Youth Mentoring Grants

Youth Mentoring Grants is sponsored by Kitsap Community Foundation. Supports programs organized for ongoing mentoring activities involving competent adults and young persons, with the goal of positive youth development in Kitsap County.

Kitsap Foundation | Nonprofits | Kitsap Community Foundation Our 2026 Community Grant Cycle is open August 17th through September 14th! Please read below for more information on the various types of grants. Nonprofit Grant Orientation Training Kitsap Regional Library - Silverdale, Thursday, August 20, 2026, 11:30am START YOUR APPLICATION & APPLY TODAY!

To fulfill its mission as a catalyst for the greater good, Kitsap Community Foundation established an annual grant-making process that invests in nonprofits serving Kitsap and North Mason Counties. With the support of donor-advised funds and other philanthropic partners, KCF has distributed more than $35 million to local causes since 1993.

Each year, multiple charitable funds held at KCF come together to offer a variety of grant opportunities through one aligned Community Grant Cycle. By streamlining the application process, we aim to lower barriers and make it easier for nonprofits to access the resources they need to advance their missions.

We invite nonprofit organizations serving Kitsap and North Mason Counties to apply and join us in strengthening the region we all call home. Applications for any of our Community Grant Cycle opportunities must be completed and submitted online through the Grant Lifecycle Manager. Starting with our 2026 Grant Cycle, all applicants must create a new account on the new platform.

Click here for more information on creating a new account and navigating the Grant Lifecycle Manager. Need some one-on-one assistance? Click here to book a virtual appointment with Director of Grants & Special Initiatives, Lillian Xie.

Community Grant Selection Criteria KCF supports charitable organizations that benefit Kitsap County & North Mason County. Such evidence may include tax returns, corporate charter and by-laws, financial statements, an IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, and other evidence of accomplishments.

When community grant applications are reviewed, the Foundation considers the validation of the needs of organizations' constituents, the presence of other support (financial and/or in-kind), program evaluation, and community impact. If you have additional questions, please email the Grants Committee Chairperson at grants@kitsapfoundation. org or call the KCF office at (360) 698-3622.

The Foundation distributes additional grants each year, generally upon the recommendation of fund advisers who hold funds at the Foundation. These grants are typically allocated outside of the Community Grants process. Types of Community Grants Kitsap Community Foundation – Community Grants Our belief is that meeting a broad range of substantiated local needs improves the quality of life in Kitsap and North Mason Counties.

Awards of up to $5,000 may be used by nonprofit organizations working in Kitsap and North Mason County for programs or operating funds within the following program areas: Children and Youth Development Environment and Animal Welfare Health and Human Services Foster Care and Family Reconciliation ​ The Foster Care and Family Reconciliation grants will not be open in 2026.

These grants, available through the Sound Institute of Family and Children's Services Endowed Fund, may be awarded to nonprofit organizations that serve adolescents and their families.

These grants are awarded every two years to nonprofit organizations that have programs that: Help youth (adolescents up to the age of 25) who have been in the foster care/child welfare system make positive transitions through residential programs, counseling, employment assistance, scholarships, or other supportive services, or: Offer residential and non-residential services designed to facilitate family reconciliation for adolescents in conflict with their families.

Applicants may apply for two-year grants of up to $7,500 each year. If you choose to apply for a two-year grant, the budget you upload must reflect two years of income and expenses. Second-year funding will be contingent upon your program/project's measurable outcomes, submitted report, and the KCF Board of Directors' favorable review of the first year's performance.

​ Kitsap County Association of Realtors Foundation (KCAR) At the Kitsap County Association of REALTORS® (KCAR) Foundation, we believe in the power of community—neighbors helping neighbors, professionals lifting each other up, and generosity fueling change.

As the charitable arm of the Kitsap County Association of REALTORS®, we are dedicated to providing vital assistance to REALTORS®, Affiliates, and local non-profit organizations facing financial hardship.

This grant program, of up to $3,000, is designed to empower and enhance the capabilities of established 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations committed to strengthening our communities by enabling them to effectively address community needs, build sustainable support systems, and cultivate vibrant and resilient communities across Kitsap County.

Kitsap Racial Equity and Empowerment Fund ​ There is an ongoing need to address systemic inequities, which disproportionately impact Black and other communities of color. Meanwhile, there is an urgent need to address how these inequities were amplified by COVID-19, with increased disproportionate adverse impacts on the Black community.

KREEF grants are for “general operating support” and vary in size depending on funding available.

These grants are meant to help end systemic racism in our community by supporting culturally relevant programs, services, and activities in Kitsap County that: Are aimed at lessening the inequities caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis in or for communities of color, with an emphasis on the needs of the Black community, and Have leadership or boards that are reflective of, and accountable to communities of color, in particular the Black community Women's Giving Circle of the Kitsap Peninsula The Women’s Giving Circle of the Kitsap Peninsula (WGCKP) invites larger organizations (Annual Revenue over $100,000) and smaller organizations (Annual Revenue under $100,000) that serve women and/or children in the Kitsap Peninsula to use this simplified grant application to request up to $10,000 for large organizations and $2,500 for small organizations.

Click here to view Grant Eligibility & Restrictions. One or more grants of up to $1,200-$1,400 will be allocated in 2026. These grants are provided through the Youth Mentoring Endowment Fund and are specifically for mentoring programs.

The Foundation defines mentoring programs as organized, ongoing activities aimed at providing quality and mutually beneficial relationships between competent adults and young persons, with the goal of creating positive youth development. KCF is transitioning to a new grant application platform, Grant Lifecycle Manager.

Full instructions for creating an account and submitting your application will be posted here before the 2026 Community Grant Cycle opens on August 17th. If you have questions in the meantime, please contact the Grants Committee Chairperson at grants@kitsapfoundation. org or call (360) 698-3622.

The Foundation does not award grants to provide or support: Capital campaigns or facility improvements Political or lobbying activities Private operating foundations Religious organizations for sacramental or theological purposes* Tuition, scholarships, or core operating expenses for (K-12) public schools, charter schools, private schools or universities and colleges.

Organizations that discriminate with regard to age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, religious affiliation, or presence of a disability Other Eligibility Restrictions National and regional organizations unable to clearly demonstrate that these funds will be used for operations within Kitsap County and/or North Mason County Applications from “start-up” organizations must be pre-screened Organizations with an Endowment Fund over $1 million *Faith-based social service, youth, or community programs are eligible if the following conditions are met: 501(c)(3) organization; program/project has a board-approved mission statement and program/project budget separate from the organization's sacramental or theological budget; secular programs or services are available to eligible participants without regard to religious belief or willingness to participate in religious activities; and the organization ensures that Foundation contributions are not used to support religious activities such as worship or proselytizing.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact the Grants Committee Chairperson by email at grants@kitsapfoundation. org or call the KCF office at (360) 698-3622.

2026 Grant Cycle Calendar The 2026 Grant Cycle opens, and KCF will begin accepting applications for Community Grants, KCAR, KREEF, Youth Mentoring, and the Women's Giving Circle of the Kitsap Peninsula (both large and small grants) through our online grant portal.

Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 11:30, Kitsap Regional Library, Silverdale KCF Grant Application Orientation for new and returning nonprofits - Learn more about the 2026 Community Grants Process and applying through our new online grant portal during an interactive session. Click here to register. Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 4:00pm, Kitsap Regional Library, Silverdale KCF Grant Review Committee Hybrid Training & Orientation.

Click here to register. Monday, September 14, 2026, at 11:59pm ALL grant applications are due through the online grant portal, Grant Lifecycle Manager. Monday, September 21, 2026 2025 Community Grant, Youth Mentoring Grant, and Foster Care & Family Reconciliation Grant reports due.

If reports are not submitted in a timely manner, your organization may not be eligible for the 2026 grant cycle. Monday, November 26, 2026 2026 Community Grant and Youth Mentoring Grant applicants will be notified of their award status. 2026 KCF Community Grant applicants will be offered the opportunity to receive feedback on their applications.

Ever wonder how grant decisions are made? Join us as a volunteer Grant Reviewer and see for yourself! The Kitsap Community Foundation is looking for volunteers to join our Grant Review team for the 2026 Community Grant Cycle.

And it's okay if you are applying for a grant for a nonprofit – if anything, this could help you become more familiar with our process. Complete orientation & training provided by KCF Review grant applications from nonprofits in Kitsap & Mason counties Dedicate about 15 hours between September and November Make a direct, lasting impact on the community Your voice and perspective matter.

Join us in guiding funding to projects that directly impact our community. Click here to apply to be a Grant Reviewer. Applications are due Wednesday, September 16.

Join us for the hybrid online/in-person Grant Review Orientation on Wednesday, September 9, at 4:00pm at the Kitsap Regional Library in Silverdale. Click here to register . Please email us if you'd like to learn more.