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Fourth Plain for All Community Grant Program

Fourth Plain for All (FPFA) is a long-term investment strategy focused on uplifting the Fourth Plain Community through leadership, equity, and creative action. The FPFA grant program has the following main goals:  

There will be two rounds of funding for the FPFA Community Grant Program. 

The City cannot award grant funds to events or programs that have already happened. Please review the eligibility criteria and information below before applying.  

Fourth Plain Community Commons building showcasing vibrant community mural

Application

Applications for Round 1 of the 2025 FPFA Community Grant Program are now open. 

Apply Here

For questions or help filling out an application, please contact the FPFA Grant project team at EqDev@cityofvancouver.us. Interpretation and translation services will be provided for both the application and review process if needed. 

Eligibility

Groups working to support community-building within the FPFA project area (see map below) are eligible to apply. Eligible organizations include:  

  • Nonprofits  
  • Community-based organizations  
  • Neighborhood associations  
  • Clubs  
  • Parent-teacher groups such as PTA, PTO and PTSA Groups  
  • School affinity groups connected to VPS located within the project area 
  • Informal groups, partnerships or collaboratives  

The following organizations are not eligible to apply:  

  • Government agencies (including county agencies or special districts)  
  • For-profit businesses (unless the event is free and open to the public; no profits can be made from grant funding, unless all profits are donated to a student group connected to VPS in the project area) 
  • Political organizations  

How can funds be used?

Grant funds can be used to pay for:  

  • Materials, supplies or equipment used for an event, project or program  
  • Event rental fees  
  • Insurance policies  
  • Food or nonalcoholic beverages 
  • Professional services, such as translation, interpretation, facilitation, design, art, printing, advertising, etc.  
  • Fundraising events for school affinity groups connected to VPS located within the project area 
  • Athletic events 

Grant funds cannot be used to pay for:  

  • Purchase of real property or capital improvements 
  • Park amenities, such as benches, picnic tables or playground equipment 
  • Starting a new community garden in a City park or on City property 
  • Plantings in City parks 
  • Utility bills  
  • Salaries for staff  
  • Alcohol, marijuana or any illegal substances  
  • Political activities  
  • Fundraising events (unless for school affinity groups connected with VPS located within the project area) 
  • Events that cost money to attend  

Application Process

There will be two rounds of funding for the FPFA Community Grant Program. 

  • Round1: Grants up to $5000 will be awarded in August 2025. The deadline to apply is July 20, 2025.  
  • Round 2: The second round of funding will open on September 1, 2025, and will be awarded in December 2025 for larger grants up to $50,000. The deadline to apply will be October 31, 2025. 

The City cannot award grant funds to events or programs that have already happened.  

Applications can be submitted by filling out a simple form at the link above. If your project is selected for further review, you will be asked to meet with a student grant review panel, so they have an opportunity to ask more detailed questions about your proposal. Interviews are expected to take place within two weeks of each funding round application deadline.  

If you would like help filling out an application, please contact the FPFA Grant project team at EqDev@cityofvancouver.us. Interpretation and translation services will be provided for both the application and review process if needed.   

Funding Amounts

The City will provide up to $250,000 in 2025 to support community projects, programs and events within the FPFA project area. Grant funding will be distributed in two rounds:  

Round 1 Funding Opportunity:  A total of up to $100,000 will be released during Round 1. A maximum of $5,000 will be awarded for each grant.  

Round 2 Funding Opportunity:  A total of up to $150,000 will be released during Round 2. In the second round, there will be two levels of funding: 

  • Level 1: $100,000 will be distributed in awards up to $50,000 to support larger scale projects and programs. 
  • Level 2: $50,000 will be distributed in awards up to $5000. 

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:  

Project Design Highly scored applications will have a strong, innovative and feasible project design that is well articulated, fully explained and linked to project goals or impact. 

Project Goals Highly scored applications will include project goals that are clearly and thoroughly described and documented. The project should also support one or more of the main goals of the grant program, including supporting youth and families, encouraging cultural events and community connections, and empowering residents to make meaningful action in their communities. 

Connection to the Fourth Plain Community Projects that are led by Fourth Plain residents and directly benefit Fourth Plain neighborhoods will be highly scored. 

Project Impact A highly scored application will indicate a strong positive impact on the Fourth Plain community and residents. This score will be considered as a tiebreaker with those projects with the most impact being more heavily weighted. 

Project Budget The budget should be complete and exhibit a cost-effective use of funds. A more detailed budget will be required for grants seeking larger grant funds over $5000. 

Reporting and Accountability

Grant recipients must complete an impact and outcome report within 60 days of their project’s conclusion. The report will need to include an evaluation of outcomes, the number of people engaged, and describe how the money was spent. Recipients who fail to submit an impact and outcome report may be ineligible to apply for future grants through the City of Vancouver and potentially be asked to return funds.