Right Now Needs Fund
When the basic needs of students are met, they are more likely to succeed within and beyond the classroom. Founded in 2018, the Right Now Needs Fund is an Alliance for Education program that works at the individual school level to support the immediate basic needs of Seattle students and families. The Fund covers the cost of warm clothing, meals, and housing for students at all Seattle Public Schools, addressing student needs that are not otherwise funded in a school budget. The Fund is designed to be efficient, flexible and impactful. Created in partnership with Amazon, the Right Now Needs Fund distributes more than $1M annually to address the basic needs of Seattle students and families.
Receive Support with Basic Needs
The Right Now Needs Fund supports immediate, basic needs like clothing, meals, shelter, utilities and more. If you or someone you know has an unmet basic need, please reach out to your Seattle Public Schools principal, family support worker or school counselor.
Impact and Reach
Frequently Asked Questions
The funds can be spent on addressing the immediate basic needs of students. Examples of appropriate expenditures include clothing, food, school supplies, shelter/rent, utilities and more. Funds cannot be spent on existing school budget expenses.
The Right Now Needs Fund can be accessed by contacting your child’s principal, family support worker or school counselor to request a disbursement.
Any staff or school community member should refer a student to the school principal, family support worker or school counselor to fulfill a request. School staff at each building play an integral role in connecting needs to supports. Requests submitted directly to the Alliance not via Seattle Public Schools staff cannot be fulfilled.
The Alliance for Education is responsible for managing the Right Now Needs Fund. The Alliance disburse the funds and track its usage for schools in Seattle Public Schools working to increase educational justice and racial equity.
Since 1995, the Alliance has addressed crucial challenges facing Seattle students, families and educators as the only local education fund working with all Seattle Public Schools. The Alliance team has the infrastructure and experience required to oversee school-based resources district wide. The Alliance currently manages 175+ school and PTA accounts, process check requests, and deliver timely reports that provide accountability and expertise to each school we support.