Worker Outreach Grants Program

Worker Outreach Grants Program is sponsored by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Offers grants to organizations providing outreach and education on worker rights and protections.

Worker Outreach Grants Program Aligned with our mission to Keep Washington Safe and Working and our commitment to equitable access, L&I provides outreach grants to organizations that provide assistance to underserved worker communities. These grants support organizations to provide outreach and education to workers about their rights, address their concerns, and assist them in connecting with L&I.

L&I oversees several worker protection laws in the areas of worker safety and health, wage and hour requirements, and workers' compensation insurance. If workers experience unsafe work conditions, or if they fail to receive full pay for their work, overtime, meals and rest periods, or other required rights, they can file a complaint with L&I and L&I staff will investigate.

If they are injured on the job or contract an occupational illness, L&I will protect their right to file a workers' compensation insurance claim and receive benefits. Although L&I does significant outreach, many workers — particularly those in lower-wage jobs, with limited English proficiency, migrants, and people in underserved communities — do not know their rights or do not exercise them.

Workers may be afraid of retaliation from their employers or have fear of government. They may face language barriers that prevent them from seeking help or accessing services, or they may need assistance with completing worker rights or safety complaints, or workers' compensation claims. The result is inequitable access to protections provided to workers under the law.

To address this gap, L&I awards grants to nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to underserved workers. These worker-trusted organizations use grant funds to provide and facilitate outreach and education to workers about their rights, address their concerns, and assist them in connecting with L&I.

L&I anticipates awarding outreach grants every 2 years to nonprofit organizations statewide that serve Washington worker communities.

Factors affecting decisions on grant awards and amounts: Strength of the relationship between the organization and the worker community Geographic reach of the organization Nature of services — breadth, depth, group, one-on-one Service delivery locations — single vs. multiple sites; office vs. community sites Perceived vulnerability and needs of the worker communities served Grant Funded Program Activities Below are some examples of how organizations can use the grant funding: Provide outreach about L&I-administered workers' rights, services, and resources.

The community organization helps workers learn about and exercise them. Note : Outreach is to be performed away from job sites, unless coordinated with the employer. Organize community forums for workers and educate workers on their rights and protections, and the services offered by the organization and by L&I.

L&I staff could present at the forum and/or table at these events. Note : Forums are to be located away from job sites, unless coordinated with the employer. Provide one-on-one and small group education to workers about their rights, protections, and L&I services.

Provide one-on-one assistance to people who need help with forms, letters, processes, or with contacting appropriate L&I staff. Work closely with designated L&I outreach team members to address specific questions or communicate access and education issues. Eligibility & Requirements The following are eligibility requirements for organizations that wish to participate in the Worker Outreach Grants program.

Has a history of providing services to a significant number of underserved Washington workers; Is a registered nonprofit organization with both state and federal designations; Is registered as a Washington employer with an active L&I account; Is current on all regulatory and tax responsibilities; and Carries required liability insurance (or will carry if awarded a grant): Commercial general liability policy of $1,000,000 or more per occurrence.

Automotive liability policy of $1,000,000 or more per occurrence. Grantee Responsibilities and Requirements L&I excludes the use of awarded funds from this grant for costs already covered by other sources. Worker Outreach Partners Agree To: While Providing L&I Funded Services, Partners: ​ Dedicate one Full Time Employee (1 FTE) or two Part time Employees (2 PTEs) for the entire term of this grant, as a minimum to provide this program.

This includes appropriate and sufficient staff to perform the work of this grant. ​ Have all employees, volunteers, and subrecipients involved in delivering the program attend training from L&I, related to the program management and worker rights and protections. This training must be completed prior to any partner producing L&I-related content or programming.

Training will require a minimum of 5 hours and potentially more, depending on the partner's experience, knowledge, and proposed program. Staff time for training should be factored into prospective partner's budgets. ​ Plan and budget for printing of publications that are not available in the L&I website's Forms & Publications Search to order free copies by mail.

​ Conduct outreach to workers, in their language of preference. ​ Provide education to workers about worker rights and protections, in their language of preference. ​ Teach workers how to access information and forms related to submitting safety and health concerns, wage complaints, and injury claims.

​ Will not unduly pressure workers to file complaints or claims. Will not represent workers, but rather provide them with assistance. ​ Help workers complete forms in their own words by listening to their stories, asking open-ended questions to identify helpful details including dates, and generally pulling together the information that L&I would need for its review.

​ Will not tell workers what to write or say. ​ Contact designated L&I staff with questions, issues, and concerns. ​ Will not provide legal interpretation or guidance related to L&I rules and laws.

​ Help workers access appropriate L&I staff with questions, issues, and concerns. ​ Upon notice of a grant award, with support from L&I, prepare a Milestone Budget Schedule (MBS), laying out each quarter's expected activities and budget. Provide complete and timely quarterly reports that include metrics, deliverables, and narratives with their invoice.

​ Support workers to receive their rights and protections, empowering their self-advocacy. ​ Will not take hostile stances against employers, assume determinations of outcomes, or promote organizing against employers. ​ Optional : If requested by workers, accompany them to meetings (in-person, virtual, telephonic) with L&I investigators, inspectors, claim adjudicators, or other staff to provide support.

​ Will not represent the worker or speak for them but rather help the worker to explain or describe a situation or experience. ​ Participate in providing input to L&I regarding agency programs, support, resources, and other topics to advance L&I's understanding of worker needs. ​ Detailed proposal instructions are provided in the Worker Outreach Grant Application.

Proposal requirements include: Information about your organization Description about the workers and communities you serve, and the services you currently provide Demographic and professional background of your staff who will help deliver the program Description of your proposed plan: audience you intent to focus on; relationship between your organization and the audience; performance goals and the performance data you plan to track; languages in which you intend to offer services; and how you will evaluate success.

Grant Process & Resources Grant applications will be available August 25 and due on October 6, with award notifications in December 2025.

Sample contract, including insurance requirement details Worker Outreach Program informational flyer These may be helpful in developing your program: Pocket Guide to Worker Rights (F101-165-909) Available in several languages Workers' Compensation Benefits: A Guide for Injured Workers (F242-104-000) Safety and Health Discrimination in the Workplace (F417-244-000) Available in multiple languages Workers' Compensation Discrimination (F262-249-909) Current and Past Worker Outreach Partners Organizations statewide have participated in providing L&I-related outreach and education to workers, greatly expanding the number of Washington workers who know about their rights and the many L&I resources and services to support them.

We are grateful to these worker-trusted organizations. Application Round 1 (K5388 1/1/2024 – 6/30/2025): $1,000,000.

00 CAFÉ - Community for the Advancement of Family Education​ Comunidades Sin Fronteras​ Eritrean Association in Greater Seattle​ Indian American Community Services​ Nuestras Raices Community Center​ Seattle Korean Cultural Center​ West African Community Council​ Contact us about the Worker Outreach Grant program: Worker Outreach Partners Team OutreachPartners@Lni. wa. gov