Tourism Funding Opportunities

Current Funding Opportunities

Apply Now: Bellingham 2026 Fan Zone – Celebrate the world’s game

Request for Proposals (RFP) – Bellingham 2026 Fan Zone

Issued: October 22, 2025 
Proposals due: December 10, 2025 
World’s Soccer Tournament: June 11 – July 19, 2026 

Employee Benefits

Webinar: Learn more about this exciting funding opportunity and how you can get involved.

Join us for this free webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on December 4. City of Bellingham and Downtown Bellingham Partnership staff will present an overview of this Request for Proposals and respond to your questions.

About the RFP 

The City of Bellingham and partners seek projects to enliven celebrations in Bellingham leading up to and during the worldwide soccer tournament coming to North America in 2026. Individuals, businesses and organizations are invited to submit proposals for events, watch parties, improvements, and other celebrations to enhance our community and celebrate the world’s favorite soccer tournament. Our goal is to celebrate in a way that is inclusive, hyper-local, and empowering to the many passionate organizations and businesses that make Bellingham special. 

A range of funding, from various sources, will be distributed through this Request for Proposals (RFP). Funding will be focused on projects occurring between June 11-July 19, 2026, aligned with the worldwide soccer tournament dates and peak tourism season. Funders will be focused on creating memorable experiences for visitors and residents by creating a concentrated series of opportunities to celebrate soccer.  

Projects are being solicited under four tracks:  

This category is to support one or more outdoor community watch parties on June 19, 2026, when the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team is scheduled to play in Seattle. The team draw on December 5, 2025 will determine who will play against the U.S. men’s team in this match. Up to $25,000 will be contracted for each watch party to reimburse expenses related to hosting a small or mid-sized (250-1,500 attendee) event. Applicants may propose alternative or additional dates. 

This category is designed to maximize community participation and ensure that Bellingham is alive with soccer spirit and celebration throughout the soccer tournament. Instead of hosting a single watch party location, multiple venues will be designated as Bellingham fan zone venues. These designated venues will serve as community hubs where locals and visitors can gather to watch matches and enjoy interactive, engaging fan experiences. Between $2,500 to $10,000 will be contracted to successful applicants, depending on the scope of the proposed community benefits and infrastructure needs. 

We strongly encourage applications from venues with existing: 

  • Indoor and/or outdoor gathering spaces 
  • Screens or projection capability 
  • Staff to manage operations during matches 
  • Seating areas or flexible event layouts 
  • Permits in place and in good standing. 

This category is to support downtown businesses to prepare for the influx of visitors anticipated during the tournament and capitalize on the excitement of worldwide sports competition. The Downtown Bellingham Partnership (DBP) received funding from the Seattle Foundation via the WA State Dept of Commerce to support local businesses with planning and expenses related to preparations for the worldwide soccer tournament. Award amounts of up to $5,000 will be allocated to businesses and venues depending on the scope of the project and community benefits. 

Projects may include, but not be limited to: 

  • Window decals or displays 
  • Signage and printing 
  • Planters or landscaping 
  • Decorative lighting 
  • Sidewalk programming (busking), sales or events 
  • Storefront improvements 

This category will support experiences, activities and events that promote and/or amplify the festive soccer tournament atmosphere. Activities may be standalone or partnered with a venue (“Designated Fan Zone Venue”) or watch party (“Community Watch Party”) in other funding tracks. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to coordinate and deliver all aspects of their proposed activity, including staffing, permits, and insurance (if required). Award amounts between $2,500 to $5,000 will be allocated to selected projects, depending on the scope of the project, community benefits, and funding needs. 

Projects may include, but are not limited to: 

  • Outdoor games or soccer-related activities, such as futsal or soccer tournaments  
  • Pop-up youth soccer clinics 
  • Soccer-related documentary film screenings 
  • Performances or live music 
  • Cultural celebrations, storytelling, or dance 

We especially welcome proposals that are family-friendly, free or low-cost to attend, showcase local identity, diverse voices, and creative expression, and foster inclusive experiences for visitors and residents. 

Read the RFP for details about each track and how to apply. 

Read the RFP

How to apply

  • You must submit your proposal with all of the required elements outlined in the full RFP on or before noon, 12:00 PM PST on December 10, 2025. We will not consider submissions received past this deadline. 
  • You must submit your proposal as a single, combined PDF attachment that may not exceed five pages.  
  • Submittals will only be accepted via email, addressed to: Darby Galligan, Senior Planner, City of Bellingham, Planning and Community Development at dgalligan@cob.org. 

Refer to the full RFP for detailed application requirements. 

Proposal scoring 

Proposals will be evaluated for completeness and feasibility, then scored by a review committee of local tourism and organizational representatives, based on criteria outlined in the RFP. You may be invited for a follow-up interview or in-person meeting before final decisions are made. 

Questions 

Email Darby Galligan, Senior Planner, City of Bellingham. 

Frequently Asked Questions

I live outside of Bellingham city limits, am I eligible to apply?   

Applicants may be from outside the city limits but watch parties/venues/activations must be within Bellingham. 

Can individuals apply?  

Yes, but the contract with the City will need to include insurance, business registration and a W9 with the respective entity. 

Are separate applications required for different business locations? 

Separate business locations should be submitted as individual applications to streamline the review process. 

Do multiple watch party dates need to provide separate applications? 

An application can include more than one track, either as separate projects or combined complimentary activities. The budget should clearly show the cost of each individual activity or event (separate those categories, as well as the cost for each date, if there are multiple watch parties).  

I see that funding may be used for “project development and design.” Could that include personnel time spent developing and designing the project?  

Yes, for the soccer-related activations (track 4) only, funding may be used for personnel time to develop, design and implement the project. However, the city would require this time to be billed at a flat rate for performing the service/milestone and not by individual hourly wages, and this fee must be proportionate to the level of effort required and the total funding amount. 

Can we charge admission? 

Yes, for Track 1, Community Watch Party, SeattleFWC26 has indicated that Community Watch Party organizers may charge a nominal admission fee, not to exceed $10-$12 total, inclusive of all taxes and service fees. For other tracks, you may propose admission fees, and the City’s evaluation process will take that into consideration. 

Would we be considered for funding if we offer limited viewing dates for Designated Venues — say one or two (possibly three) events in total?   

A limited scope viewing venue would be eligible, but you’re correct that it might score lower than applications for venues showing more matches. The priority is to fund venues that show as many matches as possible. 

Responses apply to Track 1: Community Watch Party Track (“Watch Party”) only. If you are applying under Track 2: Bellingham Fan Zone Venue (“Venue”) Track, please assume that the applicant will secure a broadcast license directly through Fox or Telemundo or other.  

The city’s expectation is that venues will maintain necessary broadcast licenses. However, if you are proposing to operate as a venue, but televising sports events is not a regular part of your operations, you may include the cost of obtaining a broadcast license in your budget. The venue applicant is responsible for estimating the broadcast license cost, securing the appropriate license, and ensuring full compliance with all conditions and requirements associated with that license. Please see fifa’s guidance and regulations regarding public viewing here: https://publicviewing.Fifa.Org/public_viewing   

Question: How do we get the broadcast to watch? How much does it cost us? Will all matches be available? 

 The City understands from the SeattleFWC26 planning committee that both the City and the Watch Party organizer (applicant) are responsible for securing broadcast permissions through Fox or Telemundo. SeattleFWC26 will coordinate with the City to obtain these permissions and has agreed to cover the associated broadcast fee (subject to their approval) for Seattle matches. SeattleFWC26 has not provided the City with the details.  

The City will collaborate with selected Watch Party applicants and SeattleFWC26 before finalizing any contracts. If you are applying to host a Community Watch Party that is not being played in Seattle (the final match, for example), the City will include the cost of the broadcast fees in the final contract (beyond the $25,000 maximum grant amount). For applicants under the Watch Party category, please list broadcast fees as $0.  

Question: Is everything live or will replays be available? 

All broadcasts should be assumed to be live only. 

Employee Benefits

Related Opportunity: Downtown Activation and Beautification Grants

The City is seeking projects to bring art, exhibits and events
to Downtown Bellingham in 2026.

Previously Funded Opportunities

Tourism Grant Projects

Signature Events 

These grants support special events or unique public experiences. Ideas funded by prior signature event grants include Ski to Sea, SeaFeast, Northwest Tune-up, and Bellingham Exit. Unlike the Standard and Start Up Tourism Grants, the Signature Event Grant is not offered annually.

>> Learn more about Signature Events grants.

Contact Us

For questions or more information, please email tourism@cob.org.

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