Lacey Human Services Grant Program application period closes on Friday

Nonprofit organizations have until Friday, June 26, at 4 p.m. to apply for the City of Lacey's 2026 Human Services Grant Program. 

The program offers up to $30,000 for service programs, and up to $50,000 for capital projects targeting low-income and special needs populations in the area. Late submissions will not be accepted. 

The grant program eyes three priority areas in this cycle: affordable housing and homelessness prevention, including emergency rental assistance and housing education; youth services, including child care; and behavioral health, covering mental health care, drug and alcohol recovery, and support for families in crisis. 

Nonprofits do not need a Lacey address to apply for service grants, but must demonstrate how their programs benefit local residents. Capital projects, however, must be physically located within city limits. 

Scoring favors applicants who serve larger numbers of Lacey residents. A rubric allocates 15 points to the anticipated number of people served and another 15 to whether the program meets at least one priority focus area, with higher scores for proposals addressing multiple priorities. 

The full 100-point rubric also evaluates organizational collaboration, client-centered programming, diversity and equity practices, program delivery, measurable outcomes and budget sustainability. 

To qualify, organizations must hold 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, maintain financial stability, and agree to annual site visits and invoice-backed reporting. 

Required attachments include a program or project budget using the city's form, a current board member list, Internal Reveune Service tax-exempt documentation, a Form 990 or year-end financial statement, and a copy of the agency's annual operating budget. 

A dollar-for-dollar funding match is not required, though proposals that include outside funding may receive additional evaluation points. 

Selected applicants present to the Human Services Commission before awards are finalized.

Key dates: 

• June 26, 4 p.m. — Application deadline 

• July 1, 3 p.m. — Applicant presentations at City Hall and via Zoom 

• July 2, 5:30 p.m. — Applicant presentations at City Hall and via Zoom 

• August — Human Services Commission award recommendations and City Council final approval 

• Sept. 1, 2026 to Aug. 31, 2027 — Program year range 

To apply, submit the 2026 Human Services Grant Application online.