We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Youth Healing Project request for proposal (RFP) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on July 21, 2025 at 5:00 PM, please submit your application by then.
Review the funding opportunities details here.
How to apply
To apply, applicants need to have a Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Agiloft account. Best Starts funding opportunities, in both DCHS and Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC), will require organizations to have a DCHS Agiloft account when applying for funding. 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 Youth Healing Project RFP link and follow application instructions.
Read it closely and follow the instructions. Reach out to us if you have any questions. We are eager to help and can connect you to specialists who can support you in the application process at no cost to you. Feel free to be creative. You can submit your responses in writing, but we will also accept applications in the form of a video.
About this opportunity
At Best Starts we strive to share power with young leaders because we know young people are experts on the challenges and opportunities their communities face today. That’s why we’re excited to announce the Youth Healing Project RFP, which will directly fund young people to work on projects that aim to improve the mental health, healthy coping, harm reduction, connection, and well-being of young people.
Funding is flexible and can be used for staffing, youth stipends or incentives, technology, materials, and events. The funded projects will take place during the 2026 to 2027 school year.
Here are a few examples of projects young people from the first Youth Healing Project accomplished:
- A podcast about young people’s experience with Sickle Cell Disease. (Listen to the In Our Blood podcast here.)
- A coloring book for elementary school students that focused on identifying emotions and violence prevention. (Preview the NoExcuses Activity Book here!)
- Graffiti, music, and art gatherings focused on creating connection and healing through artistic expression. (You can read more about SanArte on pg. 34 and 35 of the Best Starts for Kids 2022 Annual Report.)
- A mental health and well-being group hosted on campus at a local high school, that offered healing to BIPOC students. (Read more about the Newcomer Club here!)
While the above examples can highlight the types of projects young people can propose, we encourage applicants to use their creativity, and not feel limited. More examples are featured in the full RFP here!
New this year:
We will have two tracks for the funding. Our Youth Track is what we’ve funded all along: up to $9,999 will be available to young people who create mental health supports for their peers. Our Organization Track will be for up to $49,999 for organizations that support youth-led projects.
Eligibility:
Youth Track
Are you a young person (between the ages of 14 and 24-years-old) living in King County? Do you want to create mental health supports for young people, or are you already doing work to support youth mental health? You are eligible!
Young people will need to identify a nonprofit organization (501c3) to be their fiscal sponsor during or after the application process. Young people can work with organizations they trust and are connected to. But if applicants need support connecting to an organization, they can contact Best Starts. We can connect young people to organizations.
Read the eligibility information closely in the RFP and reach out to us if you have any questions.
Organization Track
Organizations within King County well suited to support and mentor a group of young people in leadership development as well as peer-to-peer mental health support are eligible. These organizations should have experience working with young people and have a demonstrated interest in training young people to lead their own projects as well as learn more about supporting the wellbeing of other young people.
If you are a fiscal sponsor organization or organizational applicant, you will be required to attend training on how to support youth voice and leadership. Fiscal sponsors are regarded as mentors and fiscal support for the youth leaders and not as the main project implementors. All major project decisions, including the design and execution of the application and project itself will be led by youth.
Funding Available:
For Youth Applicants
We have budgeted up to $9,999 per proposal for this project. Proposals in excess of $9,999 will be considered incomplete and will not be evaluated.
For Organizational Applicants
We have budgeted up to $49,999 per proposal for this project. Proposals in excess of $49,999 will be considered incomplete and will not be evaluated.
Attend our information sessions
We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend one of the two information sessions to join us to learn more:
- June 16th, 2026, 3pm
- June 25th, 2026, noon
Learn more about this funding opportunity and access meeting details for the information session within the full RFP document here.
Timeline
| RFP Issued | June 9, 2026 |
| Information Sessions | June 16th, 2026, 3pm June 25th, 2026, noon |
| Final day to submit questions via Agiloft | July 17th, 2026 |
| Final day for to initiate request for technical assistance | July 17th, 2026 |
| Proposals due | July 21st, 2026, by 5:00 pm |
| Responses reviewed | July 22nd- August 18, 2026 |
| Notification of selected and non-selected proposers | September 2025 |
| Anticipated program/contract start date | October 2025 |
Do you have any questions?
Please email PhiThompson@KingCounty.gov with questions 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.
Learn more about partnering with a technical assistance consultant.
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 the info session for an open funding opportunity, check out the recordings and presentations.
