Giving Back to Our Community
In addition to keeping the Tri-Cities moving, Ben Franklin Transit is proud to support the community through our Grant Application for free bus tickets/passes, our Van-Me-Down Program, and our Golf Cart Shuttle Service.
The grant application period for May 2026 is now closed; 15 nonprofit organizations/government agencies have been awarded passes or tickets.
Grant Application
Grant Application for Bus Tickets/Passes for Nonprofit Organizations and Government Agencies
Application Process Guidelines
- Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) is authorized to distribute passes or tickets to 15 nonprofit
organizations/government agencies per month. - Your organization can request passes or tickets with a combined value of up to $750 each month.
- After BFT has received your application, you will receive an email confirming its receipt and
informing you of your organization’s eligibility. - You can apply for monthly passes or 10-ride tickets on a monthly basis.
- If you receive passes or tickets valued at less than $750 for a month and learn that you will need
additional passes or tickets the following month (still totaling less than the $750 threshold),
please send an email to customerservice@bft.org to request additional passes or tickets. - You may apply for the following month’s passes beginning on the 20th of each month.
- You can apply for a minimal number of passes or tickets. Please request only the passes or
tickets your organization would use each quarter. - There are no refunds or exchanges. If you cannot utilize the passes or tickets that you have been
provided, please give them to another eligible nonprofit organization or government agency that
can use them. - If your organization is approved for passes or tickets, you can pick them up at the Customer
Service Center at BFT’s Three Rivers Transit Center at 7109 W. Okanogan Place in Kennewick
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - No monthly reporting is required on the use of the passes or tickets your organization has been
provided. However, you may be asked by BFT to provide periodic reports or updates on how the
tickets were used.
The Van-Me-Down application window closed on January 18, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. A team of BFT staff members will evaluate the applications based on the criteria listed below during the week of January 26, 2026. If your application was not selected, you may reapply in the next cycle.
Ben Franklin Transit Van-Me-Down Program
Affordable Vehicles for Nonprofits
Program Summary
Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) offers surplus vans to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations for $250 per vehicle. These vans are no longer in transit service but are maintained to high safety standards and can help provide community transportation services not currently offered by BFT.
Eligibility
You must:
- Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit
- Serve residents in BFT’s Public Transportation Benefit Area (PTBA), which includes Richland, Kennewick, Pasco, West Richland, Benton City, Prosser, and parts of Benton and Franklin Counties
Vehicle Information
- Types include 7-, 12-, or 15-passenger vans and lift-equipped vehicles
- All vans go through a detailed safety inspection; full maintenance records will be provided to each van’s recipient
- Nonprofits receiving a van through this program are responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the vehicle after taking delivery
- Only one vehicle per agency can be awarded per cycle, unless extras remain
Requirements
✔ Use the van for transportation services that benefit the community
✔ Sign an agreement to document use
✔ Submit a one-year report showing:
- Miles traveled
- Days used
- Number of rides provided
How to Apply
Complete the Van-Me-Down application, which is available online twice per year. A team of BFT staff evaluates the applications and makes awards based on the following criteria.
Selection Criteria Scoring Weight
Community Benefit 50%
Clarity and Quality of Application 25%
Coordination with Other Services 25%
If you would like to apply for golf cart shuttle service for your nonprofit event, please complete the application below.
Golf Cart Shuttle Service Application
Nonprofits may submit a request for golf cart shuttle service at an event one time per year.
In summer 2025, Ben Franklin Transit (BFT) purchased five golf carts for use on its campus. Shortly afterward, the Tri-Cities Regional Chamber requested shuttle support for its annual Women in Business Conference in September. BFT deployed the golf carts as a branded shuttle service for the event, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees and organizers praised the service’s convenience and accessibility, and word of it quickly spread. That single event generated additional requests from other community partners, prompting BFT to formalize the offering as a recurring, safety-focused program.
In response to demand, BFT developed a formal training program to build a pool of qualified, safety-certified drivers, transforming one-time requests into a structured program that supports nonprofits. Event organizers have consistently reported that the shuttles elevated the attendee experience, enhanced accessibility for people with mobility challenges, and improved overall safety.
View the testimonial video about BFT’s golf cart shuttle service here. Some quotes from the video include:
Meggan Tjarks, Boy & Girls Club of Benton and Franklin Counties: “I highly recommend using the BFT golf carts for your next community event.”
Chad Utecht, Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business and Senior Times: “The service that they provided was exceptional.” “It improved our safety at our event.” “We absolutely loved it, and I know our seniors did, too.”
Ricki Gillette, Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce: “I definitely recommend Ben Franklin Transit’s golf service for your major event.”