Alan M. Painter Grant Program

2025 Grant Awards

More than 50 projects and programs across all unincorporated King County are receiving a total of $90,000 in Alan M. Painter grants in 2025.

The Alan M. Painter grants support projects and investments that promote inclusivity and enhance all communities, regardless of race, income, or language spoken.

This popular program honors Alan M. Painter, the founding director of King County’s Community Service Area program and a long-time public servant who worked for the City of Seattle before joining King County, where he served communities across the county.

Since the program began, King County has awarded more than $1 million in grant money to community organizations.

See the list of 2025 awards

Goals

Alan Painter Grants support community projects that advance the King County Strategic Plan and achieve at least one of the goals listed below.

• 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-related 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

Some example project types

• Community enhancement projects, such as removing graffiti removal or neighborhood clean-up
• 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, such as concerts, festivals, education, and/or safety events

Match

A minimum match of 25% of the total project cost is required. Match can be in the form of volunteer time, cash or other forms of in-kind services and other resources from project partners and contributors.

Who can apply?

• Locally based, community led organizations in King County’s unincorporated Community Service Areas
• Organizations that are based in a city but serve unincorporated area residents and/or encourage collaborations and partnerships in unincorporated King County