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Alan M. Painter Grants
- The Alan M. Painter grants provide funding for Unincorporated King County organizations. The organizations use the funding to host events for their local community.
- We are now accepting applications for the 2027 Alan M. Painter Grants.
- A total of $90,000 of funding is available.
- The funding period for the grants are between March and November 2027.
- Application deadline: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, by 11:59 p.m. PST.
On this page
Program Goals
Alan M. Painter Grants will support projects that advance the King County Strategic Plan and achieve at least one of the following goals:
- Promote the engagement of unincorporated area residents in community or civic activities
- Educate local residents about issues that affect them Identify and gather community needs and priorities
- Carry out a community enhancement project
- Provide a safe and healthy environment in the unincorporated area during extreme weather events
- Meet King County's equity and social justice goals of increasing fairness and opportunity for all people, particularly people of color and those with low incomes and/or limited English
Funding Information
- A total of $90,000 will be reimbursed for projects in 2027.
- A minimum match of 25% of the total project cost is required. This match can be in the form of volunteer time, cash, or other forms of in-kind services and/or other resources from project partners and contributors.
- Funding for projects will begin in March 2027.
- All funded projects must be finished by November 2027.
- The King County Department of Local Services will provide funds to selected projects through a Letter of Award and Memorandum of Agreement.
- Amounts will be limited to less than $5,000 per project. A complete list of selected projects is posted on this website after funding decisions have been made.
Who can apply?
- Locally based, community-led organizations in King County's unincorporated community service areas (If your organization is not incorporated, such as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, you must designate a fiscal sponsor that is incorporated. We encourage partnership with local nonprofits).
- Organizations that are based in a city but serve unincorporated area residents and/or encourage collaboration and partnership in unincorporated King County.
Unsure if your organization located in an unincorporated service area? Use our unincorporated King County Zone Lookup tool.
What type of projects are eligible for grant funding?
- Community enhancement projects (e.g., graffiti removal or neighborhood cleanup)
- Community-led planning or training on King County government operations and programs
- Opportunities for involvement with King County programs or community priorities
- Neighborhood or community signs
- Community events like concerts, festivals, and education and/or safety events
What cannot be paid for through grant funding?
- Political activity
- Gift cards
- An organization’s general insurance policy (Event specific insurance is allowed)
- Infrastructure or ongoing operational costs of locally funded governmental organizations, except where the organization is seeking grant funding to support one or more one-time volunteer events
Note: King County reserves the right to determine the nature and manner in which costs and items will be paid for in any grant.
Do you have any questions about the grant?
Please submit your questions via email at asklocalservices@kingcounty.gov.
- We will post the questions and answers every Friday by 5 p.m. in this section. The last day that we will post questions is Friday, November 6, 2026.
- The deadline to submit questions is Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 5 p.m.
Questions added Friday, October 16, 2026
Yes, you would be eligible.
However, regardless of the physical location of the event, it would need to be clear in the application that residents from the unincorporated area is the target audience for the event. For an organization that is based in a city, coordination and/or partnership with an organization that does serve the unincorporated area and showing targeted marketing or advertising of the event in the targeted unincorporated area(s) typically demonstrates this.
Yes, you would be eligible.
However, regardless of the physical location of the event, it would need to be clear in the application that residents from the unincorporated area is the target audience for the event. For an organization that is based in a city, coordination and/or partnership with an organization that does serve the unincorporated area and showing targeted marketing or advertising of the event in the targeted unincorporated area(s) typically demonstrates this.
The Application Form posted from October 6 through October 15 was missing the entry field for the legal tax status, Community Service Area, and Council District to be added.
An updated application form has been added to the web page and can be downloaded as of 3pm on 10/16. If you have an older form, please download the new version of the application form.
There is no requirement to have ongoing activities serving unincorporated area residents. However, funds from this grant program can only be used for the events, projects, or programs that serve unincorporated area residents.
Funds cannot be used to support an organizations general operations or programming that is not serving unincorporated area residents.
Ready to apply?
The deadline to apply will be Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PST.
2027 Alan M. Painter Grant Program 2027 Community Engagement Grant application
Alan M. Painter Grant Program 2027 Community Engagement Grant Information (PDF)
Additional resources
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Alan M. Painter Grant past recipients - Lists previous awardees from 2018-26, detailing the organizations, project descriptions, awarded amounts, community service areas, and council districts.