Seattle Foundation and King County Elections are partnering once again to increase engagement and voter participation in underserved communities through the Voter Education Fund. The partners have committed $950,000 in grants over the next two-years to organizations working to address low voter turnout within historically excluded communities.

This is the sixth year that Seattle Foundation and King County Elections have partnered on this initiative. While considering the importance of the election cycles in 2023 and 2024, and in response to the needs of our community, we are offering two grant types:

• Multi-year Level Funding: Selected organizations will be funded for two years to do voter outreach and activities for the 2023 and 2024 election cycles. Grants will range between $20,000 and $25,000 per year totaling between $40,000 and $50,000.
• Seed Level Funding: Selected organizations will receive a one-year grant for smaller voter outreach events, and/or to acquire resources to be utilized for voter education, outreach, and/or registration events. Grants will range between $5,000-$10,000. Applicants can apply now and in 2024 for these resources.

“We started this first-of-its-kind program in 2016 to reach voters who had been traditionally left out of one of democracy’s most fundamental institutions,” said Julie Wise, Director of King County Elections. “In the years since, our partners have helped thousands of voters get registered and cast their ballots. We are proud to put our money where our mouth is and continue this critical community-based program.”

Community-based organizations can apply for up to $50,000 to develop a two-year campaign to engage voters or potential voters, or up to $10,000 to acquire resources to be utilized for voter education, outreach, and/or registration events.

“Seattle Foundation is honored to partner with King County Elections on the Voter Education Fund to provide critical funding for community-based organizations working on the frontlines of movement building and organizing work. As a community foundation, it is essential we do everything we can to support a thriving democracy and ensure historically excluded groups have an active role in shaping the systems that affect them, their families, and their communities,” said Alesha Washington, President, and CEO of Seattle Foundation.

The application period for the 2023-2024 Voter Education Fund is open from January 23 to February 24 for Multi-year funding and on a rolling basis for Seed funding. Interested organizations can apply at Seattle Foundation’s Application Portal. For more information, click here.

Information sessions will be held:

• February 3^rd, 2023. 11am – 12:30pm, Register here.

  Once you have registered, a confirmation screen will appear. Please use the “add to calendar” button to save the login information. To ensure a timely start, be sure to download the Zoom app in advance of the webinar.

• February 15^th, 2023. 1-2:30pm. Register here.

Once you have registered, a confirmation screen will appear. Please use the “add to calendar” button to save the login information. To ensure a timely start, be sure to download the Zoom app in advance of the webinar.

About Seattle Foundation

Few regions in the world match Seattle’s growth and prosperity. But accompanying our good fortunes are great challenges, including widening wealth disparities, that weaken our community’s vibrancy. Philanthropy can—and must—step in. Using our philanthropic expertise, deep community roots, and network of partners, Seattle Foundation develops targeted strategies to create a stronger community.

Seattle Foundation is an agent of change. Every day, we convene, communicate with, and catalyze our philanthropic partners to advance this ideal, uniting passion and discipline to create lasting impact. Together, we ignite powerful, rewarding philanthropy to make Greater Seattle a stronger, more vibrant community for all. Learn more about Seattle Foundation.

Relevant Links

• Seattle Foundation Application Portal
• Learn more - Voter Education Fund Request for Proposal
• Register for February 3 information session
• Register for February 15 information session
• Seattle Foundation website

Quotes

We started this first-of-its-kind program in 2016 to reach voters who had been traditionally left out of one of democracy’s most fundamental institutions. In the years since, our partners have helped thousands of voters get registered and cast their ballots. We are proud to put our money where our mouth is and continue this critical community-based program.

 

Seattle Foundation is honored to partner with King County Elections on the Voter Education Fund to provide critical funding for community-based organizations working on the frontlines of movement building and organizing work. As a community foundation, it is essential we do everything we can to support a thriving democracy and ensure historically excluded groups have an active role in shaping the systems that affect them, their families, and their communities.

 

Media contact

Halei Watkins, King County Elections
206-477-4111
hawatkins@kingcounty.gov

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

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