Outreach Grant Program (Washington State)

Outreach Grant Program (Washington State) is sponsored by Washington State Department of Commerce. This program funds community-based organizations with experience and cultural skills that support people historically underserved by state and federal social services. Outreach grants are designed to assist community members in applying for state and federal assistance programs.

Outreach Grants – Washington State Department of Commerce Shared Standards Initiative 简体中文 ( Chinese (Simplified) ) 繁體中文 ( Chinese (Traditional) ) Tiếng Việt ( Vietnamese ) Commerce provides grants to community-based organizations with experience and cultural skills that support people historically underserved by state and federal social services.

The Legislature created this program to fund community organizations that serve “historically disadvantaged populations. ” Outreach grants are designed to support community members applying for state and federal assistance programs. Commerce granted with 16 nonprofit organizations that ranked highest in a statewide competition.

Grantees were assessed for relevant cultural and language skills, experience enrolling people in social services, and other criteria. How are communities using the funding? The Legislature recognizes Washington residents do not experience poverty equally.

Grantees prioritize communities who have poverty rates above the state average. This includes but is not limited to: Individuals and families that are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), including people who are African American, Latinx or Hispanic, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

American Indian and Alaska Native people in urban areas Limited English proficient households Individuals living with a disability Youth transitioning from the foster care system LGBTQIA+ community, with an emphasis on Black transgender and non-binary people Programs targeted for increased enrollment include but are not limited to: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Apple Health and Medicaid Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Working Connections Childcare Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) education and job search programs Expanded Child Tax Credit Developmental Disabilities Administration Programs Housing and Essential Needs Referral Program Applications for Individual Taxpayer ID Number Applications for state identification cards Affordable Connectivity Program ORCA or other public transportation access Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Our grantee staff with lived experience will provide enrollment services in 39 counties and in 64 different languages.

What are examples of this work? The Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center is using their grant to fund staff who will outreach and enroll people in Tacoma and Pierce County in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Working Connections Childcare, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), housing and other programs.

Multicultural is a BIPOC-led organization that aims to build rapport with clients, especially those historically disenfranchised from public services. Voices of Tomorrow is a non-profit providing social services to East African and other immigrant and refugee families in King County. They will connect families to programs like TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), kinship care, and rent assistance.

Many referrals are from Voices’ staff working with families in the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) or the Seattle Preschool Program. The Washington State Legislature has concluded. The Outreach Enrollment Grant was not funded for FY26 and FY27.

In the 2023 – 2025 operating budget, Commerce received $8 million to continue the Outreach grants program for this biennium.

Changes were made in the supplemental budget at Commerce’s request: ESSB 5950 Operating Budget 2023-2025 Supplemental: (40) $2,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2024 and $6,000,000 of the general fund—state appropriation for fiscal year 2025 are provided solely for the department to administer grants to community based organizations that serve historically disadvantaged populations to conduct outreach and to assist community members in applying for state and federal assistance programs including, but not limited to, those administered by the department of social and health services, department of commerce, and department of children, youth, and families.

Consistent Care Services, LLC (CCSS) Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NIRP) Consistent Care Services, LLC (CCSS) Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NIRP) Asotin/Garfield/Columbia/Whitman Consistent Care Services, LLC (CCSS) Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NIRP) Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic Akin: Children’s Home Society of WA Ferry/Stevens/Pend Oreille Consistent Care Services, LLC (CCSS) Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NIRP) Grays Harbor/Pacific/Cowlitz/Wahkiakum Consistent Care Services, LLC (CCSS) Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NIRP) Akin: Children’s Home Society of WA Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NIRP) Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center Thurston County Food Bank Thurston County Food Bank Thurston County Food Bank Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center Akin: Children’s Home Society of WA Refugee and Immigrant Services NW Refugee and Immigrant Services NW Consistent Care Services, LLC (CCSS) Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic Thurston County Food Bank Refugee and Immigrant Services NW Akin: Children’s Home Society of WA Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic Yakima Neighborhood Health Services (YNHS) Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic Susan Larson, Program Manager Susan.

Larson@commerce. wa. gov