Sammamish human-services commission sets 2026 grant calendar; staff details $200,000 one-time council allocation

The Sammamish Human Services Commission on Thursday reviewed its 2025 activities and laid out a packed 2026 grant calendar, while staff described how City Council directed $200,000 in one-time funding to immigrant and refugee services that has already been released to local nonprofits.

Rita, human services staff for Sammamish, told the commission applications for 2026 open Monday, March 2 and a funders workshop will be held the same week in Renton and Redmond to walk applicants through the process. ‘‘We’ll have a help desk during the application window,’’ Rita said, urging groups not to wait until the deadline. Applications are scheduled to close Monday, April 6 at 4 p.m.

Staff also announced a joint equity training with Redmond, Kirkland and Issaquah on Saturday, March 14 at 9 a.m. in Redmond City Hall. Rita said the training will run about three hours and that prework will be provided to ensure participants start from a common baseline.

Commissioners were briefed on how the one-time $200,000 council allocation was distributed. Rita said the mayor and City Council approved the sum to address urgent needs in immigrant and refugee communities. ‘‘Council wanted the money out as quickly as possible,’’ she said, and staff set up separate contracts so funds could be released immediately. According to staff, distribution included $50,000 to Indian American Community Services and $50,000 to The Circle, and four $25,000 awards to Central Cultural Mexicano, For Tomorrow, Hopelink and Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank. Recipients were told to file two reports, with a final report due in July, rather than the regular quarterly reporting cadence.

Commissioners asked how council had become aware of the need. Rita said the city manager’s office and council members routinely speak with local nonprofits and that broader factors — including changes to SNAP benefits — increased food and legal-service needs in the community.

The commission discussed the grant-review process for the coming months. Staff outlined a three-subgroup review model focused on five priority areas: mental wellness, domestic violence, seniors, cultural inclusion and basic needs. Subgroups will deep-dive applications and present recommendations to the full commission, which anticipates presenting a consolidated recommendation to City Council (tentatively Oct. 13). Rita said the commission will use a score sheet that emphasizes service to Sammamish residents as part of its review criteria.

Commissioners also raised a past instance in which a longstanding nonprofit missed a previous deadline. Staff said the nonprofit had attended workshops and received email notices but missed the deadline; the executive director later described the lapse as a ‘‘brain fart.’’ Staff said making exceptions would be unfair to other applicants, so deadlines remained firm.

What’s next: funders workshops the week applications open, an April 6 application deadline at 4 p.m., subgroup review sessions in late spring and summer, and a commission recommendation to City Council tentatively scheduled for Oct. 13. Final reports from the one-time $200,000 awardees are due in July.