SVP Seattle’s Engage Cohort, pictured above, worked over the past six months to learn about with and alongside others to reimagine philanthropy in support of racial equity in education.
The Opportunity
We are seeking one local organization in King County that centers youth in decision-making and prioritizes youth leadership development to join us in a collaborative funding and learning partnership.
The selected organization will receive:
A one-time, unrestricted $25,000 grant for a program/project/or organization that centers youth in decision-making and prioritizes youth leadership development
Capacity-building support for a project, co-designed with your board of directors
Opportunities to amplify your work and connect with SVP Seattle’s community for one year
About SVP Seattle
Social Venture Partners Seattle (SVP) is a cross-race, cross-class, cross-cultural community that gives, volunteers, learns, and acts together to create a just and equitable King County. Through capacity building and grantmaking, we partner with BIPOC-led and -serving nonprofits that are leading the way toward community-driven change.
Over the past two decades, we’ve engaged more than 2,000 people in collective action, contributed over 10,000 volunteer hours to more than 150 nonprofit organizations, and granted more than $18 million to community-based groups across King County.
About the Engage Cohort
The Engage Cohort is one way we live out this mission—by learning with and alongside others to reimagine philanthropy in support of racial equity in education.
In late 2024, SVP Seattle launched the Engage Cohort to explore how philanthropy can support racial equity in education. Over the past seven months, the cohort—made up of nonprofit leaders, youth advocates, and professionals from across sectors—has been learning together, guided by the Liberatory Design for Equity process co-facilitated by Maile Hadley, an SVP Partner and education equity leader.
As a culmination of this learning, the cohort is seeking to partner with one local organization in King County that centers youth in decision making and prioritizes youth leadership development. We believe youth leadership is essential to advancing racial equity in education and shifting power toward those most impacted by injustice.
Is my organization a good fit to apply?
Your organization could be a good fit if you:
- Serves learners in the K-12 grade range
- Are located in and serve communities in King County
- Share SVP Seattle’s values and are interested in partnering with us
- Are a 501(c)(3) or fiscally-sponsored organization
- Focus on serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities
- Have a paid staff member who can serve as the main point of contact with SVP Seattle for the grant application, and throughout the partnership
- Have a board of directors or advisory group willing to collaborate on a capacity-building project with SVP Seattle.*
Funding Focus
We are prioritizing projects that center youth in decision-making and prioritizes youth leadership development.
How to Apply
Complete the application by July 8 at 5 PM PT.
Timeline
June 6th: Call for Partnership Announced
July 8th at 5 pm PT: Applications due
July 28th to August 1: Finalists Interviews (virtual)
August 9: Partner notified
September 1st: Funds Distributed to Awardee
What to Know Before You Apply
Yes. If you’ve previously received funding from SVP Seattle, you’re still welcome—and encouraged—to apply.
This is an unrestricted grant. If you’re applying on behalf of a program within a larger nonprofit, we ask that the funding be directed toward that program’s work—so that it aligns with the vision and outcomes you describe in your application.
The Engage Cohort—made up of community members, nonprofit leaders, and SVP Partners—will review applications, conduct interviews, and select the award recipient.
Up to four finalists will be invited to interview with members of the Engage Cohort. To honor the time and insight shared, each finalist not selected for the grant will receive a $500 honorarium.
We aim to build a partnership rooted in trust, mutual respect, and shared learning. If selected, your organization will receive a Grant Offer Letter from SVP Seattle and have 21 days to sign and return it to us.
- The full $25,000 grant will be issued within 14 days of receiving the signed agreement.
- The funding is unrestricted. If your application focused on a specific program, we ask that the grant support that work to honor your community commitments
- This grant includes a collaborative capacity-building project with your board of directors or advisory group.
- Projects are designed in partnership with SVP and may include:
- A workshop on equity-centered governance
- A strategy session on fundraising or storytelling
- Development of onboarding materials aligned with your values
- Support to deepen board engagement in your mission
These projects are designed to support your board or advisory group and are tailored to your priorities. Examples include:
- Strategic planning sessions to align your board’s vision and goals with community needs
- Equity-centered governance workshops that shift board culture toward justice and inclusion
- Fundraising strategy sessions focused on donor engagement and shared responsibility
- Support developing onboarding materials that reflect your values and partnerships
- Storytelling coaching to help your board authentically share your organization’s impact
Yes! We’re excited to collaborate with your staff, board, and volunteers on more than one project if it aligns with your goals and capacity. We’ll co-design each engagement based on what’s most useful to your organization.
Nonprofit staff often share that their boards could benefit from additional support in areas like fundraising, strategic planning, governance, and racial equity. We’ve designed this partnership to help strengthen your board’s leadership in alignment with your mission and community goals.
- We don’t require formal grant reports. Instead, we ask for your partnership in sharing your story with our broader community:
- Attend and speak at the partnership announcement event
- Provide a short quote for the press release
- Share a highlight for a blog post on our website
- Speak at up to two SVP events (with a $250 stipend per event)
- Provide a quote or update for our Annual Report
- Join quarterly check-in calls with the SVP team
Questions
If you have questions, please reach out to SVP Seattle at info@svpseattle.org.
