Empowering Communities – Rapid Response Fund

Empowering Communities – Rapid Response Fund is sponsored by Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation. Provides emergency funding to immigrant- and refugee-serving nonprofits in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties to address unanticipated needs.

Empowering Communities – Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation’s Rapid Response Fund strives to build a stronger, more resilient nonprofit ecosystem by responding to the emergency needs of immigrant- and refugee-serving nonprofits in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties.

To qualify for a Rapid Response Fund grant, an organization must: Serve immigrants and refugees as an integral part of its work as signified by its organizational mission statement OR have an emergency project in which at least 75% served are immigrants or refugees. Be based in King, Pierce, or Snohomish Counties. Qualify as a 501 (c) (3) organization under the IRS code.

Have an unanticipated need that is truly emergent and was not included in the organization’s annual budget. The Rapid Response Fund is not intended to support costs that are part of regular program delivery, operating expenses, staff salaries, nor the routine replacement/purchase of office equipment. equipment.

We are also unable to provide grants to cover an unexpected loss of government or grant funding. Successful grant requests are typically for concrete, specific emergent needs such as replacing computers after a break-in or paying for moving costs after the unexpected loss of a lease. Be able to provide an estimate of specific costs equivalent with the grant request.

Estimates must be detailed and tied to actual expenses. While SYLF can provide up to $10,000 in Rapid Response funds, the financial request should be tied to a very specific documented need, and we will not grant more than the documented need. Not use Rapid Response Grant funds as direct cash payments to individuals.

If you are a local nonprofit in need of emergency funds to serve immigrants and refugees and your request meets all of the above criteria, please reach out to Rachel Allen at programs@sylfoundation. org to learn more. There is no need to prepare a formal request before contacting us.

If your emergency need fits our criteria, you will be asked to complete a short application. If approved, most grants can be delivered in under 14 working days. A brief report will be due 3 months after the grant is received.

Support For Non-Profit Staff Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation recognizes that the staff of non-profit organizations play a critical and often under-appreciated role in building a just and inclusive civil society. Their work is often exhausting and stressful. In an effort to support the staff of our community partners, SYL Foundation is committed to providing support wherever possible.

In 2022, the Foundation hosted two virtual workshops – one on conducting nonprofit advocacy and one on recognizing and recovering from vicarious trauma. SYL Foundation also funded three sabbaticals for nonprofit leaders through the BIPOC ED Coalition . We will continue to provide such support in the future.

In addition, based on feedback from our grantee partners and our recognition that wage inequality, rooted in historic systems of racism and sexism, is harmful to nonprofit staff, SYLF made grants to provide cash stipends to the employees of our smallest grantee organizations.

We are continuing our efforts to strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem by advocating for a living wage for nonprofit staff through our participation in the Seattle Human Services Coalition’s Wage Equity Campaign. Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation supports our community partners beyond the length of a grant. We have an event sponsorship budget that is utilized to help organizations meet their fundraising needs.

Sponsorship funds are prioritized for past grant recipients. If you are a current or past grantee partner interested in seeking sponsorship support for an event, please use this form to contact us . Please note that due to limited capacity, SYLF staff are unable to attend sponsored events.

If a sponsorship includes event tickets, SYLF may donate those tickets back to the organization. Each year, Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation dedicates a portion of its annual funding towards special projects. 100% of funds raised for disaster relief efforts go towards rebuilding the lives of those affected by disasters.

Currently, we do not accept unsolicited proposals or letters of inquiry for special projects funding.

All Africa Asia Caribbean Islands East Asia Eastern Europe Middle East North America South Asia South East Asia 2024 Taiwan Earthquake Relief 2023 Earthquake Recovery in Turkey and Syria Support for Ukrainian Refugees Support for Afghan Refugees 2021 Texas Winter Storm Relief Aid 2021 COVID-19 Relief Aid to India 2018 & 2019 Just and Humane Immigration Systems 2017 Hurricane Recovery, Puerto Rico 2014 Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines 2012 Drought in the Horn of Africa 2011 Japan Disaster Relief 2010 Lotus Scholarship Fund Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation recognizes that small, immigrant-led organizations often encounter difficulties in accessing traditional philanthropy.

That is why each year we ask our existing grantee partners to tap into their knowledge of their communities and nominate highly effective grassroots organizations that are doing excellent work to serve immigrants and refugees in King, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. After a process of research and due diligence we then award grants to a set of nominated organizations without an application.

We are very proud to support these organizations while honoring the knowledge of our community leaders. 2025 Community-Led Grant Recipients Jewish Coalition for Immigrant Justice NW Massage Parlor Outreach Project St.

James Immigrant Assistance Tenants Organizers & Advocates (TOA) Washington Multicultural Services Link Washington United Migrant 2024 Community-Led Grant Recipients African Young Dreamers Empowerment Program Intl First Tongan American Community of Washington Immigrant Women’s Community Center 2023 Community-Led Grant Recipients Afghans of Puget Sound Alliance Association of Zambians in Seattle Ayan Maternity Healthcare Support Ethiopian Community in Seattle Korean Community Service Center Malawi Seattle Association – MSA Muslimahs Against Abuse Center Pacific Islander Health Board of Washington Puget Sound Community School Somali Family Safety Task Force Tubman Center for Health & Freedom Washington West African Center 2022 Community-Led Grant Recipients Global Perinatal Services Iraqi Community Center of Washington Muslim American Youth Foundation Hit enter to search or ESC to close