How to Apply for a Grant
Eligibility | Choosing a Program | Writing Tips | Applications
Review Process | Doing Your Project | Contact Us
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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
- Consultants, if sponsored by one of the above eligible applicants.
If you are not incorporated, you must designate a sponsor. Businesses and King County departments are not eligible. Individuals 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 grants only, must not exceed 25 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. All programs (except the Community Salmon Fund) have different application processes for different sizes, determined by the amount of funding requested. Please note that each program has different requirements and eligibility restrictions regarding location, activities, spending, and match.
If you don't know which program to apply for, or if your project could fit more than one fund, fill in the pre-application form (Word format) and mark the box "Don't Know" and your proposal will be assigned to the most appropriate fund.
Check out Funded Projects to see what has been funded in the past, and to get ideas for types and scope of projects.
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).
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
The process is different for competitive and non-competitive grants.
Small Change for a Big Difference (up to $2,499) Grant Review Process
1. Pre-application submitted by September 22, 2008
2. Pre-application reviewed for eligibility and for proposal elements needing clarification. Pre-application feedback provided by September 29.(note that submitting a pre-application prior to September 22 will result in a quicker response).
3. Application is submitted by October 15, 2008. Applications can only be submitted by invitation. Unsolicited applications will not be reviewed.
4. Applicant submits the final application, a reviewer questionnaire and a review form to two professionals who have agreed to review the proposal as external reviewers (they must have professional experience in a field related to the project, they cannot be King County employees and they cannot be currently involve with the applicant’s organization).
5. External reviewers submit their questionnaire and their review form to King County. If one of the reviewers is disqualified due to credentials, perceived conflict of interest or a defective review, the applicant must find a substitute reviewer. For this reason, it is a good idea to discuss the choice of reviewers with Grant Exchange prior to submitting a proposal to them.
6. Grant Exchange also submits the proposal to a reviewer who is an employee of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks for concurrence.
7. All three reviews are compiled to determine if there is a consensus that:
- The project meets all criteria:
- improves water qualify, water dependent habitat or upland habitat
- engages community members
- brings together partners
- project legacy is assured
- leverages significant resources
- The budget is credible.
- The proposal demonstrates that the project will have a strong chance of succeeding.
If the proposal passes review, it is recommended for funding. If needed, the reviewers will offer suggestions for strengthening the proposal, which may become conditions of the award that the applicant must meet.
8. Final Approval is made by the Manager of the Community Outreach and Grants Unit.
9. Applicants whose award was decline may request a debriefing in person nor in writing.
Competitive Review Process (more than $2,500)
1. Pre-application submitted by September 22, 2008
2. Pre-application reviewed for eligibility and for proposal elements needing clarification. Pre-application feedback provided by September 29.(note that submitting a pre-application prior to September 22 will result in a quicker response).
3. Application is submitted by October 15, 2008. Applications can only be submitted by invitation. Unsolicited applications will not be reviewed.
4. 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.
The project meets all criteria:
- improves water qualify, water dependent habitat or upland habitat
- engages community members
- brings together partners
- project legacy is assured
- leverages significant resources
5. 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.
6. The Advisory Committee makes the final recommendations based on available funding and the interview recommendations.
7. Final Approval is made by the Division Director of the Water and Land Resources Division.
8. 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.
9. Applicants whose award was decline may request a debriefing in person nor in writing.
Get Going!
For awards up to $2,499, a letter of award is sent to the recipient who must sign a copy agreeing to general conditions and specific conditions (if applicable).
For awards greater than $2,500, 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
Eligibility | Choosing a Program | Writing Tips | Applications
Review Process | Doing Your Project | Contact Us
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Information presented here is available in alternate formats upon request.
TTY: (800) 833-6388.
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