The Board of County Commissioners’ Small Grants Program application process will open this coming Monday, July 13. This marks the 12th consecutive year of the program, which is designed to assist local nonprofits that provide services to vulnerable populations living within the county.

A total of $250,000 will be distributed. Last year, 38 groups were selected for grants ranging from $250 to $15,000.

As determined by the board, preference for organizations receiving grants will be given to groups that:

Prioritize clear onetime expenses;

Serve the county’s designated Community Prosperity Collaborative areas, which are codified in Performance Clackamas goals;

Encourage partnerships to increase community impact;

Fill an unanticipated expense gap due to COVID-19; and

Serve communities of color that are impacted by COVID-19, as those communities are have been especially impacted.

Those last two priorities are new to the preferential criteria, in order to help those residents impacted by the ongoing pandemic.

In the past, groups receiving grants serve populations such as seniors, housing-insecure individuals, veterans in need, families of cancer-stricken children, at-risk youth, the developmentally disabled, hungry persons and many more. A list of the past few years’ awardees is on the Small Grants Program webpage.

Eligible applicants are current nonprofit organizations serving residents of the county. Eligible projects must address the program’s goal and result in a positive, measurable outcome for residents. Preference will be given to those who meet the following criteria:

For maps of the Community Prosperity areas, a link to the online application (available July 13), and all other grant information, visit the Small Grants Program webpage.

Organizations interested in being considered can apply from Monday, July 13, through Thursday, Aug. 6 at 5 p.m.

Recipient organizations are expected to be announced in October, and funds will be awarded quickly thereafter. Organizations receiving funding will be required to show how the grant was used, including service level and performance measures.