2023 Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant

This funding opportunity closed in June 2023. View the announcement for the 2024 grants on DEEL's blog, and click here to apply for the 2024 Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant RFP. 

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The Department of Education and Early Learning (DEEL) is requesting proposals from community-based organizations (CBOs) interested in providing services to improve health and educational outcomes for individuals in the prenatal-to-three years period through the City of Seattle Sweetened Beverage Tax (SBT).

The Prenatal to Three (PN-3) Community Grant investment strategy aims to support community-informed programs that reduce disparities in outcomes for pregnant individuals, infants and toddlers, and their families that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Community-informed proposals that address obstacles contributing to these disparities include providing families access to critical resources and services, supporting healthy and equitable births, increasing parental health and wellbeing, strengthening caregiver-child relationships, and supporting optimal child health and development.

Addressing these disparities will position families to best support the healthy growth and development of their infant and toddler-aged children, thereby improving kindergarten readiness. This funding is not intended to be used for services already funded by other public dollars.

Please note: Changes to the funding process and timeline may occur. DEEL will not provide individual notice of changes, and applicants are responsible for regularly checking this webpage for technical assistance information, updates, clarifications, or amendments.  

Who can apply and for how much money

Prospective grantees must meet the following minimum qualifications:

• Not-for-profit organizations (or fiscally sponsored by an organization) with 501(c)3 status (including community-based or faith-based organizations)

• Community organizations or collaborations that are not incorporated as a non-profit such as community collaboratives, coalitions and/or other affinity groups. Unincorporated entities must identify a fiscal sponsor that meets the requisite contracting requirements of the Department.

• Tribes and tribal organizations

• Ability to provide services to participants that reside within the City of Seattle limits at no cost (free for participants)

Approximately $1.4 million is available for this investment for 2023-2025. Eligible entities may submit one proposal requesting a maximum of $140,000 per year for a total of $280,000 over two years. SBT Prenatal-to-Three Community Grant awardees funded in previous years are eligible to apply.

Types of programs that can be funded

This grant will identify and fund the following types of programs:

• Projects that advance racial equity across core areas in support of the developmental continuum starting at pregnancy and ending at three years of age, including but not limited to prenatal services, healthcare, and caregiver supports.
• Proposals designed in partnership with priority communities

The PN-3 Community Grant RFP seeks proposals for four focus areas:

1. Healthy and Equitable Births
2. Parental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
3. Nurturing and Responsive Caregiving
4. Optimal Child Health and Development

DEEL is prioritizing funding for community-based organizations (CBOs) with missions to serve expecting parents, caregivers and/or guardians of children aged birth-to-three within the City of Seattle with a particular interest in reaching priority populations, defined as communities of color, immigrants, refugees, people with low income, and English language learners.

Projects that are not eligible for this funding opportunity include proposals that:

• Provide quality supports or subsidies for licensed child care
• Solely focus on supporting general operations of an organization
• Are without a central focus on prenatal-to-age-three
• Are focused on political lobbying

How applicants will be selected

Applicant organizations with the following characteristics will be prioritized for funding:

1. Projects that advance racial equity across core areas in support of the developmental continuum starting at pregnancy and ending at three years of age, including but not limited to prenatal services, healthcare, and caregiver supports.
2. Proposals designed in partnership with priority communities.

Each eligible grant proposal will be reviewed by a funding panel that will include members of the community, members from the Sweetened Beverage Tax Community Advisory Board and City staff. Proposals will be assessed through the lens of the priority criteria outlined in the RFP. The review panel will consider the proposals received and seek to fund a diverse range of project concepts and communities of focus.

Technical Assistance

DEEL is providing the opportunity for all proposers to receive direct technical assistance (TA) in developing their proposals from experienced community-based consultants, at no cost to them. Those interested in utilizing TA can reach out directly to any of the TA providers for assistance. The main purpose of this opportunity is to increase capacity for small organizations that may not have the resources to apply for government funding.

Technical assistance consultants can:

1. Assist in determining appropriate fit between your proposal and this funding opportunity.
2. Provide guidance on how best to answer questions.
3. Support your proposal development, including editing.
4. Support you in explaining your proposal in the most clear and concise way. However, technical assistance consultants are not grant writers.

Timeline

To be considered for funding, eligible applicants are invited to submit RFP applications by 3:00 pm Pacific Time on June 14, 2023. DEEL will notify successful applicants by July 10, 2023.

*Dates subject to change.

How to apply

Please click the link below to view the RFP Overview document, which will guide you through the application process.  

Each of the following forms are required as part of your application for funding. Please be sure to complete each of the following:  

Use the following links to access forms and additional information you will need to apply for this funding opportunity. 

How to submit your application:  

Email your application to DEELFunding@seattle.gov by June 14, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. Please use the following naming convention in the subject line of your email and for the electronic files attached: “[Organization Name] - PN-3 Community Grant.” 

How to submit questions 

To submit questions, please email DEELFunding@seattle.gov with "Question: PN-3 Community Grant" in the subject line. Responses will be published and linked in the table above.