Metro Civic Engagement Grants 2021-2022

The Civic Engagement grant program will fund community-based organizations working to increase civic engagement and community participation within greater Portland’s Black, Indigenous and communities of color. The multi-year grant program’s objectives will be to:

• Help grantee organizations build capacity and scale their civic engagement efforts;

• Strategically invest in communities facing high barriers to civic participation, particularly the underserved areas of Clackamas, Washington and East Multnomah counties;

• Support equitable decision-making across the garbage and recycling system and Metro’s other programmatic areas;

• Build long-term, trusted relationships with community-based organizations and the Black, Indigenous and other communities of color they serve;

• Bring more BIPOC leaders into Metro decision-making processes and committees.

The program consists of two separate grant tracks. Applicants may apply for either or both tracks but will receive funds from only one track.

General Civic Engagement grants

Three grants ranging from $60,000 - $80,000 per year for three years will be awarded to organizations looking to build civic engagement within Black, Indigenous and other communities of color in underserved areas of the region. Priority will be given to organizations with a focus on one or more of Metro’s programmatic areas: housing and houselessness, transportation, access to nature, land use, economic and workforce development, and climate and environmental justice.

Garbage and Recycling System grants

Two grants ranging from $60,000 - $100,000 per year for three years will be awarded to organizations looking for build civic and community engagement capacity to inform decisions across the garbage and recycling system. Successful proposals will demonstrate a clear tie to system decision-making processes, racial justice and environmental justice.