The City of Seattle has launched an online portal that makes it easier to apply for grants for community projects. The city offers funding programs ranging from $250 to $1.5 million.
From the press release:
This user-friendly portal organizes the funding opportunities in six categories: youth; technology; community building and organizing; physical improvements; arts and culture; and the environment. Visitors can also search by the name of the city department and funding program(s), or can view all the programs side-by-side in an easy-to-read matrix format.
“We want to make it easy for people to improve their communities,” says Mayor McGinn.
The web portal includes an online calendar which lists funding deadlines, workshops, and events of funded projects. Its blog provides updates on the funding programs and shares stories about community projects. Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has been charged with monitoring the portal and to grow and enhance it over time.
Various city departments manage the funding programs; and the criteria and funding amounts vary depending on the type of project, city priorities, the departments’ capacity, and available funding. Some of the funding programs require a community match of volunteer labor, donated materials, donated professional services, or cash.