Focus Grants

Purpose: Place-based support to organizations disrupting the cycle of intergenerational poverty in southwest Washington.

Geographic Scope: Clark, Cowlitz, and Skamania counties, Washington

Focus Areas:

• Seeking Shared Prosperity: Investing in solutions and systems that promote an inclusive economy
• Basic Human Needs: Food security, rent and utility assistance, affordable housing, physical and mental health, caregiving, domestic violence services
• Educational Attainment: Equitable opportunities along the educational continuum from cradle to career
• Asset Building: Wealth-building strategies, employment services, financial planning, small business development, homeownership, community livability, economic development

Priority Populations:

• Black, Indigenous, Latina/o/x, Native Hawaiian, Pasifika, and Communities of Color
• Foster youth and youth aging out of system
• Immigrants and/or Refugees
• Historically under-resourced communities or those lacking critical infrastructure
• People affected by the criminal justice system
• People with behavioral health issues (including addiction and substance use disorder)
• People with disabilities (developmental, intellectual, neurodivergent, physical)
• People living on low incomes
• LGBTQ2S+ identified individuals
• Unstably housed/unhoused people
• Rural and distressed communities
• Survivors of domestic violence, gender violence, sex trafficking, and/or child abuse

Eligibility Criteria:

• Program Implementation: Mission and programming advance racial equity and/or disrupt intergenerational poverty; established trusted relationships with participants; understanding of implementation; alignment with Strategic Grantmaking Framework
• Equity Framework: Clearly defined strategies for reducing disparities; led by the community served; mechanisms to operationalize equity; incorporation of client feedback; racial equity and justice lens
• Leadership & Sustainability: Mission-program alignment; board/staff representation of communities served; necessary resources; fiscal responsibility
• Collaboration: Partnerships with other organizations; community-informed approaches; cross-systems work

Community Impact Lens Priorities:

• Addresses important community need and dismantles disparities
• Consistent with organization mission with experience and trusted relationships
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion internally and externally
• Alignment with building awareness and addressing root causes of intergenerational poverty
• Grounded in strength-based practices avoiding duplication
• Culturally responsive with inclusion of impacted voices
• Collaborative with coalition building
• Fiscal planning competency and sustainability
• Established trusted community relationships
• Realistic outcomes with demonstrated potential impact

Application Process

1. Initial Contact (Optional): Contact a Program Officer to vet proposal concepts before submitting formal application
2. Submit Online Form: Complete application at cfsww.org/apply-for-grant with the following information:
   • Organization name and full name of contact person
   • Email and phone number
   • Grant amount requested
   • County or counties served (Clark, Skamania, Cowlitz)
   • Brief description of funding need and alignment with Fund criteria
   • Timing of request
3. Optional Attachments: Upload additional documents such as organization narratives, budget information, or other supporting files (max 25 MB)
4. Submission: Submit through online portal
5. Review: Program Officer will contact within 5-7 business days
6. Award Decision: Grants typically awarded within four weeks of request

Required Materials:

• Organization information
• Contact person details
• Funding request amount
• Geographic service area
• Detailed description of funding needs and alignment with criteria
• Optional: Supporting documents (organization narratives, budgets, existing files)

Key Application Requirements:

• Alignment with Strategic Grantmaking Framework
• Demonstration of racial equity commitment
• Evidence of trusted community relationships
• Clear connection to interrupting intergenerational poverty
• Culturally responsive approach
• Fiscal responsibility and sustainability planning