Overview
Thanks to the support and confidence of our beloved community, Skyway Coalition was awarded King County Participatory Budget funds to create the Youth Sparks Grant Project.
The Youth Sparks Grant Project is youth-centered and youth-inspired. Over 100 young people provided their input on how they wanted the money used, and they decided to highlight and uplift as many Skyway-serving grassroots youth organizations as possible. Their equity-centered vision informed all aspects of this innovative grant opportunity.
The goal of the Youth Sparks Grant Project is to strengthen local youth organizations' efforts that uplift and empower youth in Skyway. Awards are available for projects that have happened, or will happen, between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026. Some examples of projects, but not limited to:
Youth leadership or mentorship
Arts, sports, or cultural programming
Mental health and wellness
Civic engagement or advocacy
Educational support or skill-building
We leave room for other categories and encourage applicants to be creative in how they empower and uplift youth in Skyway.
Who’s Eligible
To participate in this grant, your organization must meet the following requirements:
Be a grassroots or community-based organization.
Serve youth (ages 5 through 24) within the Skyway area.
Based in or have strong ties to the Skyway community.
Projects must be community-centered and youth-focused.
Funding Details
Total funding available: $175,000
Number of grants: seven
Grant amount: $25,000 per project
Primary focus area: Uplifting youth (ages 5 through 24) in the Skyway community
Use of awards: Program/project costs, materials, stipends, events, etc. Awards cannot be used for lobbying, political campaigns, or general operating costs not tied to the project
Grant period: Awards will be considered for projects that have happened, or will happen, between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026
Timeline
This is the approximate timeline we’re aiming for in this grant process.
RFP release date: (October 10, 2025)
Online info session one: (October 20, 2025)
Walk-in info session two: (October 29, 2025)
Last day to contact us for free translation services: (October 31, 2025)
Application deadline: (November 7, 2025)
First round panel review: (November 10 - November 13, 2025)
Finalists notified to send a budget sheet: (November 17, 2025)
Finalists will be required to submit a budget sheet: (by November 20, 2025)
Second round panel review: (November 24 - 26, 2025)
Applicants notified of status: (by December 1, 2025)
Awardees shared publicly: (by December 5, 2025)
Q&A
Can I submit my application in a language other than English?
Unfortunately, no. We cannot accept applications in any language other than English, but free translation services are available. Please reach out to us by October 31, 2025, if you need translation services.
Do I need to be a registered nonprofit to apply?
No. You do not need to be a 501(c)(3). Grassroots groups, informal collaborations, and organizations with a fiscal sponsor are all welcome to apply.
Can I apply if I’m based outside of Skyway?
Yes. As long as your project directly serves youth in the Skyway community and your team has strong, demonstrated ties to the area.
I’m an individual who’s not affiliated with an organization. Can I apply for this grant?
No. This grant is specifically intended for Skyway-serving grassroots youth organizations.
Can we apply as a partnership or collective?
Yes. Groups working together (example, a youth-led org collaborating with an adult org, etc.) can submit one joint application. Just make sure one organization takes the lead and, if needed, has a fiscal sponsor.
We’re steward/partner organizations of Skyway Coalition, or we work closely with Skyway Coalition. Can we apply?
Yes! This grant is open to Skyway steward/partner orgs and other community-based organizations that serve Skyway youth. We have taken due diligence to ensure that the writing and development of this grant does not create conflicts of interest.
Can we submit more than one application?
No. We kindly request that each organization or group submit only one application to ensure the awards are distributed across the community.
Will late applications be accepted?
Unfortunately, no. The deadline is November 7, 2025, and late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances. Please give yourself plenty of time to submit the application before the deadline.
Can youth lead the project?
Absolutely! We strongly encourage youth-led or youth-co-designed projects. Just make sure there's an adult or fiscal sponsor to handle fund disbursement and reporting, if needed.
What kinds of expenses are eligible?
You can use the Youth Sparks Grant Project for expenses such as supplies, stipends, materials, food, event costs, rentals, and other program-related costs. Funds cannot be used for general organizational operating costs, political campaigning, or lobbying.
Do I need to provide a budget sheet for the application?
To reduce barriers to application, we are not accepting project budget sheets at this stage in the application process. If selected as a finalist, we will provide a budget template and collect budget sheet information at that time.
I recently completed a project that would be a perfect fit for this grant. Can I apply retroactively?
Yes! We’ll consider applicable projects that have taken place or will take place between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2026.
How will applications be reviewed?
Applications will be reviewed by a panel of Skyway representatives. Members of the review panel are not eligible to apply for the Youth Sparks Grant Project.
Can I save my application and return to it later?
There is no option to save this application form and come back later to where you left off. If you need more time, consider copying the application questions into a separate document and working on them outside of the form. When you are ready to submit, copy and paste your answers into the application form.
Who’s hosting this grant?
Skyway Coalition is hosting the grant. Skyway Coalition is a community-centered nonprofit organization committed to uplifting the Skyway community through the core programs of advocacy, economic growth, and affordable housing.
Need Help with Your Application?
If your question isn’t answered in our Q&A, please attend one of our info sessions or contact us via email.
Online Info Session One
Location: Zoom
Date: October 20, 2025
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 PM
RSVP: Here
In-person Walk-in Info Session Two
Location: In person at Skyway Resource Center, 2610 76th Ave S., Seattle, WA, 98178
Date: October 29, 2025
Time: 4:00 - 5:00 PM
RSVP: Please send an email to contact@skywaycoalition.org to let us know you plan to attend this in-person session.
Questions:
Do you have a question not answered in our Q&A? Please email us with your questions at contact@skywaycoalition.org.
How to Apply
All applications must be submitted through our online form. Please give yourself plenty of time before the deadline to submit your application. Late submissions will not be accepted.