Commission recommends 16 nonprofits for Lacey Human Services Grant Program

A number of local nonprofits could receive a share of a $300,000 pot of money from the Lacey Human Services Grant Program. 

The City of Lacey Human Services Commission unanimously recommended the proposed awards at its meeting on Aug. 6, sending them to the Lacey City Council for final approval. 

The funding targets three city priority areas: affordable housing and homelessness prevention, youth services and behavioral health. Service awards are capped at $30,000 and capital awards max out at $50,000. 

Commissioners chose a plan funding 16 nonprofits, compared with 14 in a staff recommendation for the awards. Higher scoring applicants would receive smaller awards as a result, allowing two more organizations to make the list. 

Human Services Commissioner Dalia Martinez backed spreading grants across more groups, even if some nonprofits get less. 

"I feel like as many organizations can get the funding and help, that would be better," she said. "It'd be helping out more nonprofits, even though it's less money." 

Four applicants scoring above 600 are recommended for $24,000 apiece. Two scoring at least 590 get $21,000, five scoring at least 580 get $18,000, and five more above 560 get $14,400. Together, the awards use the full $300,000. 

Lacey Human Services Coordinator Michelle Chavez said staff recommended funding 14 nonprofits because those amounts were closer to the program's historical average award of $26,087. 

Proposed recipients 

If approved by the city council, the grants would go to the following organizations.  

• North Thurston Education Foundation, $24,000, Student Assistance Program 

• Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County, $24,000, youth homelessness services 

• Family Promise of Puget Sound, $24,000, Lacey Family Stabilization and Transitions Project 

• All Kids Win, $24,000, Weekend Food Bag 

• Rebuilding Together Thurston County, $21,000, critical home repair 

• TOGETHER!, $21,000, Host Homes 

• Family Support Center, $18,000, Homeless Family Services Program 

• Strophy Foundation, $18,000, Pathways to Stability 

• The Skoolie Foundation, $18,000, Hygiene Haven 

• Community Youth Services, $18,000, Haven House Crisis Residential Center 

• Mi Chiantla, $18,000, Raices Unidas family strengthening program 

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Washington, $14,400, Site-Based Mentoring 

• Thurston County Inclusion, $14,400, Inclusive Community Youth Program 

• Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason and Thurston Counties, $14,400, Lacey Housing Services 

• Interfaith Works, $14,400, Sergio's Service Center 

• Ground Zero Outreach, $14,400, Bridge to Stability and Mobile Outreach Program 

Interfaith Works and Ground Zero Outreach only made the list under the commission's chosen plan, as both fell outside the cutoff in the staff recommendations. 

Contingency 

Commissioners also recommended dividing unused funds evenly among the remaining recipients if an organization declines or cannot use its grant. 

The contingency proposal followed discussion of Family Promise of Puget Sound, whose application indicated significant underfunding could prevent its proposed transitional housing property in Lacey from proceeding. 

The city council is expected to consider the grants in September, when the 2026 grant year is also scheduled to begin.