Community Youth Grant Program

The Community Youth Grant Program is administered by the Office of Community and Child Health at Riley Children’s Health, which operates in collaboration with Indiana University Health and is supported by Riley Children’s Foundation. The office focuses on advancing child health outcomes across Indiana, with a particular emphasis on Marion County, by fostering community-rooted programs, partnerships, and pathways to care. Its approach recognizes that sustainable improvements in child health require long-term collaboration with trusted local organizations that understand the lived experiences of families and children. The purpose of this grant program is to strengthen community-based efforts that address gaps in healthcare access and social determinants of health affecting children. The Office of Community and Child Health emphasizes the importance of trust-based partnerships and coordinated infrastructure to overcome challenges such as fragmented services and underfunded community organizations. By investing in local initiatives, the program aims to create durable systems that improve health equity and expand access to preventive services for children and families. Funding is intended to support prevention-centered initiatives that improve child health and wellbeing across Marion County. The program prioritizes projects focused on gun violence prevention, injury prevention such as bike and water safety, health and wellness initiatives addressing issues like obesity and mental health, and childhood immunizations. These focus areas align with the office’s broader 3P Framework, which centers on Programs, Partnerships, and Pathways, and seeks to build coordinated systems of care that are responsive to community needs. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, government programs, or organizations working with a qualified fiscal sponsor. Applicants must actively serve residents under the age of 18 in Marion County and align their proposed work with at least one of the program’s priority areas. The program encourages applications from grassroots organizations and those operating with annual budgets under one million dollars, particularly those rooted in under-resourced communities. Certain entities and activities are explicitly excluded from funding, including individuals, for-profit organizations, political or religious campaigns, fundraising events, discriminatory activities, and youth sports leagues. Applications must be submitted through an online grant management system, and organizations are required to create an account using an official organizational email address. The submission window opens in mid-July and closes in mid-August, with no extensions granted for late submissions due to technical issues. Applicants may participate in optional virtual information sessions held in July to better understand program expectations and requirements. Questions about the application must be submitted via email by an early August deadline. Awards range from ten thousand to fifty thousand dollars and are distributed through a competitive process. Selected grantees are notified in mid-September, with the grant period beginning in mid-October and lasting approximately one year. During the grant cycle, recipients are required to attend monthly support meetings and submit both mid-year and final reports detailing program impact, key metrics, financial expenditures, and lessons learned. The program also includes expectations for sustainability planning and collaboration among community partners to ensure long-term impact beyond the funding period.

Focus on evidence based or trauma informed approaches demonstrate collaboration target high risk zip codes and propose sustainable infrastructure rather than one time activities