Building Community Capacity for Equitable COVID-19 Recovery

Purpose

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is offering a one-time funding opportunity for community-rooted organizations serving communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Projects supported by this funding will improve equitable access, distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, health information, and prevention resources as well as community capacity building and mobilization to advance health equity by addressing the structural and social determinants of health amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. All projects must meaningfully center priority communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, lead with racial equity, and must address one or more priority intersections. A list of priority communities and intersections are detailed in the “Eligibility” section below.

Budget

There is $1,500,000 in total funding. Contracts will be between $5,000-$40,000.

Eligibility 

Funding is open to community-rooted, community-led, and community-based organizations that serve one or more priority communities and one or more priority intersections as listed below.

Priority Communities: 

• American Indians/Alaska Natives
• Black/African American  
• Hispanic/Latinx  
• African Diaspora  
• Asian 
• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 

Priority Intersections: 

• People living in rural communities
• People with disabilities 
• Religious minorities 
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people 
• People over 65 years old 
• People who are incarcerated 
• Immigrant/refugee communities 
• People with limited English proficiency 
• Agricultural workers 
• Unhoused people/people experiencing homelessness

Organizations encouraged to submit an interest form include but are not limited to: 

• Not-for-profit organizations, Urban Indian and/or tribal-related organizations, faith-based organizations, and organizations that have fiscal sponsorship 
• Rural health centers, community health centers, and federally qualified health centers 

We recognize that community-rooted and community-led organizations and groups are better positioned and equipped to listen, understand, and respond to the needs of their community members in the most culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate way. They are also better equipped to use a trauma-informed lens or approach to their interventions so as to not perpetuate further harm, fear, and distrust that may be exacerbated by governmental entities in times of extreme crisis, like a pandemic.

Estimated Schedule of Activities and Dates 

Contingent on funding availability, DOH may open a second funding round.

Interest Form Review Process

Submission of an interest form does not guarantee project funding. There may be more interest than funding available. A review process is established to provide transparency. The Center for Community Relations & Equity will review all interest forms to verify projects are responsive to funding priorities and community needs and for equity and geographic considerations. Submissions will also be reviewed by a committee of the Community Collaborative to ensure an equity and social justice lens is applied in the prioritization, planning, and decision making related to recovery efforts.

How to Submit an Interest Form

Complete the Interest Form Template and email a copy to Kylin Beeson, Equity and Social Justice Strategist at kylin.beeson@doh.wa.gov.  

Resources 

Please email your questions or requests for additional information to kylin.beeson@doh.wa.gov.