​City of Corvallis Social Service Funding

On an annual basis, the City of Corvallis allocates Funding to social service organizations serving the needs of low-income families/individuals living in the City of Corvallis. This Funding is available to organizations who service clients within or from the CITY OF CORVALLIS CITY LIMITS ONLY. Annual funding is distributed in accordance with cc 00.6.05 Social Service Policy. 

Eligibility 

Applicants must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for City of Corvallis Social Service Funds: 

• Be a nonprofit organization (recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), public agency, or governmental entity. 
• Have current and active operations serving the Corvallis community. Applicants outside of Corvallis, but in local Benton County,  must be specific as to how many Corvallis residents will be served with the funding being requested. 
• Have a demonstrated track record of successfully providing services to houseless individuals, low-income populations, or other vulnerable communities. 
• Maintain appropriate financial oversight and controls, including submission of audited financials if requested. 
• Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including nondiscrimination and accessibility requirements. ​

New organizations without a 501(c)(3) may partner with a qualified fiscal sponsor who meets these requirements. 

Request for Proposals (RFP) Instructions 
Fiscal Years 2025–2027 Funding Cycle Overview 

Important Notice: Policy Changes Directed by the City of Corvallis 
The City of Corvallis City Council has adopted new funding priorities for the 2025–2027 biennium. 
These changes are City-directed and reflect Council’s decision to focus on sheltering efforts for the houseless population. United Way of Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties is administering the application and allocation process in alignment with City policy. 
Fifty percent (50%) of City of Corvallis Social Service Funds will now be reserved for projects that directly: 

• Increase the number of homeless individuals who are sheltered and/or housed, and 

• Decrease the number of individuals who are unsheltered. 

Applicants must review these new requirements carefully and ensure their proposed project fits within the updated priorities. 

Category 1: Shelter-Focused Projects 
​
Projects applying under Category 1 must: 

• Demonstrate a direct impact on increasing the number of people who are sheltered and/or decreasing the number of people who are unsheltered. 

• Show how the project will make a meaningful improvement beyond maintaining existing services. 

• Support activities such as: 

• Expanding shelter capacity or accessibility (e.g., pet accommodations, non-congregate options) 

• Housing navigation and case management designed to move individuals into shelter or housing 

• Reducing barriers to shelter entry (e.g., mental health supports, storage solutions) 

• Outreach efforts specifically aimed at connecting people to shelter or housing 

Required Narrative for Category 1 Applications: 
Describe how your project will make a meaningful improvement on the status quo by increasing the number of homeless individuals who are sheltered/housed and decreasing the number who are unsheltered in the community. ​

​Category 2: Supportive Services Projects 
​
Projects applying under Category 2: This funding category will continue to fund the broad range of social service needs that have traditionally been funded by the City of Corvallis Social Service Fund. Agencies that serve the needs of houseless community members may still apply for Category 1 funds if their proposed use does not fit within the intent of Category 2 funds.

• Provide essential services that do not directly affect shelter status increased utilization. Applicants should focus on improving services and support for vulnerable populations. 

• Examples include: 

• Ongoing shelter operations.  

• Health screenings or medical care for unhoused individuals 

• Harm reduction outreach 
• Food Security
• ​Intervention Services (services that help people stay in their home)
• Children Support Services (childcare, relief nurseries, child abuse services, child health services)
• Capacity-building for your organization
• Other support services

Note: Category 2 projects may still be eligible for funding, but they are not eligible for the 50% set-aside reserved for increased shelter/ housing utilization-focused efforts. 

Application Requirements 

All applicants must: 

• Submit a complete online application via the designated portal. 

• Identify which category (1 or 2) your project falls under. 

• Provide clear, detailed responses to all questions. 

• Include measurable goals and performance indicators. 

• For Category 1 applicants, be prepared for enhanced quarterly reporting. ​

Key Dates 

RFP Release Date                                    Monday April 14th, 2025 6:00 P.M. 
Application Deadline                               Friday May 16th, 2025 11:59 P.M. 
Award Notification                                   Wednesday June 18th, 2025
Funding Period Begins                            Tuesday July 1st, 2025

Grant Question and Answer Session 4/24/24

We’ll be hosting a virtual Q&A session to walk through the application and answer your questions:
📅 Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM
📍 Platform: Microsoft Teams

Link Found Here

Apply For Funding Here​:

OPENS: April 15th, 2025 at 6:00 PM 
CLOSES:  May 16th 2025, at 11:59 PM ​

Grant Application 2025-2026

Interim Report

OPENS: January 6th, 2026 
CLOSES:  February 9th 2026

Interim report

FAQ

Why did the funding policy change? ​

The City of Corvallis City Council directed a policy change to prioritize increasing shelter utilization and reducing unsheltered homelessness.  Corvallis City Council approved the following motion on February 18,2025. 
Set aside fifty percent of City of Corvallis Social Service Funds for a minimum of two fiscal years (one biennium) in support of efforts to increase the number of homeless people who are sheltered and decrease the number of people who are unsheltered. This was a City Council decision following a public meeting and was not initiated by United Way.​

What is the difference between Category 1 and Category 2 projects?

Category 1: Shelter-Focused Projects : Must directly increase the number of individuals who are sheltered or housed or decrease the number of people who are unsheltered. 

Category 2: Supportive Services Projects : Provide essential services to houseless individuals but do not directly impact increased shelter status. 

Projects that only sustain existing services without improving shelter outcomes should apply under Category 2. ​​

How do I know if my project fits Category 1?

Ask yourself: 

• Will this project result in more people being sheltered or housed? 

• Will this project reduce the number of people sleeping unsheltered? ​

If yes, you are likely to fit Category 1. 
If not, you are probably better suited for Category 2. 

​Tip: Category 1 is focused on moving the needle, not maintaining services. 

Can I submit more than one application?

Yes. 
​
Organizations may submit applications for multiple projects. Each project must have a separate application and clearly indicate which category it fits into. 

Can a single project serve both categories? ​

No. 
​
Each project must fit one category:  either Category 1 (shelter-focused) or Category 2 (supportive services or existing shelter status quo).  If a project has multiple components, you should separate them and submit them under the appropriate categories if needed. 

What are the reporting requirements? ​

• All funded projects must submit standard reports twice annually. 
  
• ​It is a requirement of shelter grantees, including daytime service providers and street outreach, to participate in HMIS and Coordinated Entry.  Shelter providers will be required to provide daily shelter utilization (document will be linked to the website) 
  
• If funding is supporting a shelter directly, you may be required to complete the Shelter Reporting Matric (document will be linked to the website) 
  
• In addition, the city may require all homeless service provider grantees to collect and report additional data as needed to support the implementation of best practices in addressing houselessness. 

Who is eligible to apply? ​

Eligible applicants include: 

• Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations 
  

• Public agencies 
  

• Governmental entities 
  

• Organizations with an eligible fiscal sponsor 
  

Applicants must provide services within Corvallis city limits. ​

What kinds of projects are not eligible? ​

Ineligible projects include: 

• For-profit businesses 

• Projects outside Corvallis (unless serving Corvallis residents). Applicants outside of Corvallis must be specific as to how many Corvallis residents will be served with the funding being requested. 

• Capital campaigns, building purchases, or endowments 

• Fundraising events or sponsorships 

• Projects primarily focused on political lobbying 

• Religious activities requiring participation for services ​

When are applications due? ​

Applications are due by Friday, May 16, 2025. 
Late applications will not be accepted. ​

When will funding decisions be announced? ​

Award notifications will be made by Wednesday June 18th,  2025.