Across Seattle and King County, community-based organizations are required to front the cost of public services. After delivering programs, hiring staff, and serving residents, there are times when they must wait 60 to 90-120 days for reimbursement. A single missing word or document can cause significant delays, placing even greater strain on already limited resources.

This practice disproportionately harms Black-led organizations and other frontline groups led by people of color, immigrants, and grassroots leaders. These are the very organizations that government contracts rely on to reach communities that are historically underserved, over-policed, and under-resourced. Continued use of this reimbursement-only model risks weakening the infrastructure of trust, care, and local leadership that holds many neighborhoods together.

We call for immediate changes to this model. Community-based organizations must receive upfront or milestone-based payments, fair and enforceable payment timelines, and clear, reasonable documentation processes that support, rather than punish, community service providers.

This is not only a matter of efficiency. It is a matter of equity, accountability, and justice.