This request is open to nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations and public or governmental agencies with established food banks serving communities in King County. Partnerships, collaboratives, small nonprofits and community-based organizations are encouraged to submit proposals.

Eligible applicants must meet all of the following qualifications:      

1. Be an established food bank, or operate an established, ongoing food bank program. For the purposes of this RFP, congregate meal programs or congregate nutrition services fall outside the definition of a food bank.
2. Have a dedicated space where food bank clients can comfortably and discreetly be assisted with services or have the ability, with this funding, to create or make available such a space. Have a plan in place for administration of services during COVID-19.
3. Currently serve vulnerable populations and/or rural food bank participants.
4. Have extensive knowledge or be willing and able to develop extensive knowledge of available regional health and human services and resources.
5. Be aware of or be willing to learn about VSHSL funded programs and services, including but not limited to, King County Veterans Program, VSHSL-funded behavioral health crisis prevention programs and VSHSL-funded senior centers.

Successful applicants will demonstrate all of the following:

Culturally and linguistically competent (or ability to become culturally and linguistically competent) to serve priority populations, which must include racial and ethnic minority populations who reside in the rural service area, including individuals for whom English is not their first, primary or language of fluency; older adults; veterans, servicemembers and their families; persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

1. If not already serving these priority populations, agencies should develop a plan for how they will conduct outreach to and provide services to these populations. To ensure their program is accessible to individuals with disabilities as well as to individuals for whom English is not their primary language, agencies should have a plan for how they will ensure access, including assess which languages are most appropriate to prioritize.

Please submit your proposal via ZoomGrants.

Complete proposal packages will include the following:

• Responses to summary questions (Summary Questions tabs of ZoomGrants)
• A completed geographic service intent form (Uploaded to the Required Documents section of ZoomGrants)
• Responses to narrative questions (Narrative Questions tab of ZoomGrants)
• An estimated 5-month ramp-up and annual budget covering proposed goals, activities and outcomes (Uploaded to the Required Documents section of ZoomGrants)
• A completed organizational equity chart (Organizational Equity Chart tab of ZoomGrants)