Regional Refresh Fund
Metro is offering flexible funding to support community cleanup efforts in equity focus areas of the Metro region. Nonprofit organizations, public agencies, schools, business district associations are invited to apply today.
What is the goal of the Regional Refresh fund?
The fund supports community-led cleanup efforts by providing flexible, low-barrier funding for immediate cleanup needs in underserved communities.
Who can request funds?
Any nonprofits, public agencies, schools and business district associations within the Metro regional boundary working in an equity focus area, environmentally sensitive area, or benefitting an underserved community.
What are equity focus areas?
Equity focus areas represent communities with a higher than average density of people of color, people with limited English proficiency, or people with incomes equal to or less than 200% of the federal poverty level. Use the equity focus area lookup tool on the Regional Refresh Fund webpage to see if your event or project takes place in an equity focus area.
What are environmentally sensitive areas?
Environmentally sensitive areas are places where human impacts on soil and water can cause significant disruption to ecological diversity. In the Metro region, these places include parks or green spaces, bodies of water and wetlands. Contact Metro to see if your project takes place in an environmentally sensitive area.
Who are underserved communities?
For this fund, underserved communities are defined as groups of people who have been excluded from decision-making in, and the resources from, systems of power. This includes people who have been excluded because of their age, race, class, ethnicity, gender, immigration status or other identities that are not represented within systems of power.
What is the amount available?
Funding varies depending on the size and scope of the proposed project. Applicants should request the funds needed, up to $5,000 per activity.
How often can I request funding support?
Applicants may request funding for additional projects up to $20,000 in a fiscal year, with a limit of $5,000 per project. Additional projects will be considered upon the completion of the previously approved project and submission of the required post-project survey.
Can community groups without 501(c)3 status apply?
Community groups without 501(c)3 status may apply with a nonprofit as a fiscal sponsor for a project.
How do I make a request?
Complete the Regional Refresh Fund application.
What are the reporting requirements for the funds?
Following your project or event, you will be asked to fill out a brief survey and to provide pictures of this work. This helps Metro track the impact of this program and to keep funding sources like this available in the future.