Planning a community program, activation, or event this fall or early winter that could help drive visitation in local business districts? Learn more below about our winter activation round, and apply by September 27.
2026 Winter Activation Round
The City is seeking proposals that engage residents, workers, and visitors during the darker, cooler months of the year. Whether through seasonal programming, interactive experiences, or other activities, the goal of this one-time opportunity is to test activities and programs that create welcoming public spaces and encourage people to visit local business districts and return more often during the late fall and winter season.
Eligible activities may take many forms, but include:
- Markets, artisan fairs, and seasonal bazaars
- Outdoor seasonal celebrations and cultural events
- Temporary installations
- Live music and performances
- Family-friendly activities and events
- Workshops, demonstrations, and/or hands-on creative experiences
- Outdoor recreation, fitness, or wellness activities
We have a limited grant fund available to cover program expenses and permit fees. Individual grants will range from $2,500 - $10,000. Funding is awarded on a reimbursement basis, after completion of the funded activity or event, and after submitting a post-grant report and invoice.
Program Highlights
Through the Community Programming Fund, the City of Bellevue offers grants to support community-driven programs and events in public spaces across the city. By investing in community-led efforts, the CPF strengthens the experience of visitors, workers and residents in Bellevue’s mixed-use neighborhoods, encouraging people to gather, stay longer and return more often.
- Individual reimbursement-based grants of $2,500 - $10,000
- For programs taking place in public spaces
- Open to individuals, nonprofit organizations, community groups, and small businesses
- Review our Program Guidelines for specific guidance
- Complete your application by September 27
Key Dates and Application Details
The Winter Activation round is open to applications in September, with award notifications in early October. Due to the very short timeline, please consider applying for programming you are already considering or developing, rather than for entirely new programs.
| Application open | September 3, 2026 |
| Application closes | September 27, 2026 |
| Award notifications | Early October 2026 |
| Eligible program/activity dates | November 1 - December 31, 2026 |
| Grant reimbursement | January 2027 |
We've partnered with our Arts & Culture team to utilize Submitable to simplify the application process, allowing you to collaborate with team members and save and return to your application as you go.
2026 Documents and Resources
- Program Guidelines (main 2026 round) and Program Guidelines (November-December 2026 winter activation round): Full program guidelines, rules, and conditions, including what we're looking for and how applications are reviewed.
- Grantee Handbook: An overview of the grant onboarding process, including contracting, program implementation and payment reimbursement.
- Budget Worksheet: A form to help prospective organizers develop their budget in a consistent format for City review. This document works best when you download and open it on a computer in Microsoft Word.
- Sample Contract: An example of the contract which grantees will be required to enter with the city in order to accept CPF funds. The actual contract will be drafted based on the specifics of your program.
- Insurance Requirements: Insurance requirements for entering a contract with the city, including options for temporary event insurance.
2026 Grant Cycle
In 2026, we focused on activity series, markets, and activities related to the global soccer tournament. Here are a few highlights from the 2026 cycle:
- 37 awardees provided more than 120 events or activities.
- About half of programs took place outside of downtown.
- The city provided almost $300,000 in total awards.
- A significant emphasis was placed on markets, which continue through mid-October, and programming during the global soccer tournament.
Explore the full recipient list to see the variety of programs supported. Stay tuned for a 2026 year-end retrospective to learn more about our evolving thinking about program outcomes.
2025 Grant Cycle
Thank you to the 2025 Community Programming Fund grantees for helping make the program’s first year a success. The team was pleased to support a wide variety of activities across Bellevue, with a particular focus on the Grand Connection. Among the funded programs, we supported:
- 36 programs at 16 locations
- 26 programs which were completely new to Bellevue, plus 5 in new locations
- Almost $50,000 for live performance activities and $40,000 for festivals
- More than $50,000 in support for programs and activities taking place outside of downtown
- 10,000 community member attendees
Explore the full recipient list to see the variety of programs supported through the 2025 CPF. You can also view the 2025 year-end retrospective to learn more about the grant cycle, funded activities, and how we think about program outcomes.