Outreach Grants

Commerce provides grants to community-based organizations with experience and cultural skills that support people historically underserved by state and federal social services. 

Outreach Grant basics 

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
• Recent immigrants

Programs targeted for increased enrollment include but are not limited to:

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Public housing programs
• 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
• Kinship Care
• Expanded Child Tax Credit
• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Developmental Disabilities Administration Programs
• Housing and Essential Needs Referral Program
• SSDI and SSI
• 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.