early intervention services; increase access to youth mental health and skill-building programs; support prevention and early intervention for substance use and behavioral health challenges.

  • Goal 2: Older adults thrive and age well in the community

Support home care, counseling, and elder abuse prevention services to enable safe aging in place.

  • Goal 3: Individuals and families meet their basic needs

Improve access to healthy food, housing stability, and emergency financial assistance; expand system navigation to connect residents with services.

  • Goal 4: Residents improve economic stability and opportunity

Support employment services, financial literacy, and legal assistance, including immigration supports.

  • Goal 5: Residents achieve physical and mental well-being

Ensure access to health services including behavioral health and substance use programs; and programs that promote safe, healthy relationships.

  • Goal 6: People experiencing homelessness achieve and maintain stable housing

Provide outreach/engagement, case management, and emergency/transitional housing to support stabilization.


Application Assistance

Share1app.org is the online portal for the Human Services Funding Collaborative and where all information about the application, required forms, video tutorials, sample application questions and reporting templates can be located.

If this is the first time that you are applying, we recommend reaching out to City of Kent’s staff to discuss your proposal as soon as possible. Staff are available to help with any questions related to the City’s process and answer questions you may have about the application. Application assistance will be available until April 3 at 4 p.m. Please direct requests to HumanServices@kentwa.gov, or call Lori at (253) 856-5061.

Staff will be available the following days/times for drop-in sessions for technical assistance:

In-person sessions will be held in the Centennial Building (Kent City Hall Campus), located at 400 W Gowe St, Kent, WA 98032 in the North and South Conference Rooms (1st floor, across from the elevators). The TEAMS link to join virtually is included below. If you would like a calendar appointment to save on your calendar, contact Lori at lguilfoyle@kentwa.gov at least one day prior.

  • March 10, 10 - 11a.m. (in-person AND virtual)
    Join the meeting now
    Meeting ID: 282 109 094 024 05
    Passcode: NH7ba3Gj
  • March 12, 2 - 3 p.m. (in-person AND virtual)
    Join the meeting now
    Meeting ID: 262 847 005 821 8
    Passcode: oJ2Rp3SG
  • March 18, 10 - 11 a.m. (in-person AND virtual)
    Join the meeting now
    Meeting ID: 277 695 494 510 60
    Passcode: UZ2WU7pW
  • March 24, 3 - 4 p.m. (in-person AND virtual)
    Join the meeting now
    Meeting ID: 250 883 212 839 76
    Passcode: WM6EK2mY
  • April 2, 10 - 11 a.m. (in-person AND virtual)
    Join the meeting now
    Meeting ID: 255 753 337 269 8
    Passcode: eg9P53Dg
New Applicants

Please be sure to talk to staff before starting an application. Minimum requirements for each city are listed on the Minimum Requirements document

In September, a workshop was hosted to provide basic information about the Human Services Funding Collaborative and the process to apply for funding. You can view the recording of the training and the PowerPoint:

9/22/21 update: View the New Applicant Information Session recording and PowerPoint (PPT).

Application Assistance

City of Kent staff is available to help with any questions related to the City’s process and/or answer questions you may have about the content of the application. Please email Lori Guilfoyle or call at 253-856-5061 for additional information.

New organizations and entities not currently funded through the City of Kent are strongly encouraged to contact us prior to submitting grant requests.

Contracts and Reporting

Organizations funded by the city are required to submit quarterly performance reports and annual demographics and outcomes reports. For additional information on the contracting and reporting process, contact Lori Guilfoyle.

What funding is available? Is there a minimum or maximum that can be awarded?
What do you fund?
Can I submit more than one application for different programs?
Can we apply for existing work or will you only fund new work?
Are late applications accepted?

Funding Recommendations: 2025-2026 

We provide funding for a variety of human services through grants to local and regional agencies. The City coordinates the administration of these grants with other funding providers in the region and follows a two-year grant cycle.

View the list of 2025-2026 funded programs.

Who We Funded: 2023-2024

View the list of 2023-2024 funded programs.


For more information on the grant process and how the application and administration of grants is conducted, please email Lori Guilfoyle.

Alerts

Receive email or text notification when grants become available: Subscribe to alerts!