Applications for the 2019-2020 Voter Education Fund are now open. King County Elections and Seattle Foundation are awarding $950,000 in grants to increase voter engagement in underserved communities over the next two years.
Previous cycles of the Voter Education Fund have made grants on an annual basis. Seattle Foundation and King County Elections are shifting to a two-year grant cycle to ensure community-based organizations have the resources they need to do significant voter engagement leading up to the 2020 election. Organizations encouraged to apply include, but are not limited to, those serving communities of color, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, limited-English speaking communities, LGBTQ residents, formerly incarcerated individuals, and residents in South King County.
This cycle the Voter Education Fund is placing an increased emphasis on voter outreach to people with disabilities, African American and Native American voters, and historically marginalized residents in South King County.
“I’m especially excited to see organizations that serve South King County, where we know we need to work harder to engage historically disenfranchised voters,” said Julie Wise, Director of King County Elections. “Our democracy works best when all of its citizens can exercise their most basic right to vote.”
Community-based organizations can apply for up to $40,000 to develop a two-year campaign to engage voters or potential voters, or up to $15,000 to provide a series of smaller activities through 2019 and 2020.
“It’s important that we do everything we can so that all people can vote and participate in our democracy. Seattle Foundation is excited to partner with King County Elections to offer multi-year funding to organizations that ensure underrepresented communities have a voice in the electoral process and shape the policies that affect them,” said Tony Mestres, President and CEO of Seattle Foundation.
The application period for the 2019-2020 Voter Education Fund is open from March 4 to April 1, 2019. Interested organizations can apply online.
Information sessions will be held:
Wednesday, March 13, from 3-4:30 p.m. at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, 104 17th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98144.
Monday, March 25, from 12-1:30 p.m. at the Kent Regional Library, 212 2nd Ave. N. Kent, WA 98032.
