Application Assistance

The Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL) serves an array of valued residents in King County: veterans, servicemembers, and their respective families, seniors and their caregivers, and all persons or communities whose current or historical exposure to trauma, violence, poverty, isolation, bias, racism, stigma, discrimination, disability, or chronic illness makes them vulnerable to reduced health, financial, housing, or social stability. To achieve the goal of serving the full diversity of King County and the organizations that support them, the VSHSL aims to reduce barriers that small, community-based organizations may face in applying for levy funding. We contract with consultants to offer application assistance (also known as technical assistance) to qualifying community-based organizations needing support in applying for VSHSL funds.

To access assistance:

Free grant application assistance (GAA) (also known as technical assistance) may be available to support small and medium organizations with applying to open funding opportunities.

Small organization* is defined as any entity with an operating budget of less than $4 million in the prior fiscal year.  Medium organizations are entities with an operating budget of less than $8 million. *Small organizations will be prioritized with this funding. 

GAA funding pays consultants directly to assist eligible entities in responding to Requests for Proposals (RFPs) including but not limited to, grant writing assistance, technology assistance to access online RFP application processes, data development to inform an RFP response, and translation and interpretation services. 

If you are a small or medium organization seeking GAA, please refer to the specific RFP solicitation for more information. 

Application assistance can help:

• Frame your approach and proposal: Application assistance consultants are oriented to the goals and priorities of the VSHSL funding strategies. Consultants can work with you from the very beginning of the application process to advise you on if and how your ideas fit with the scope of what the Request for Proposals (RFP) will fund. They can assist you in understanding the intent and focus of the RFP as you decide on and create your program model and vision to help you submit the strongest possible application.
• Assistance with budgeting: Creating a budget for a new project can be difficult. Application assistance consultants can help you design a budget, estimate the costs with your project design and set a plan for capacity building if applicable.
• Reviewing proposal drafts: Application assistance consultants can provide critical feedback on your application including: if your content is detailed enough and fully answers the application questions, if you are adequately describing your strengths and assets in way that is clear to outside readers, to make sure you are not missing an important aspect of the funding goals, and to provide editing support to ensure your information fits within the character limits.
• Understanding Agiloft: Many VSHSL RFP applications are managed through the online platform Agiloft. Application assistance consultants are familiar with Agiloft, they can guide you through the Agiloft platform and help you navigate common challenges.