SKCCIF Environmental Grants Program
Fall 2023: The Fourth SKCCIF Environmental Grants Program Cycle Has Launched
The Port is now accepting proposals for the next South King County Fund Environmental Grants cycle. Proposals must be submitted by 1:00 p.m. October 30, 2023. Organizations serving the communities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila can apply for a single year award of $20,000, or multi-year funding for up to $60,000. A total of 600,000 is available for this cycle Multi-year grants allow community groups to invest in long-term planning and implementation, increases the impact of the Port’s community investments, and helps to support sustainable project planning and implementation. A total of $600,000 is available this cycle to increase access to green space and improve livability in near-airport communities.
New to the fourth cycle:
Projects must demonstrate a 2:1 match, meaning every dollar awarded by the Port must be matched by two dollars from the grant recipient or project partners. Previously, projects had a 3:1 match requirement. During this year’s state legislative cycle, the Port successfully advocated for reducing the local match that non-profit applicants must provide through the SKCCIF. This change reduces the burden for awarded partners and enhances the Port’s ability to contract with community-based organizations, non-profits, associations, and volunteer groups making public improvements in near airport communities.
Environmental Program
The SKCF Environmental Grants Program is a cycle of the South King County Community Impact Fund that supports projects that improve the environment in the near-airport communities of Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Normandy Park, SeaTac, and Tukwila. Community-led groups are invited to apply for funding for activities such as:
• public space improvements (including parks, school playgrounds, public square or port habitat sites),
• equipment or artwork installations,
• or neighborhood or environmental stewardship projects.
Through funding and partnerships with community-based organizations, the Environmental Grants Program drives the Port’s investment in projects in cities around the airport to enhance livability, improve green spaces, and restore forests. The SKCIIF Environmental Grants Program expands the reach of the successful Airport Community Ecology (ACE) program into more communities that surround Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
Communities in South King County disproportionately experience environmental harms due to a long history of inequitable land use practices and economic displacement that have pushed marginalized communities farther and farther south.
Fund Highlights
- Requests can be up to $20,000.
- Multi-year funding is available for up to $60,000 over three years.
- Projects must take place on public property. Please see City contact information at the bottom of the page to connect with parks department staff members.
- Projects must demonstrate a 2:1 match, meaning every dollar awarded by the Port must be matched by two dollars from the grant recipient or project partners. The Port offers several ways to meet this match including volunteer time, attendees of public events, contact hours, lifetime environmental value of trees planted, carbon emissions reductions, in-kind contributions, contributions of project partners, and cash.
- Proposers must be a nonprofit organization with 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 status or community group that works with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor.
- Organizations must demonstrate experience in serving diverse near-airport communities that experience economic and environmental injustice
- Organizations must submit a written proposal and participate in a discussion with the review panel.
How to apply
• Locate all materials for the SKCCIF Environmental Grants program at the ‘Documents’ tab on the VendorConnect site or click here: VendorConnect Application page.
• You must register as a Plan Holder at VendorConnect to ask questions and receive ongoing updates. Register by going to the South King County Community Impact Fund Solicitation Overview page. (For detailed instructions about registering, click here to read the VendorConnect External User Guide.) To ask a question, select the "Ask Question" button.
Technical Assistance and Q&A Sessions
Virtual Technical Assistance Sessions will be held on a weekly basis. Staff will be able to provide applicants technical assistance to navigate the VendorConnect website. See the schedule below for available dates and times, and the Teams link or call-in number to join.
| Join by computer | Join by phone |
|---|---|
| https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ODUwZmJjNTItOGVk… |
Call-In Number: +1 425-660-9954 Conference ID: 773 061 377# |
| Technical Assistance Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Sept. 21 | 6:00–6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 25 | 12:00– 1:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 29 | 5:00–6:00 p.m. |
| Oct. 6 | 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. |
| Oct. 13 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 17 | 6:00–7:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 23 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. |
| Oct. 27 | 6:00–7:00 p.m. |
The Question and Answer Sessions with staff can be joined during the below dates and times using this Teams link or call-in number:
| Join by computer | Join by phone |
|---|---|
| https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDRjNTg5ZWUtNTQx… |
Call-In Number: +1 425-660-9954 Conference ID: 306 047 975# |
| Q&A Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Sept. 20 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. |
| Sept. 28 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 12 | 5:00–6:00 p.m. |
Submittal details and deadline
• All required documents must be emailed to e-submittals-sa@portseattle.org.
• The deadline to submit a proposal is 1:00 p.m. Monday, October 30, 2023.
Cycle Two and Three Funded Projects
These Fifteen organizations received multi-year funding in Cycle Two and Three and will continue their projects in 2024:
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