Microsoft offers King County nonprofits 25 grants of $20,000 in the first round of its Community-First Grants
Applications close Oct. 23. The round is open only to 501(c)(3) public charities that serve King County, Wash., and have not received or been invited to receive Microsoft corporate grant money in 2026. A second round opens in spring 2027.
Redmond. Microsoft will give 25 nonprofits in King County, Wash., grants of $20,000 each in the first round of a new program called Community-First Grants, the company announced on Sept. 21. Applications are open until Oct. 23, and only organizations that are not already receiving Microsoft grant money may apply.
The company describes the program as $1 million in grants to Washington nonprofits. The first round accounts for $500,000 of it. A second round will open in spring 2027, and Microsoft said it expects to expand the program in the years ahead. Each round has its own theme, set by its funding model, geography and sector, according to the program's frequently asked questions.
Who may apply
An applicant must be a 501(c)(3) public charity in good standing that is based in King County and serves it, and it must be eligible through the Microsoft Employee Giving Program. Nonprofits that have received Microsoft corporate grant funding in 2026, or have been invited to receive it, are not eligible. Those that have had only Microsoft technology grants, or matching gifts through its employee giving programs, may apply.
The money is one-time funding to launch, expand, improve or complete a project in one of four focus areas: civic life; education and workforce development; housing, human services and basic needs; and sustainability and transportation. Microsoft's examples include repairing or modernizing a facility, expanding a food pantry, establishing a community garden, upgrading essential equipment and furnishing transitional housing units.
Applications will be judged on whether the project meets a clearly defined community need, fits the organization's mission, benefits underserved or economically disadvantaged people and can be done within its timeline and budget.
Dates and conditions
Microsoft staff will hold virtual office hours for applicants at noon on Fridays through Oct. 16. Every applicant will be told the decision on Nov. 3. Grantees must attend a celebration at Microsoft on the evening of Nov. 9 and work with the company on stories about the grant and its effect on the community, and they may not apply again for two years. Applicants turned down may try again in a later round.
Microsoft said the program is part of its giving in Washington, where the company and its employees have given $1.9 billion to nearly 13,000 nonprofits through grants, matching gifts and sponsorships. Its announcement cited a survey by the Center for Effective Philanthropy in which 66 percent of nonprofits said they had concerns about their financial stability.
“Community-First Grants won't solve every challenge nonprofits face, but it will support projects with immediate, essential needs to strengthen our communities at a time when nonprofits are being asked to do more with less.”
About this story
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