Best Starts for Kids – Prenatal to Five Innovation Fund RFP

Best Starts for Kids – Prenatal to Five Innovation Fund RFP is sponsored by King County. P-5 Innovation Funds aim to build up the power of Community-led Innovation to meet the emergent needs of families in King County. King County seeks community leaders to design, develop, test, and build the potential of innovative Anti-racist approaches (e.

Now accepting applications for the Prenatal to Five Innovation Fund RFP – apply by May 15! - Best Starts for Kids Blog Now accepting applications for the Prenatal to Five Innovation Fund RFP – apply by May 15! Published February 19, 2026 We are excited to share that the Prenatal to Five (P-5) Innovation Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open!

This funding opportunity has multiple application rounds. We are now accepting round 3 applications: Round 1 applications due: May 9, 2025 at 2PM [Closed] Round 2 applications due: October 3, 2025 at 2PM [Closed] Round 3 applications due: May 15, 2026 at 2PM View the full funding opportunity details and apply.

P-5 Innovation Funds aim to build up the power of Community-led Innovation to meet the emergent needs of families in King County. King County seeks community leaders to design, develop, test, and build the potential of innovative Anti-racist approaches (e.g. policies, programs, products, media, places, and services) so that ALL babies and children in King County grow up to be happy, healthy, safe, and thriving.

Directly contribute to advancing Community-led Innovative and responsive Anti-racist approaches, including but not limited to policies, programs, products, media, spaces, and services.

Prioritize and center communities and families in King County with children prenatal to age five (P-5) who are most impacted by disparities, including BIPOC families; immigrant and refugee families; LGBTQ+ families; families with disabilities; families involved in the child welfare system; low-income families; and those in geographically isolated areas.

Include a clear plan and timeline to implement the project activities within a 6 to-12 month period. View project examples in the full RFP document. Proposers may choose to respond to Narrative Questions in writing, video recording, or a virtual interview.

This RFP is open to community groups, nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, for-profit entities, and public or governmental agencies serving communities in King County, WA. Partnerships of two or more organizations, small community groups, nonprofits, and community-based Black, Indigenous, and other Communities of Color-led organizations are encouraged to submit proposals.

Attend our Information Sessions + Community Building and Idea Sharing We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend our information session to learn more. These sessions will include facilitated time for Community Building and Idea Sharing with the goal to connect community leaders and innovators, share ideas, and explore collaboration opportunities.

Round 1: March 27, 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am (In-Person in Tukwila, WA & Virtual) Round 2: September 9, 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (In-Person & Virtual) Round 3: March 17, 2026, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (In-Person & Virtual) Register and access meeting details for the information sessions within the full RFP document . We have budgeted $1,400,000 for this project.

Proposers may request up to $30,000 for all activities, with the exception that proposals for Small Scale Implementation (pilot) activities may request up to $50,000. Additional award amounts of up to $5,000 may be negotiated to cover the cost of King County insurance policy requirements.

RFP Issued March 10, 2025 Information Sessions + Community Building and Idea Sharing Space March 27, 2025, 10:00 am – 11:30 am September 9, 2025, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm March 17, 2026, 1:00 pm –2:30 pm Round 1 (up to $400,000) Submission deadline: May 9, 2025 by 2:00 pm Projected Start Date: August 2025 Round 2 (up to $500,000) Submission deadline: October 3, 2025 by 2:00 pm Notifications: November 2025 Projected Start Date: January 2026 Round 3 (up to $500,000) Submission deadline: May 15, 2026 by 2:00 pm Projected Start Date: January 2027 Do you have any questions?

If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, you can submit a question to the RFP Lead Shannon Brooks at shabrooks@kingcounty. gov . Would you like support?

Access Best Starts technical assistance! Free application support is available for organizations interested in applying for this Best Starts funding opportunity!

Best Starts partnered consultants can support by: helping to determine appropriate fit between your work and this funding opportunity, providing guidance on how best to answer application questions, supporting your application development (including editing and reviewing), and supporting you in explaining your qualifications in the most clear and concise way.

If you are interested in partnering with a technical assistance consultant, learn more here . 1. Check out our funding calendar 2.

Watch our latest recorded info sessions If you were unable to make it to the info session for an open funding opportunity, check out the recordings and slideshows .

Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Share on X (Opens in new window) Print (Opens in new window) Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) More than 200 young leaders build shared vision at Youth Leadership Summit Free sun shades for King County child care providers Now accepting applications for the Youth Healing Project – apply by July 21!

More than 200 young leaders build shared vision at Youth Leadership Summit Young people from every corner of King County came together at the Museum of Flight on a sunny Saturday in May to build a shared vision of youth leadership in our region.

 Jun 17, 2026  0  2 min read Free sun shades for King County child care providers Outdoor play is essential to early learning but can be unsafe in high temperatures because young children can't regulate heat as effectively as adults. Shade supports quality play, increased play time, and learning. In 2025, King County...

 Jun 10, 2026  0  3 min read Now accepting applications for the Youth Healing Project – apply by July 21! We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Youth Healing Project request for proposal (RFP) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on July 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM, please submit your application by then.

Review the funding...  Jun 9, 2026  0  6 min read