Empowering Community Safety
The Community Reinvestment Program is a Washington State Department of Commerce investment that places violence prevention funding directly into the hands of the communities closest to the work. As the Regional Intermediary for Pierce County, the EdCollaborative proudly stewards this funding on behalf of the community.
Grant Eligibility & Structure
- Program service area must serve Pierce County youth. Organization does not need to be physically located in Pierce County.
- For-profit or nonprofit organization with adequate certificates of insurance that meet EdCollaborative policy minimums.
- Must participate for the full length of the grant, which includes milestone, convening, and reporting expectations.
- This is a reimbursable grant where grantees meet agreed deliverables, provide documentation of expenses incurred, and receive payment within 30 business days of an approved submission.
- Funding is released in milestone-based tiers as deliverables are met, supporting steady cash flow across the grant term.
- All grantees are expected to meet with the Local Advisory Team for short, rapid updates on programming, progress, and outcomes tied to their reporting.
Grant Cycle Timeline
Open
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Reporting
Applications open
Applications open July 20 through an open, low barrier process, so organizations can apply with confidence.
Awards announced
Funding decisions come in three rolling rounds, in October, November, and December, so support reaches organizations sooner.
Grant term and reporting
Awarded organizations do the direct work with young people and families, with final reporting due May 15, 2027 at the close of the grant period.
Frequently Asked Questions
This funding is built for the organizations closest to the community, with a focus on small, grassroots, and by-and-for organizations led by and serving Black, Latino, Native American, Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Pierce County. Your program's service area must be Pierce County, and your work must serve Pierce County youth, though your organization does not need to be physically located here. You do not need to be a large entity or have a dedicated grant-writing team. If you are doing the work of safety, mentorship, and healing, we want to hear from you.
No. Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations may apply, provided you carry certificates of insurance that meet our policy minimums.
Applications open on July 20. We review applications on a rolling basis and announce awards in rounds between September and November. Applying earlier means these resources reach your organization and the young people you serve sooner.
The grant period spans the state's 2025 to 2027 biennium, with final reporting due on May 15, 2027. Applicants must be ready to participate for the full length of the grant, including all milestone, convening, and reporting expectations.
Yes. Every applicant can request their evaluation feedback, whether or not they receive an award. We encourage it. The feedback is meant to strengthen future applications, here and elsewhere.
To request yours, email info@theedcollaborative.org.
Approximately $700,000 is available to be distributed to Pierce County organizations through this program.
The application does not ask for a specific amount. For applications that move past the first review, we discuss the level of support your program needs to succeed. Demand across Pierce County is high and the funding is limited, so our aim through negotiation is to support as many organizations as possible in sustaining or scaling their work.
Deliverables and milestones describe the same thing. During the negotiation phase we work with you to determine what constitutes a deliverable for your program, and that becomes your formal funding agreement.
Convenings are virtual listening and learning sessions held with the Department of Commerce. Grantees share progress and impact and take part in Q&A. These sessions help all of us understand what it takes to sustain programming that keeps young people safe.
This is a reimbursable grant, meaning you meet your agreed-upon deliverables, provide documentation of incurred expenses, and receive payment within 30 business days of an approved submission. To ease operational cash flow, funding is released in milestone-based tiers. This ensures payments arrive steadily across the grant term as deliverables are met, rather than all at the end.
No, the Washington State Department of Commerce is the funder through the Community Reinvestment Program. Pierce County is one of twelve regions taking part across the state. The EdCollaborative serves as the Regional Intermediary, meaning we steward these funds on behalf of the community, bring partners together, and run a fair process to move resources to the organizations doing the work.
The Pierce County Local Advisory Team is a group of community-rooted leaders who bring lived experience and local knowledge to this process. They shape what we fund and recommend where resources go, ensuring decisions reflect the priorities of the community itself. Their role is real, and we are accountable to it. Members are compensated for their time and expertise, reflecting our commitment to equitable investment.
The Pierce County Local Advisory Team includes the following community leaders.
- Carrie Pearce (she/they). Chief Operating Officer, Impact 907.
- Sophia Thomas (she/her). Community advocate, parent, and legal empowerment professional.
- Jessica Griffiths (she/her). Director of Scholar Experience, Palmer Scholars.
- Nekaycha Cavil (she/her). Systems architect, equity designer, and founder of Connected Haven Consulting.
- Dr. Tatiana E. Bustos (she/her). Researcher working at the intersection of housing, health, and economic mobility.
- Dr. Jmarie Johnson-Kola (she/her). Founder of Unity Infusion and the Unity Spark Project, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
- Kelli Robinson (she/her). Executive Director, Our Sisters' House.
- Megan Clark (she/her). Community connector focused on family engagement and youth opportunity.
- Ashleigh Shoecraft (she/her). Grant writer, strategist, and nonprofit leader.
- Tiarra Fentress (she/her). Trauma-informed behavioral health professional.
- Ahndrea Blue (she/her). President and CEO of Pinnacle Equities Investments, and founder and CEO of the Making a Difference Foundation.
The EdCollaborative is the new name for the Foundation for Tacoma Students, reflecting an expanded, regional, systems-level mission across Pierce County. Because this transition is recent, some Commerce records and contract documents still carry the former name. You may see both names used concurrently during this period.