We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Community Well-Being Youth Led Communications Project RFP is now open! This funding opportunity closes on September 16 at 2 PM PST, please submit your application by then.
Click here to view the full funding opportunity details and apply.
Note: please create a log-in to view details and access the ZoomGrants webpage.

About this opportunity
At Best Starts we have experienced the ways power-sharing deepens and expands our reach into communities that have been under-resourced. That is why we are excited to announce the Youth Led Communications Project RFP. We created this RFP with the intentions to support youth mental health and young leaders.
As our community confronts rising rates of a youth mental health crises, this RFP seeks community based organizations with experience supporting youth led projects to launch a youth led communications campaign. The goal will be to reach young people who are rarely reached by traditional communications campaigns, including young people who are LGBTQ+, BIPOC, immigrants, in multilingual families, who have disabilities, and who face severe systemic challenges. The organization(s) that apply for this RFP will be asked to demonstrate experience supporting youth-led projects and that they can reach young people from these communities as we intend to support a peer-to-peer messaging campaign led by young people. Experience in communications campaigns is preferred, but not required if organizations are contracting or collaborating with a partner with communications expertise.
Young people are experts on their own experience and communication styles. This project is an opportunity to directly tap into young people with on-the-ground expertise, provide supports to promote their success, and develop new methodology for reaching populations that have been challenging for traditional communication strategies to reach.
See the full RFP document, section III for more information about this opportunity!
Eligibility:
This request is open to nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, and public or governmental agencies serving communities in King County. Small nonprofits, community-based organizations, and joint projects between organizations are encouraged to submit proposals.
Applicants should demonstrate an ability to develop and carry out an approach that cultivates youth leadership, supports a peer-led messaging campaign, and model effective ways to reach young people to meet their needs.
Funding Available:
This RFP offers the budgeted amount of $140,000 for this project. Applicants are expected to estimate and develop a 14-month budget covering proposed goals, activities and outcomes.
Attend our information session
We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend our information session to join us to learn more:
- Information Session: August 15, 2022, 1pm – 2 pm
Access the Zoom meeting details in VI. section C of the RFQ document. Learn more about this funding opportunity and view the full RFQ document here.
Timeline
RFP Issued | August 5, 2022 |
Information Session | August 15, 2022, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm |
Final day to submit questions via ZoomGrants | September 15, 2022 |
Final day to initiate request for technical assistance | September 14, 2022 |
RFP Application Due | September 16, 2022, by 2:00 pm |
Responses reviewed | September 19 through September 26, 2022 |
Notice of selected and non-selected applicants | October 2022 |
Anticipated program/contract start date | October/November 2022 |
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, you can submit a question before September 9, 2022, through the Contact Admin tab in ZoomGrants. The response to all questions received will be posted as an RFQ amendment on ZoomGrants.
If potential Applicants experience technical difficulties with ZoomGrants leading up to the due date, please email question to Phil Thompson, phithompson@kingcounty.gov, to avoid a late submission.
Would you like support? Access Best Starts technical assistance!
Free application support is available for organizations interested in applying for this Best Starts funding opportunity! Best Starts partnered consultants can support by: helping to determine appropriate fit between your work and this funding opportunity, providing guidance on how best to answer application questions, supporting your application development (including editing and reviewing), and supporting you in explaining your qualifications in the most clear and concise way.
If you are interested in partnering with a technical assistance consultant, learn more here.

1. Check out our funding calendar here
This calendar shares upcoming funding opportunities staggered throughout the year. Subscribe to our blog and newsletter to the right of the calendar to receive notices whenever we post a new funding opportunity.
2. Watch our latest recorded info sessions
If you were unable to make it to an open funding opportunity’s info session, check out the recordings and slideshows here.
3. Save the date for our next open house!
Mark September 28, 2022 on your calendars for our next Best Starts virtual open house! We will share registration information and session details soon. View the recordings from the latest open house on June 29, 2022, and our winter and spring open houses.
were awards made? where can we find information on who was given awards from this rfp?
Thanks for asking, we will announce the awardees soon on our blog.