Youth Leadership and Cultural Education
Request for Investment
The deadline to apply for this funding opportunity closed on May 16, 2022 at 3:00 pm.
As part of DEEL's 2022 budget allocation supporting recommendations from the Equitable Communities Initiative, DEEL’s Youth Leadership and Cultural Education RFI will invest up to $1.5 million in community-based leadership and cultural education opportunities to improve academic outcomes for historically underserved youth of color, immigrant and refugee youth disproportionately affected by systemic inequities.
*Grant Process Update:
On May 6, DEEL amended the RFI application to more clearly state that programs serving youth ages 5-24 are eligible for funding, including elementary-age programming. Amendments to eligibility criteria are outlined in the RFI overview document.
Who can apply and for how much money:
Community-based organizations and sole-proprietors serving historically underserved youth of color ages 5-24, including immigrant and refugee youth, are invited to apply for this grant. DEEL will award up to $150,000 per awardee.
View page 2 of the RFI Overview document for more details regarding applicant eligiblity for this grant.
Types of programs that can be funded:
This grant will fund programs to improve academic outcomes for Black, Indigenous, immigrant and refugee youth of color through one or more of the following areas:
- Identity & belonging: Youth are provided culturally-relevant education and supportive, identity-affirming relationships with peers and adults.
- Learning & agency: Youth gain leadership skills including critical thinking analysis, strategy development, and systems-level thinking.
- Social-emotional well-being: Youth have access to identity-affirming safe spaces and opportunities to increase social-emotional skills including self-advocacy, self-efficacy, and self- and social awareness.
View page 4 of the RFI Overview document to learn more about the types of services may be approved for funding.
How will applicants be selected?
Funding will be awarded through a competitive process managed by DEEL. Applications will be evaluated using specific criteria outlined in the application and a review panel will make recommendations.
View page 7 of the RFI Overview document to learn more about the evaluation criteria for this funding opportunity.
Timeline:
Eligible applicants will submit a grant application online no later than 3:00 pm on Monday May 16, 2022. DEEL will notify successful applicants by Friday June 17, 2022.
Event: | Date and Time: |
Request for Investment (RFI) application issued | Monday, April 25, 2022 |
RFI Information Session (prerecorded webinar) | Will be posted by 4:00 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 |
Technical Assistance Session I: This meeting will be hosted virtually via Microsoft Teams. |
Wednesday, May 4, 2022, 2:30 - 4:00 pm Click link to join meeting. |
Technical Assistance Session II: This meeting will be hosted virtually via Microsoft Teams. |
Tuesday, May 10, 2022, 2:30 - 4:00 pm Click link to join meeting. |
Last day to submit questions | Wednesday, May 11, by 4:00 pm |
RFI Applications Due | Monday, May 16, 2022 by 3:00pm |
Applications Reviewed and Rated | May 20 – June 3, 2022 |
Review Panel Deliberations | June 6 – June 8, 2022 |
Notifications issued to applicants | Friday, June 17, 2022 |
How to Apply:
For your reference, please find the full RFI Overview document linked below.
RFI Overview Document | Click to access in PDF format |
Each of the following forms are required as part of your application for funding. Please be sure to complete each of the following:
Application Submission Template | Click to Access in Word or PDF format |
Registration Form | Click to access form |
Budget Submission Template | Click to download the Excel sheet |
Please click the links below to view additional information and resources to support you with your application.
Pre-Recorded Information Session | Click link to view video on Youtube |
Information Session Slides | Click to access slides in PDF format |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): | Updated May 12, 2022 |
How to submit your application:
Email your application to DEELFunding@seattle.gov. Please use the following naming convention in the subject line of your email and for the electronic files attached: “[Organization Name] - Cultural Education RFI”.
How to ask questions:
For questions regarding the application process or language interpretation requests, please contact: DEELFunding@seattle.gov with "Question _ Cultural Education RFI" in the subject line.