2024-25 Funding Round Overview

Thanks to voter approval of the Portland Children’s Levy (PCL) renewal in 2023, we’re offering a competitive funding process in 2024-25 for large grants.

This overview webpage provides general information. Please review the other webpages linked to below for detailed information on eligibility, grant applications and more.

PCL funds programs for children and families in six program areas, as approved by voters: after school, child abuse prevention and intervention, early childhood, foster care, hunger relief and mentoring. Programs serve children and families living in or going to school in the City of Portland boundaries. (See a map with zip codes and a map with detailed street and school locations for reference.) We provide multiyear funding to support high-impact programs that focus on serving Black/African American, Indigenous, and children and families of color, children with disabilities, youth who identify as LGBTQ2SIA+, immigrant and refugee children and families, families earning low incomes, and children and families who reside in East Portland or North Portland. Learn more

Ahead of the funding round, PCL worked with Camille Trummer LLC and PKS International Community Engagement Liaisons to engage community members most affected by Levy investments. More than 750 people participated in surveys in more than 26 languages, focus groups and interviews. Their input along with feedback from PCL’s Community Council and Allocation Committee helped shape the priorities and program area strategies for the 2024-25 funding round. Learn more

Registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local education agencies, community colleges and universities providing direct services are eligible to apply. Organizations must have annual revenues in their last closed fiscal year of at least $750,000 and serve children who live or go to school in the City of Portland and/or their parents/caregivers. Learn more

Applications must be submitted in WebGrants, the City of Portland’s online grant management system. Applicants must register as users in WebGrants by Monday, Oct. 21, 2024 to access the application. Learn more

Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. The review process lasts several months, with the Allocation Committee scheduled to make recommendations in spring 2025. Funding for new grants will begin July 1, 2025 and run for three years through June 30, 2028. Learn more

Application questions for each of the six program areas vary slightly. All applications have five parts that cover eligibility; program information; service activities; the budget requested; and a narrative section. Questions cover a range of topics, including approaches to racial equity, cultural responsiveness, inclusivity for children with disabilities; program model information; and expected program outcomes. Organizations will be required to submit their budgets for the current and previous fiscal years and the most recent audited financial statements if the organization is audited. Learn more

Portland Children’s Levy works hard to make the application process as transparent and accessible as possible, and we encourage you to reach out with any questions or requests for assistance or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations. We offered information sessions in September and will regularly update a Q&A with questions received. To submit questions or request ADA accommodations, please email info@portlandchildrenslevy.org.

Funding Priorities

Eligibility & Requirements

Application Timeline

Grant Applications

Review & Scoring

Info Sessions and Q&A

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