Youth Sports and Education Programs

The Youth Sports and Education Programs funding opportunity is administered by the Westchester County Youth Bureau, acting as the designated agent for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. This program is part of a continued statewide initiative originally established in the 2022 state fiscal budget to support youth development through accessible sports and education programming. The Bureau operates under a framework emphasizing Positive Youth Development and the New York State Touchstones Framework, focusing on equitable access to services and opportunities that enable youth to reach their full potential. The purpose of this funding is to support non-competitive sports and physical activity programs for underserved youth between the ages of 6 and 17 in Westchester County. Eligible programs must provide structured, inclusive opportunities such as yoga, hiking, dance, and other physical activities that promote physical health, mental well-being, social development, and community cohesion. Programs are expected to contribute to outcomes such as increased physical activity, improved emotional health, skill development for future employment, and strengthened community relationships. Funding is available for program implementation costs, with awards of up to 30000 per program. Organizations may submit up to two separate program proposals, but funding is not guaranteed for both. Allowable expenses include staff salaries, training, equipment, facility costs, and program-related supplies. Funds must be used within the defined contract period and cannot be carried forward into future years. The anticipated performance period is approximately October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Eligibility is limited to local nonprofit organizations with 501c3 status, municipalities, and local youth bureaus serving Westchester County youth. Applicants must demonstrate operational capacity, including governance, financial management, data collection capabilities, and compliance with child protection policies. Certain entities and activities are explicitly excluded, including for-profit businesses, private foundations, competitive sports teams, capital projects, lobbying activities, and programs that discriminate on protected characteristics. The application process requires submission of a complete proposal package via email in PDF format. Required components include a signed cover letter, proposer certification, detailed program narrative, budget documentation, proof of nonprofit status, financial audit, child protection policy, insurance documentation, and multiple compliance schedules. All proposals must be submitted electronically to the designated email address by the deadline, with strict adherence to formatting and documentation requirements. Incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. The evaluation process is based on a 100-point scoring system that assesses organizational capacity, program design, community need, and budget reasonableness. The County may also consider qualitative factors such as service gaps. Clarification questions must be submitted in advance, and responses are published publicly. Awards are subject to contract negotiation and approval by the County Board. The application timeline includes an issue date of August 5, 2026, a clarification deadline of August 12, 2026, and a final submission deadline of August 27, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. No recurring cycle is explicitly stated, and awards are contingent upon state funding availability.

Focus on strong program design and clear demonstration of community need; ensure all required documents are complete and compliant with formatting rules; emphasize youth development outcomes aligned with evaluation criteria