The 2024-25 Foster Care Grant from the Portland Children’s Levy (PCL) aims to enhance the well-being and development of children and youth in foster care. Funding amounts between $7.5 million and $8.2 million are available for services delivered over a 36-month period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. Grant requests must range from $300,000 to a maximum of $2.5 million, and applicants should ensure that the requested funding does not exceed 30% of the organization's annual revenue for the last fiscal year. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, educational institutions, or partnerships led by a designated fiscal agent.

Programs seeking funding must address one or more key priorities identified through community engagement, including support for older foster youth in accessing education or employment, helping youth understand their cultural identity, facilitating reunification with birth families, providing support to foster parents of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth, assisting with navigating mental health services, and mentoring. Special consideration is given to programs that emphasize long-term relationships, culturally responsive practices, and support for social-emotional development.

Grant applications are due by November 4, 2024, with a mandatory registration on the WebGrants platform by October 21, 2024. Applications should include a detailed narrative on organizational purpose, program design, and budget justification, along with additional materials such as current and previous fiscal year budgets and the latest audited financial statement. Organizations that do not undergo annual audits will be required to budget for an audit by September 30, 2026, with PCL reimbursing up to $15,000 of the cost.

Applications will be evaluated based on criteria such as alignment with community needs, equitable outcomes, staffing plans, and accessibility. Review panels of volunteers will score submissions, and top proposals will be reviewed by the PCL Community Council and Allocation Committee, with final recommendations made to the Portland City Council in mid-2025. The funding process includes opportunities for applicants to respond to recommendations, though lobbying committee members during the decision period is prohibited.

Pre-application workshops will be held on September 19 and 24, 2024, to assist prospective applicants. Successful programs must comply with City of Portland regulations on equity, insurance, and fiscal accountability while prioritizing services that address the unique needs of foster children and families in Portland.