Funding Programs

Heritage 4Culture funding comes from a small portion of the King County Lodging Tax, a credit on the state sales tax charged on every hotel, motel, inn and B&B room occupied throughout the County. We are committed to provide heritage organizations with critical operating support as a priority in our award programs.

Through the four Heritage Funding Programs we encourage dozens of groups and heritage specialists to build and improve facilities, develop new exhibits, deliver educational programs to the schools, produce publications and videos, expand web sites, and preserve invaluable collections and resources that relate to King County history and heritage. We help the heritage community provide cultural services and citizen involvement in creative projects to every corner of the County.

Every funding award we make is the result of careful consideration by peer panels of heritage professionals and specialists, citizens and administrators. Many individuals give of their time and expertise in selecting projects that demonstrate excellence. The Heritage 4Culture Advisory Committee and the 4Culture Board of Directors recommend and approve all awards.

Collections Care
The annual Heritage Collections Care program provides funds from a portion of the King County document filing fee revenue to organizations specifically for the conservation and preservation of historic collections.

Cultural Education
The Heritage Cultural Education Program annually funds innovative classroom-based heritage education projects, which are expected to align with state education standards.

Cultural Facilities
The Heritage Cultural Facilities annual funding program assists museums, ethnic heritage groups, and historical societies currently maintaining and operating a site or other publicly accessible facilities with funds for expansion or improvements.

Special Projects
The Heritage Special Projects program provides funds each year to a broad spectrum of one-time or short-term ventures that enhance the documentation and interpretation of King County history and heritage.

Sustained Support
The biennial Heritage Sustained Support program offers operational support to not-for-profit organizations and public corporations that operate museums and other programs providing heritage services to the public.