Pierce County Expanded Learning Opportunity Fund

This funding opportunity is open to a variety of program providers, including: nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations/programs, colleges and universities, municipal agencies, businesses, and sole proprietorships. Community-based providers who are reflective of and embedded in the communities they serve will be a particular focus for the ELO fund.

ELO Fund awards will only be made to organizations based in, or serving, children and youth in Pierce County. Funding may be used for any purpose associated with the implementation of a specific ELO program for which there is a clear and actionable budget and plan for implementation during the summer or school year of 2023. Both new and existing ELO programs are eligible for funding. 

Only one application will be accepted per program or organization. The only exception will be for a youth development organization which also serves as a fiscal agent for another program/organization. In those cases, each may submit an application.

Pierce County is partnering with the Foundation for Tacoma Students (FFTS) to administer $575,000 in funding. We anticipate that award sizes will range in size from $5,000 to $50,000. We will disburse funds in a single, up-front payment

The deadline to apply for funding is Monday, May 8, 2023 at 11:59pm.

Funding decisions will be based on how much and to what extent youth-serving programs and organizations address three funding criteria areas:

1. Programs that engage youth in priority populations (40%):
   • BIPOC youth
   • Youth in poverty
2. Programs prioritizing academic learning or social-emotional learning (30%). Please see Programmatic Focus for more information. Examples of program types could include:
   • A program that provide high quality academic tutoring
   • A program that hosts events/workshops that provide academic support for students
   • A program that provides a summer academic program for students
   • A program that provides culturally specific programming
   • A program that provides art opportunities
   • A program that hosts youth mental health support groups
   • A youth-led and operated community service project
   • A sports or recreation program
3. Programs that have a clear, realistic and actionable budget and implementation plan (30%)
   • A realistic budget that aligns with program activities 
   • A clearly expected program size
   • An established timeline
   • Defined locations/facilities
   • A staffing plan, and/or evidence of existing staff capacity
   • A plan for program frequency and duration
   • A plan for defining success