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Supporting Rural and Underserved Nonprofits and Jurisdictions
Coordinated Action to Increase Access to Federal Funds
FEDERAL READINESS AND LEVERAGE FUND DATA SNAPSHOT
$1,743,658+
Awarded
128+
Requests Submitted
18
OR Counties Served
+Many Statewide-Serving Grantees
STANDARD FRLF:
$908,658+
awarded
19+
grants made through FRLF funding partners
INTRODUCTION
The Federal Readiness and Leverage Fund aims to:
01.
Address barriers to federal (and other government) funding
02.
Increase capacity in Oregon's underserved and rural communities
03.
Strengthen avenues for collaboration across public, philanthropic, and nonprofit sectors
Flexible support for rural and under-resourced communities
UNLOCKING FEDERAL FUNDS
Although the Federal Readiness and Leverage Fund (FRLF) was developed largely in response to a massive influx of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law dollars, FRLF is available to increase access to all federal funding – knowing that challenges to securing and managing it existed long before BIL. The coordinated, flexible, and responsive support that FRLF provides is now more important than ever.
The ‘standard’ FRLF (learn more below) supports rural and under-resourced nonprofits and jurisdictions that are experiencing a barrier to federal or other government funding, while Emergency Needs Requests can be made by any Oregon nonprofit or jurisdiction that unexpectedly lost federal funding in 2025 (including pass-through funds).
Background
Taking Coordinated Action
The FRLF was born to increase access to transformative federal funding and advance high-potential projects led by rural based, BIPOC-led and serving, and other under-resourced organizations and jurisdictions. The FRLF leverages near-term investments from participating Funding Partners to unlock federal funding, build long-term capacity through accompanying technical assistance, and move projects sitting at strategic inflection points forward.
Launched in 2024, the Federal Readiness and Leverage Fund was developed by Kelley & Co. (previously Kelley Nonprofit Consulting LLC) and a collaborative group of Funding Partners, whose efforts were informed through conversations with the organizations and communities across Oregon who would benefit most from this model.
Seizing Opportunities
Addressing Barriers
Federal funds propel vital community projects, but can present many challenges and barriers. These challenges vary – from required matching funds to quick turnaround deadlines to the sweeping changes introduced by the new administration. Funding pauses can quickly instill uncertainty and confusion for nonprofits and communities, leaving under-resourced organizations at a significant disadvantage. As a responsive funding mechanism, the FRLF can also help grantees who manage federal funding stay afloat during times of uncertainty. Visit our Emergency Needs Requests page if your organization was recently impacted by a federal funding cut or freeze.
Priorities With Immediate And Lasting Impact
FOCUS AREAS
Many nonprofits and small communities miss out on federal and government funding opportunities to advance important projects. FRLF increases access to federal/government grants through the Fund’s four Focus Areas, which were identified as frequent barriers to federal funding during the planning of this program. Requests to FRLF should fall under one or more of the following:
Pre Development & Financial Leverage
Helping applicants meet the financial requirements necessary to access federal funds and supporting a broad range of project pre development costs
Incentivizing & Increasing Collaboration
Supporting organizations to lead collaborative efforts; Creating coalitions to put forth competitive federal funding applications
Increasing Coordination Between Public Sector & CBOs
Ensuring representatives of underserved, unincorporated, and rural communities remain “at the table” by supporting staff capacity for coordination
Broad, Complementary Technical Assistance
Providing technical assistance funding to help nonprofits and jurisdictions secure and manage federal grants; Supporting technical assistance providers who are dedicated to building capacity
How It Works
The Federal Readiness & Leverage Fund coordinates giving from Funding Partners to help applicants in overcoming barriers in alignment with the Fund’s Focus Areas.
Aligned Nonprofits and Jurisdictions
Qualifying nonprofits and jurisdictions are identified and vetted for alignment and invited to complete a single, brief application
Philanthropic Participation
Funding Partners join with the goal of addressing barrier(s) to securing federal funds through one or more of the FRLF's four Focus Areas
Resource Navigation
Grantees receive one-on-one, curated resource navigation including needs assessment and technical assistance recommendations to build their internal capacity
Technical Support
Grantees may also request funds toward technical assistance, subject matter expertise, or other support to help them secure or manage government funding