2026 Winter Activation Round
The City of Bellevue has announced the Community Programming Fund Winter Activation round of grant awards. The complete list of funded programs is available below.
Winter Activation Community Programming Fund Grant Awards
Program Highlights
The Community Programming Fund provides grants to support community-driven programs and events in public spaces across the city. Investing in these efforts strengthens experiences of visitors, workers and residents in Bellevue’s mixed-use neighborhoods and encourages people to gather together, stay longer and return often.
- Individual reimbursement-based grants range from $2,500-$10,000
- Programming must take place in public spaces to qualify
- Open to individuals, nonprofit organizations, community groups and small businesses
Key Dates and Application Details
The application period for the Winter Activation round is now closed. The 2027 grant cycle will open in January. Please join our email list for updates on upcoming funding cycles.
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.