Please note that the application deadline for this RFP has been extended to Monday, March 18.
Best Starts for Kids Stopping the School-to-Prison Pipeline strategy area is now accepting applications to further fund community supports that primarily focus on young women of color between the ages of 12-24 years who are at-risk, currently, or were involved in the criminal legal system, face challenges staying in school, completing high school, gaining access to higher education and employment opportunities. In addition, this funding focuses on Latinx and Indigenous youth and young adults. This includes programming that supports their families, positive cultural identity growth, and their connection to education and attainment of future employment. Programming may include cultivation of anti-sexism for young men that promotes honor and respect for women.
Click here to view the Request for Proposals and apply.*
*This link will take you to a ZoomGrants page. Create a login to view the request for proposals and apply.
What is the ‘School-to-Prison Pipeline’?
The ‘school-to-prison pipeline’ references how our youth and young adults, primarily of color, whom systematically have a greater potential of being subjected to or pushed into, have been, or are currently involved with the criminal legal system and other systems or harmful outcomes (i.e., Foster Care, homelessness, sex trafficking, death). This is generally done by way of policies and practices throughout the youth and young adults’ experiences, starting with their education and onward.
What is “building school-to-life success pathways”?
Creating a system that helps our youth and young adults normally entrapped in the school-to-prison pipeline, especially Black and Brown youth and young adults, live-up to their full potential and pursue their aspirations with the support of their communities. This includes acknowledging and building on their strengths/resources, and developing accessible, culturally reflective and responsive avenues of support.
Eligibility
This request is only open to not-for-profit organizations (or fiscally sponsored by an organization) with 501(c)3 status and identifies with at least one of the following: community-based, faith-based, tribes and tribal, schools and school districts, public or governmental organizations serving communities in King County. Women of color led organizations, Small non-profits, community-based organizations, youth and young adults-led organizations serving in the South King County region are encouraged to submit proposals. King County departments or offices are not eligible per the County Council mandate. Any organizations that is debarred (i.e., banned, disqualified, excluded) from receiving federal funds will not be awarded funding.
Available funding
A total of $4.48 million is available for the program period of August 1st, 2019 until December 31st, 2021. The maximum amount available per proposal during the period is $640,000 ($815,000 for collective applications – see ‘Collective Application’ below). The total number of awards and their amounts are unknown. We expect organizations to estimate and develop a budget covering proposed goals, activities, and outcomes.
Timeline
| RFP Issued | January 15th, 2019 |
| Information Sessions/Workshops | January 24th & 29th, 2019 (see below) |
| Final Day to Request TAand Ask Questions | February 25th, 2019 |
| RFP Responses Due | Proposals due March 18th, 2019 by 11:59 p.m. Late responses will not be accepted. |
| Responses Reviewed and Rated | March – April, 2019 |
| Interviews with Applicants | May, 2019 |
| Notice of Selected and Non-Selected Applicants | June 2019 |
| Selected Applicants Orientation | June 2019 (During the Week of June 10th) |
| Program/Contract Start Date | August 1st, 2019 |
Dates listed here are subject to change.
Information Sessions
| Date | Time | Location |
| January 24th, 2019 | 10:00am – 12:00pm | Youth Source/Worksource Tukwila 645 Andover Park W (room 210) |
| January 29th, 2019 | 3:00pm – 5:00pm | Youth Source/Worksource Tukwila 645 Andover Park W (Room 105) |
| January 31st, 2019 | 2:30pm – 4:30pm | Webinar Click here to join |
Collective Applications
Two or more organizations are welcome to partner for an application and are eligible for a maximum award amount of $815,000. Any collective application where each application partner individually has an annual organizational budget of $500,000 or less are encouraged to apply.
Need help? Get free technical assistance
Technical assistance is available to support grant writing, provide insight about this request, give helpful feedback about applicants’ proposals, and help reduce barriers faced by many community based/grassroots organizations, partnerships and groups to effectively access Best Starts levy funds. See attachment #4 in the RFP for information on technical assistance.
Where can I find data to support my application?
Best Starts values the use of multiple sources of data and information. While the use of data resources is not required, we have compiled some King County data resources to assure equal access to information. Indicators identified for Best Starts can be found here: www.kingcounty.gov/bskindicators. Please visit the “Data Resources” page on the Communities Count website: http://www.communitiescount.org/index.php?page=dataresources