Launch

Launch supports new and emerging cultural and science organizations in King County.

Steps to Apply

1 What Launch Funds

The Launch program supports new and emerging cultural and science organizations in King County. Organizations that are selected through the Launch program will receive three years of unrestricted general operating support and will also have access to additional capacity-building support services.

You can use this grant:

To cover a variety of expenses, including operating and start-up costs for cultural and science programs and activities accessible to King County residents and visitors; staff salaries; utilities; supplies; fees; and services.
To access capacity-building support and technical assistance as you build your organization.

There are two tracks for this program:

New Organizations

This track is for groups that:

Have arts, heritage, historic preservation, science, or technology as a primary purpose.
Began public programming within the last three years or plans to begin programming in 2026.
Are currently operating or intend to operate as a nonprofit.
Have never received a Sustained Support or Launch grant from 4Culture.

This can include new collaborative ventures initiated by existing organizations that offer new and distinct programs or services and have a decision-making body and leadership structure independent of the participating organizations.

Emerging Organizations

This track is for groups that:

Have arts, heritage, historic preservation, science, or technology as a primary purpose.
Do not yet have 501(c)(3) status or have had 501(c)(3) status for less than three years.
Are hiring their first full-time equivalent (FTE) staff member.
Have never received a Launch grant from 4Culture.

If you are not sure if your group meets either of these definitions, please email Casey Moser at with more information about your group’s history. If your group meets both of these definitions, we recommend applying as an Emerging Organization.

Please note that your group may not need to obtain 501(c)(3) or nonprofit status before applying. Please check the eligibility criteria for more information.

If you are interested in funding for:

Producing a specific program or project, check out our Project grants or Open 4Culture grants.
Developing a plan to secure, acquire, build, or improve a physical space, please consider our Building for Equity: Project Development grants.

Public Benefit: Why It Matters

4Culture is a public agency supporting the cultural sector through revenue from Lodging Tax, 1% for Art, and Doors Open funding sources. Core to our work and defined in our Charter is a requirement that everything we fund serves the public interest, enriching communities throughout King County.

The term Providing Public Benefit means using public funds primarily to provide members of the public residing in and visiting King County access to opportunities to experience cultural resources. Public Benefit encompasses access and positive impacts for King County residents and visitors engaging with arts, culture, historic spaces, and public art across our program areas.

As you work through your application, tell us exactly how your fellow King County residents will be able to enjoy and learn from your work. Here are some ways you can provide public benefit:

Providing the public with access to your creative work, project, or program for free or at a reduced rate.
Providing educational programs and experiences at cultural or science organizations, schools, or other venues accessible to the public.
Exploring ways to expand and broaden your creative work and activities for the education and entertainment of the public.
Participating in collaborative relationships with other cultural and science organizations, individuals, and groups to extend the reach and impact of a project or program for the benefit of the public.
Organizational or individual capacity-building projects or activities that provide meaningful public benefits not otherwise achievable.
Providing, through technological and other means, services or programs in locations other than an organization’s own facilities.

Why Racial Equity?

With a focus on racial equity, 4Culture funds, supports, and advocates for culture and science to enhance the quality of life in King County. We acknowledge that systematic inequity takes many forms—racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, heterosexism, and more. Our focus on racial equity provides us with the tools we use to help dismantle all oppressions.

The goal of this program is to create pathways toward a racially equitable cultural and scientific landscape where cultural and scientific activities are accessible across the entire county.

To read more visit:
Racial Equity at 4Culture
Mission, Vision, Values

Criteria

We fund all our grants through a competitive process, carefully evaluating each application. For this grant, panelists will focus on five criteria:

Quality and Innovation: your organization has clearly stated plans to provide King County with one or more of the following: 1) programming or services that current organizations don’t offer; 2) innovation within your organization or field; and/or 3) new services to currently underserved geographic or cultural communities.
Goals and Feasibility: your organization has clearly stated goals and a thorough plan to achieve these goals. Your organization has plans to develop a feasible and sustainable structure of operations. It is clear how organizational decisions are and will be made and how you will track progress towards your organization’s goals.
Public Benefit: your organization offers or plans to offer public benefit to visitors and residents of King County through your programs, activities, and services—for example: free or reduced-cost admission, events, programs, or services that increase access to culture or science in King County.
Advancing Equity: your organization’s focus on marginalized communities, especially communities that are disproportionately impacted by structural racism. This is not an eligibility requirement to apply for Launch funding, but it is one of the factors the panel will consider.
Economic Impact: your organization’s work will stimulate the local economy through spending on wages, goods, and services; volunteer hours and in-kind donations; promoting tourism and visitor-related spending at local businesses; contributions to community well-being and quality of life, which have indirect economic benefits; and other economic factors that improve the vitality of King County.

All review criteria are weighted equally.

Geographic and Equity Investments

4Culture recognizes that where an organization is based or provides its services, as well as the communities it serves, can affect access to funding and other resources. To take a step towards balancing these disparities, 4Culture will Provide additional consideration to organizations that are based in parts of King County that are less served by other funding sources and to organizations that specifically serve marginalized communities, especially communities that are disproportionately impacted by structural racism.

If you meet any of the following criteria, they may be eligible for additional consideration during the panel process and/or additional support:

Organizations that the adjudicating panel of peer reviewers agrees are excelling in advancing equity in King County.
Organizations based outside of Seattle City limits. At least 25% of Launch funds will be allocated to new and emerging organizations located outside the City of Seattle.
Organizations whose primary location is in a King County-designated Community of Opportunity. The Communities of Opportunity (COO) index includes a set of health and socioeconomic indicators to gauge community health and well-being and identify the areas of King County in greatest need of support. At least 10% of Launch funds will be allocated to new and emerging organizations located in Communities of Opportunity.

View this Communities of Opportunity map to determine whether your organization or primary venue is located in a COO. COO areas eligible for an Equity investment are outlined in purple.

2 Are You Eligible?

Launch is available for King County-based nonprofit arts, cultural, science, heritage, and historic preservation organizations. We award these funds based on an organization’s overall mission and plans—this grant is not project-based.

There are three types of eligibility criteria your organization and project must meet to be able to apply for this grant:

Discipline Requirement

The primary purpose of the organization must be the advancement and preservation of one or more of the following disciplines:

Arts: includes organizations focused on creative place-making, cultural festivals, dance, design, film, folk and traditional arts, literary arts, multidisciplinary arts, music, theater, and visual arts.
Heritage: includes organizations focused on the preservation and transmission of local history; ethnic history; indigenous and traditional culture; folklore and culturally specific traditions; and historic and archaeological resources.
Historic Preservation: includes organizations focused on advocacy or assistance to preserve, promote, and sustain historic places, education about our historic built environment, or stewarding historic properties that serve as a venue for cultural activities.
Science and Technology: includes organizations focused on preserving or advancing natural and social sciences, characterized by a formalized framework that entails the reproducible testing and revision of falsifiable ideas based on observable facts, as well as formal and applied sciences, such as mathematics and engineering. Applicants that are zoos or aquariums must also be accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

This primary purpose must be evident in your organization’s mission and plans. If you’re not sure which discipline matches your organization, please contact Casey Moser at .

Structural Requirement

Your organization also must meet all the requirements for your track:

Structural Requirement	Track
Structural Requirement	New Organizations	Emerging Organizations
Your organization must be a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization. Please contact 4Culture to confirm if your current or intended fiscal sponsor is eligible to receive Doors Open Funds.	Only if awarded	At time of application
Your organization must be incorporated in the state of Washington as a Nonprofit Corporation. LLCs or other business structures are not permitted.	Only if awarded	At time of application
Your organization has been in operation for less than three years and has never received 4Culture Sustained Support or Launch funding.	At time of application	N/A
Your organization does not have or has had 501(c)(3) status for less than 3 years, has never had an FTE staff member, and has never received a Launch grant.	N/A	At time of application
Your organization must have a Board.	Only if awarded	At time of application
Your organization must be based in and conducting or planning to conduct a majority (51% or more) of your mission-based, in-person, public-facing activities in King County.	At time of application	At time of application
Your organization cannot be: A K-12 school or school district. A university, college, or institution of higher education. An agency of the state or any of its political subdivisions. A municipal corporation. An organization that raises money for redistribution to multiple cultural organizations. A radio or television broadcasting network or station, cable communications system, Internet-based communications venture or service, newspaper, or magazine. An organization conducting research that does not provide experiences to the general public A medical or public health practice	At time of application	At time of application

Equity and Geographic Inclusion Public Benefit Requirement

Your organization must offer at least one Equity Inclusion Public Benefit AND/OR at least one Geographic Inclusion Public Benefit.

Examples of Equity Inclusion Public Benefits:

Providing free or low-cost attendance to cultural and science organizations and cultural and science facilities for county residents who have economic, geographic, and/or other barriers to access.
Providing free access to curriculum-related arts, science, and heritage programs for public school students with an emphasis on underserved students.
Increasing the diversity of staff and governing boards of cultural organizations.
Increasing opportunities for access to cultural and science facilities, programs, and services for diverse and underserved communities.
Providing programming that appeals to diverse populations within the county.
Planning and implementing cultural or science programs or collaborating with other cultural or science organizations to extend the reach and impact of cultural or science programs to diverse and underserved populations and communities.

Examples of Geographic Inclusion Public Benefits:

Planning and implementing cultural or science programs and activities outside of Seattle.
Partnering with other cultural or science organizations on cultural or science programs and activities outside Seattle, through direct investment or in-kind support, on priority projects and initiatives.
Providing cultural or science programming to communities outside the city where your organization is primarily located, either directly or in partnership with other entities.

Additionally, if awarded, your organization must provide a W-9 form and sign a contract that limits 4Culture’s liability.

Groups cannot receive both Launch and Projects or Open 4Culture grants at the same time. If you have previously applied for or received a Projects or Open 4Culture grant, you are not precluded from applying to Launch, but please reach out to Casey Moser at to talk about what this means for your group.

3 Helping You Succeed

4Culture staff will do their best to answer questions and assist Launch applicants. However, as the deadline approaches, it will become less and less likely that they will be able to respond to your queries. The earlier you start the process, the more support 4Culture staff will be able to offer you.

Workshops

Workshops can make a major difference in how competitive your application is—each year, we find that the strongest applications come from people who have attended a workshop. They provide an opportunity for you to meet staff, learn about the process, meet other applicants, and ask questions.

Please subscribe to our newsletter to be informed when Launch Workshops are announced.

Application Worksheet + Other Resources

When the Launch application opens, a worksheet with all the application questions and helpful tips will be posted here, as well as other documents that can help you with your submission.

Contact

Before you begin or after starting your application, you may have questions. We are available by email and phone to assist you.

Casey Moser, Launch Program Manager

(206) 477-2316

Please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you would like to request 4Culture staff feedback on a draft of your application, you must request this no later than August 11, 2025. The earlier you contact us, the more likely we’ll be available to assist you.

Translation and Assistance

Launch grants provide three years of unrestricted funding to meet the day-to-day needs of new and emerging arts, preservation, heritage, and science and technology nonprofit organizations. You can use this grant for a variety of operating costs related to programs accessible to King County residents and visitors including startup costs, to pay contractors and staff, utilities, supplies, fees, and services. King County-based nonprofit organizations that have been operating or been a 501(c)(3) for less than three years and whose primary purpose is the advancement and preservation of art, historic preservation, heritage, or science and technology are eligible to apply.

The deadline to submit the initial inquiry form is August 13, 2025, at 5:00 pm PDT. Groups whose Inquiry Forms show they meet the eligibility criteria for the program will be provided a link to submit a Full Application, which is due August 27, 2025, by 5:00 pm PDT. Award decisions will be announced in December 2025.

We’re here to help! Please contact Casey Moser, Launch Program Manager at with questions about this program.

The grant guidelines, a detailed explanation of how to apply, and the grant application are in English. If this is a barrier that stops you from applying due to limited English writing ability, visual impairment, or you would like to request assistance to create an application, please contact or call (206) 296-7580 or TTY 711, and we will ensure you get the support you need.

4 After You Submit

Timeline

Complete your account profile and submit a short inquiry form via 4Culture’s online grant portal by August 13, 2025, at 5:00 pm PDT. 4Culture staff will review your inquiry and ensure you are eligible to apply for Launch funding. If your group is eligible, you will be provided a link to complete an online application.

Applications for Launch, as well as your organization’s demographic and financial information, are due August 27, 2025, by 5:00 pm PDT.

Selection Process

4Culture facilitates panels of peer reviewers to evaluate all eligible applications. Peer reviewers are cultural or scientific practitioners, administrators, and subject-matter experts with ties to the King County community. Reviewers change from cycle to cycle. 4Culture staff do not score applications or try to influence the outcome.

The peer reviewer panel makes recommendations, which are sent to one of 4Culture’s Community Advisory Committees for review and then to 4Culture’s Board for final approval. The entire process, from application deadline to final award notification, takes three to four months. We will notify you about the status of your Launch application in December 2025. Contracting will begin in January 2026.

Contracts and Payment

If we select your organization for funding, your 4Culture grant manager will work with you to create a contract outlining a payment schedule. The contract defines deliverables and public benefits, sets a timeline, and governs project evaluation and the payment of funds. All award recipients must sign their contract in a timely fashion to receive their funds.

Requirements and Appeals

Learn about what will be required if you are awarded a grant, and about the process for appeal of a 4Culture decision.

5 Apply

There are five steps to apply for a Launch grant. You must complete all of these steps to be considered for this grant.

Request an organization account on 4Culture’s grant portal and complete your Account Profile. If you have applied for a 4Culture grant before, confirm that you still have log-in access and that your organization has answered all the questions under “Organization Accounts Only”. You can create an account at any time, and your profile must be complete prior to submitting the Launch Inquiry Form in Step 2 (August 13, 2025, at 5:00 pm PDT). Use this link to request an account, and please note that it can take up to two (2) business days for your account to be active.
Submit the Inquiry Form on the online grant portal by 5:00 pm PDT on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. 4Culture staff will review this form to confirm your eligibility for a Launch grant. If you are eligible, 4Culture staff will send you a link to complete the full application.
Submit the Full Application on the online grant portal no later than 5:00 pm PDT on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. This application is what will be reviewed by the peer panel making grant decisions.
Submit your organization’s 2025 demographic information no later than 5 pm PDT on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Information about our applicants is used by 4Culture to help us understand who we serve and how we can increase program access for all King County residents and communities. Your specific answers cannot be seen by program managers or panels and will not affect funding decisions.
If your organization has previous year(s) of financial information, please enter it in your account profile no later than 5:00 pm PDT on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Organizations will need to enter actual income and expenditure information for previous years of operation, if applicable.

More information about what’s in the inquiry form and application will be available in late June 2025.

Once you’ve started your inquiry form or application, you can save after each step and sign out—your progress will be saved as a draft that you can continue to work on up to the deadline. Once you hit “Submit,” your application is final. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions during the process.

Watch this step-by-step application tutorial video to assist you through the process of creating an account, starting your submission, and saving it for later: