Find Posts By Topic

What do you need to walk, roll, or bike to school safely? Our Safe Routes to School program is ready to fund your ideas with Mini Grants all year long.

Crossing the street to school with pedestrian crossing flags. Photo Credit: SDOT.

Summary 

  • Can you think of something that would make it safer for you to walk, roll, or bike to school? Safe Routes to School Mini Grants are for small projects like bicycle helmets, lights, pedestrian crossing flags, Walking School Buses, and more. 
  • New! We are offering the Mini Grants on a rolling basis. Nonprofits, Seattle schools, and community organizations can apply for a grant any time of year. 
  • New! We have a new online application system. To apply, follow this link. We’ve also developed a how-to guide to help you apply. 
  • New! We have new suggestions for what you can fund, including books with walking or biking themes. 
  • For more information and ideas of what you can fund with the grant, please email Jennifer Meulenberg at srts_grants@seattle.gov or visit our SRTS Mini Grant webpage. 

We talked to Jennifer Meulenberg, a transportation planner at SDOT, about the Safe Routes to School Mini Grant program that she manages.  

Photo Credit: SDOT.

Hi, Jennifer! What is Safe Routes to School, anyway? 

JM: Safe Routes to School is a national movement to make it easier and safer for students to walk, roll, and bike to school. In Seattle we work across the city to make getting to school safer, and one way we do that is with the Mini Grant program. We have completed 13 Safe Routes to School projects this year so far, consisting of Neighborhood Greenway improvements, speed humps and cushions, crossing improvements, and more. Read about these and other projects here. 

Can you tell us what’s new about the Mini Grant this year? 

JM: This year we’re offering the grant on a continuous basis! This means that schools, PTAs, and other non-profits can apply whenever it works best for them.  

We also have a new application system. We’re using the new City-wide grant management system called Fluxx, where you can find information on and apply for other City grants as well. To create an account and apply, follow this link. We’ve also developed a how-to guide to help you apply and have more information on our webpage.  

What are some of the things you’re most excited to fund this year? 

JM: We’re excited to have a new suggestion on our list of what we can fund: walking and biking-related books! Here is a list on the Seattle Public Library website with book ideas listed by grade level. 

You can also see “What We Fund” for other suggestions! We welcome any ideas you have, too, as long as the grant money will help encourage kids to walk and bike to school safely.  

Bike helmets and lights are just a few of the items that can be funded with the Mini Grant. Photo Credit: SDOT Flickr. 

Types of projects and programs that can be funded by the grant include (but are not limited to):  

Who can apply, and how much can they receive? 

JM: Safe Routes to School Mini Grants of up to $1,000 are available to Seattle schools, PTAs, and community organizations.  

How should people apply? 

JM: As of this year, representatives from these organizations/schools can apply for a Mini Grant any time of year. 

We also have a new application system. To apply, follow this link. We’ve also developed a how-to guide to help you apply. 

If you are a parent, please reach out to your school principal or school PTA about applying for the Safe Routes to School Mini Grant.  

For more information and ideas of what you can fund with the grant, please email me, Jennifer Meulenberg at srts_grants@seattle.gov or visit our SRTS Mini Grant webpage. 

Let your community know! Seattle schools, PTAs, and community organizations can apply for a Safe Routes to School Mini Grant any time of year. 

We strongly encourage Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) led community-based organizations to apply. The point of contact on the grant application can be anyone affiliated with the school and the fiscal sponsor must be someone who will be able to receive the check (like a PTA treasurer or school principal).   

Hear from others who have used the Mini Grant to make walking, rolling, and biking to school a safe and accessible option.