The Social Services Grant Program is an annual funding opportunity provided through a competitive grant process to support nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and organizations with a fiscal sponsor that serve the Tigard, Oregon community. These funds are designed to align with the City of Tigard’s vision of creating an equitable, walkable, healthy, and accessible community for all residents.

The funding priorities for the grant program are determined by the budget committee, with input from the City Council. The 2025 grant cycle focuses on initiatives that address housing and houselessness, affordable after-school and educational programming, healthcare access, hunger relief, and immigrant and refugee resources. The grant does not fund internal school programs, fundraising events, or rental assistance.

Applicants must propose programs that fit at least one of the following funding priorities:

Housing / Houselessness – Services such as shelters, eviction prevention, tenant education, and street outreach.
Affordable Afterschool / Educational Programming – Childcare, academic support, leadership development, and college/vocational preparation.
Healthcare – Affordable access to medical/dental care, mental health support, substance abuse recovery, and coordinated care.
Hunger Relief – Food pantries, nutrition education, community gardens, and food distribution services.
Immigrant & Refugee Resources – Social service navigation, resettlement assistance, ELL (English Language Learner) education, and culturally specific services.
Applicants must meet minimum eligibility requirements, including being a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a governmental agency, or an organization with a fiscal sponsor. Required documentation includes a tax-exempt letter, an annual budget, a program-specific budget, financial reports, and a demonstration of community need. Applicants must also be willing to present their application to the budget committee and, if awarded $10,000 or more, provide a progress report and presentation to the City Council on the use of funds.

The maximum award for any single organization is $40,000, though funding allocation is determined using a weighted scoring rubric. Applicants are evaluated on their alignment with funding priorities, community impact, equity considerations, organizational competency, and fiscal responsibility. Applications are scored on a 1 to 5 scale, with funding awarded based on an adjusted formula that considers total available funds and applicant rankings.

The grant application period runs from January 1, 2025, to February 15, 2025. Informational sessions will be held in mid-January, and applicant presentations will take place in March. The budget committee will review applications in April-May, with final awards confirmed in June when the City Council adopts the budget. Funds become available starting July 1, 2025, and grant recipients must submit a progress report six months after receiving funds.

For more details, applicants can visit the City of Tigard’s Social Services Grant webpage.