Editor’s note 3/19/26: To access the recorded information session and slide deck, visit our Info Sessions page.
We are excited to share that a Capacity Building Small Grant opportunity for current Best Starts for Kids partners is now open. This funding opportunity closes at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
To apply, organizations will need to have a DCHS Agiloft account. Learn about our new funding platform!
Apply by visiting the DCHS Agiloft Website. Log in, create, and manage accounts in Agiloft.
Next steps:
- Once you have an account, look for Funding Opportunities/Solicitations.
- Click on View Public Funding Opportunities/Solicitations.
- Click on the Best Starts 2026 Capacity Building Small Grant link and follow application instructions.
The purpose of this Request for Application (RFA) is to support community-based organizations (CBOs) that are current awardees of Best Starts funds (who have a Best Starts contract on April 23, 2026). The small grants will support the infrastructure needed to enhance Best Starts partner CBOs’ capacity to provide services and programming. This includes the equipment, systems, resources, and processes that sustain the key functions of an organization. A new focus for this round of Best Starts’ capacity building small grant is prioritization of projects that support the fiscal management capacity.
You can view the RFA document here.
Funding
Applicants may request up to $9,999 in their proposed budget. The amount of funding awarded to each awardee will be determined during the application review. Eligible applicants will be limited to one award per organization. Best Starts has approximately $850,000 for this funding opportunity.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants must have a current Best Starts-funded contract as of April 23, 2026. All currently funded Best Starts partners that are community-based organizations are eligible and encouraged to apply, and some priority may be given to Best Starts partners that are using funds to increase financial management capacity, and/or have been operating for less than five years, and/or are expanding services to a new geographic area, and/or didn’t receive a capacity building small grant in 2024. Applicants may only apply once.
How Best Starts partners can use small grants:
Examples of resources and items that could be supported by this funding opportunity may include, but are not limited to:
- IT equipment (such as laptops, tablets, electronic devices, software);
- Financial or program data management software or systems;
- Program equipment (such as a vision screening tool);
- Office equipment (furniture not included);
- New or expanded subscriptions (such as online communication platforms).
- Professional development for staff (travel not eligible);
- Consultation, training and professional services (except those currently offered through the Best Starts capacity building program. See below for details.)
Items that will not be supported by these funds include:
- Expenses such as payroll, rent, ongoing consumables, utilities, or other indirect costs associated with running the organization;
- Capital expenses like facility repairs, furniture, or property upkeep;
- Advocacy work;
- Travel expenses;
- Capacity building services currently offered through the Best Starts Capacity Building program. This includes coaching, training, and workshops on the following topic areas: equity and social justice, finance, human resources, organizational development, board development, marketing, legal, data & evaluation, needs assessment, and IT support.
Check out the list of project examples in the solicitation in Agiloft!
Period of Performance
The period of performance of any award resulting from this RFA will begin on the date that the grant contract is finalized. Funds must be spent within 90 days after the award funds are issued.
Timeline
| RFA Release Date | March 2, 2026 |
| RFA Information Webinar | March 11, 2026 | 11:00 am – 12:00 pm – Zoom details found in RFA document on page 7. |
| Last day to ask Questions in Agiloft | April 17, 2024 |
| Applications due | Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 2:00 pm |
| Review of Applications Begins | April 23, 2026 |
| Notification of Selected Applicants | June 12, 2026 |
Dates are subject to change.
Questions
If you have questions, you may submit questions in writing through the “Contact Admin” tab in Agiloft before April 17, 2026. The Best Starts response to questions received will be posted in Agiloft.
If potential Applicants experience technical difficulties with Agiloft, please email DCHSAgiloft@kingcounty.gov directly.
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 with navigation of the application platform, 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.
If you are interested in partnering with a technical assistance consultant,
Applications
Applications must be clear, concise, written in English and submitted electronically through Agiloft as noted. Emphasis shall be on completeness of content.
Additional details that are critical to know, including application questions, reporting details, and more will be included in the Best Starts for Kids 2026 Capacity Building Small Grant RFA posted on March 2 as a PDF and in Agiloft.
If you are a currently-funded Best Starts contracted partner and would like to access general Best Starts capacity building, please visit the Best Starts Capacity Building page and complete the online form.
