Waste-Free Communities Matching Grant
Additional Information
The 2023 grant application period has closed. The next application period will tentatively begin January 2025.
SPU's Waste-Free Communities Matching Grant launched in 2018. We have funded five grant cycles to support community-initiated and led waste prevention projects.
Waste prevention means creating less waste by buying and using less, using reusable items, and sharing or donating items so others can use them. When we prevent waste, we help the environment, protect public health, build community, and save money.
Funding:
- We have a total fund of $200,000 to award for each two-year grant cycle
- Grant requests may range from $3,000 to $40,000 per project
- There is a 25% match requirement. Examples: $40,000 grant + $10,000 match = $50,000 total project budget.
- Grant awards are paid on a reimbursement basis. Award recipients may request up to 20% of the total grant award in advance to support project start-up costs.
Learn about projects we funded in past grant cycles.
Tentative Schedule
Application Period Open: Starting January 2025
Applications Due: March 2025
Notice of Decisions: May 2025
Agreements with the City signed: July 2025
Work Completed & Invoiced: By June 30, 2027
Who should apply
- Businesses
- Nonprofits
- Community & neighborhood groups
- Schools, colleges & universities
- Institutions (such as health care or housing)
- Faith-based organizations
- Youth and children's programs
What we fund
1. Activities must increase waste prevention. We do not fund projects focused on recycling, off-site composting, or litter clean-up.
2. Activities must take place within Seattle city limits or have a direct impact on waste in Seattle.
3. Activities must advance one or more of the following priorities:
- Innovation: Test or expand new approaches or technologies, or bring new waste prevention opportunities to Seattle
- Expand Equitable Access and Participation: Effectively engage historically and currently excluded communities in waste prevention activities. Examples of priority communities include Indigenous peoples, African Americans, immigrants, refugees, low-income, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA2+, seniors, young adults, youth, children, and/or small businesses.
- Increase Equitable Community Benefits: Increase waste prevention benefits available to historically and currently excluded communities, such as providing free or low-cost resources or job training for people experiencing homelessness or food insecurity