The 2024-25 Hunger Relief Grant, provided by the Portland Children’s Levy (PCL), aims to expand access to nutritious food for children and youth aged birth to 18 and their families in Portland. Funding of $9.4 to $11.3 million is available over a 36-month period, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. Grants must be between $300,000 and $2.5 million, ensuring the requested amount does not exceed 30% of the applicant organization's annual revenue for the most recent fiscal year. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, local education agencies, community colleges, universities, or consortiums led by a fiscal agent.

Programs must address one or more PCL priorities for hunger relief, which include providing food pantries at community locations or schools, delivering free groceries or meals to families, offering nutrition education classes, and enabling access to community gardens for food growing. Additional program features such as culturally specific foods, digital outreach, and prenatal nutrition support may enhance an application's evaluation.

Applicants are required to register on WebGrants by October 21, 2024, and submit their applications by November 4, 2024. The application package must include organizational details, program design, budget justification, and supplementary materials like organizational budgets and audit reports. Organizations without annual audits will need to budget for one by September 2026, with PCL reimbursing up to $15,000 for the audit costs.

Applications are evaluated by volunteer reviewers using criteria focused on organizational impact, program design, budget justification, and alignment with community needs and PCL’s equity goals. High-scoring proposals will be considered by the Community Council and Allocation Committee, with final funding decisions anticipated by May 2025, pending approval from the Portland City Council. Successful applicants will be expected to comply with city regulations on equity, fiscal management, and accountability while focusing on serving diverse and underserved communities.

PCL will hold pre-application information sessions on September 19 and 24, 2024, to assist potential applicants. The grant program emphasizes the importance of outreach, accessibility, and continuous improvement in service delivery to effectively address hunger in Portland’s communities.