Youth Grants

Howard County’s Youth Engagement Programming (YEP!) Grants aim to foster youth activities and engagement within Howard County by supporting free, accessible, and supportive programming developed by nonprofit and community organizations. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to empower community organizations with resources to create impactful programs for young people, particularly during non-school hours. The grant's strategic priority is to enhance youth well-being and development through structured engagement, reflecting a theory of change that posits increased access to supportive out-of-school programs leads to improved social-emotional learning, mental health, and overall youth development. The primary target beneficiaries of the YEP! Grants are young people in Howard County. The program's impact goals include providing community organizations with the means to develop and expand programs that focus on social-emotional learning, mental health and wellness, and general activities for youth. By offering these programs outside of traditional school hours, the grants seek to address critical periods when young people may most benefit from engagement and support, thereby contributing to their holistic development and reducing potential negative outcomes associated with unstructured free time. The grants prioritize programming that occurs at least monthly over a 12-month period, engaging youth during weekends, after-school hours, and the summer. A key focus is on ensuring programs are either free or low-cost, with proposals needing to demonstrate how cost barriers are minimized for participants. Additionally, proposals are encouraged to leverage partnerships with other community organizations in Howard County, fostering a collaborative approach to youth development and maximizing resource utilization across the community. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of young people served by engaging activities, a broader geographic impact of programs within Howard County, and successful engagement of youth across various age groups. Grant recipients are required to track performance data, including the number of young people served, geographic reach, and age of youth served, and submit quarterly reports to the Office of the County Executive. This rigorous reporting mechanism ensures accountability and provides measurable results, allowing the Howard County Government to assess the effectiveness of the YEP! grants in achieving their objectives and continually refine their strategic approach to youth engagement.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, schools, and government entities in specific Minnesota and Wisconsin communities to enhance youth education and promote health and fitness initiatives.

The Accelerated Career Education (ACE) Grant Program provides financial aid to 10th to 12th grade public high school students in Georgia, covering tuition, fees, and books for up to 15 semester hours per term at Technical College System of Georgia institutions, to help them pursue technical certificates or diplomas in high-demand fields.

This funding opportunity provides up to $10,000 to school districts in Georgia to support computer science teachers through professional development and the purchase of classroom equipment.

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health (BWCH) oversees Adolescent Health programming to improve the health and well-being of young people in the state. As of 2005, BWCH has been administering state lottery funds for the prevention of teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). According to the Arizona Vital Statistics, from 2011 to 2021, the teen birth rate for Arizona teenagers ages fifteen through nineteen (15-19) has declined from thirty-six point nine (36.9) to fifteen point three (15.3) per 1,000 females. The repeat birth rates of youth of the same age, who had already had a child decreased from 142.7 in 2011 to 135.8 per 1,000 in 2021. Despite the declines, birth rates for Arizona teens ages fifteen through nineteen (15-19)   exceeds   the   national   rate   of   thirteen   point   nine   (13.9)   in   2021 (https://blogs.cdc.gov/nchs/2023/01/20/7245/). Arizona's racial and ethnic groups exhibit significant disparities in teen pregnancy rates, with Hispanic, American Indian, and African American females aged nineteen (19) or younger experiencing the highest rates. In 2021, American Indian youth had a notably elevated pregnancy rate of sixteen point three (16.3) per 1,000 females, surpassing the state average of ten point six (10.6) per 1,000. Similarly, rates for Hispanic or Latino youth were fourteen point four (14.4) per 1,000, and for Black or African American youth, they were twelve point six (12.6) per 1,000, both above the state average, while rates for White Non-Hispanics six (6) per 1,000 and Asian or Pacific Islanders three point four (3.4) per 1,000 were considerably lower. Teen pregnancy is intricately linked with complex factors such as school failure, behavioral issues, and family challenges, which often hinder youths’ ability to avoid pregnancy. Positive Youth Development (PYD) programs present a promising approach by emphasizing the enhancement of protective factors over merely addressing risk behaviors. These programs have shown efficacy in reducing sexual risk behaviors, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and unintended pregnancies. By fostering ongoing development and maturation, PYD programs empower youth to recognize and manage risk-taking behaviors, making them a viable strategy for teen pregnancy prevention (Gavin et al., 2010). According to the 2021 Arizona Surveillance STD case data, forty-nine percent (49%) of STD cases (chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis) in Arizona were among adolescents under the age of twenty-five (25). Since 2019, the rate of chlamydia among teenagers fifteen through nineteen (15-19) years old has been slowly decreasing but still remains high at 2,031 per 100,000 in 2019 to 1,729 per 100,000 in 2021. For gonorrhea, the rate among these teenagers increased from 384 per 100,000 in 2019 to 467 per 100,000 in 2021. As for syphilis, in 2019, twenty-two (22) per 100,000 fifteen through nineteen (15-19) year-old teenagers were reported to have syphilis, increasing to twenty-six (26) per 100,000 in 2021. Regarding STDs/STIs, major disparities between Arizona’s racial and ethnic groups also persist. The Arizona 2021 Annual STD Report indicates that Black (994 per 100,000) and American Indian/Alaska Native (787 per 100,000) populations have consistently higher rates of chlamydia, the Black population (763 per 100,000) continues to have the highest rate of gonorrhea, and the American Indian/Alaska Native (172 per 100,000) and Black (123 per 100,000) populations have the highest rates of syphilis, surpassing their Hispanic, White, and Asian/Pacific Islander counterparts. Financial Notes: Approximately $700,000.00 will be available each Grant year for a five (5) year grant period to provide services to youth for the prevention of teen pregnancies and STIs. Annual funding for services will be provided during the state fiscal year, from July through June; Therefore, the first and last years of funding will be partial funding: first year funded upon award through June 30, 2025; fifth year from July 1, 2029 through September 30, 2029. Budgets will be reviewed annually and may be decreased based on: 1. Changes in state lottery funding allocations. 2. Failure to meet the number of youths proposed to be served; or meet the required program completion by youth for Teen Pregnancy Prevention Programming. 3. Failure to comply with Grant requirements. 4. Negative audit findings. 5. Failure to spend budget funds efficiently.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for K-12 schools in Georgia to enhance computer science education by enabling teachers to pursue professional development, certifications, and endorsements.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that enhance the quality of life for residents in the Gert Town neighborhood of New Orleans through various community-focused initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to schools and educators in Georgia to improve outdoor learning experiences for preK-12 students through various initiatives like professional development, schoolyard enhancements, and field trips.

This funding opportunity supports rural Georgia public elementary schools in partnering with local child care programs to improve early literacy practices and ensure a smooth transition for young students entering school.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects by Georgia public school teachers that aim to enhance student learning and make a significant impact on their educational experiences.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and public entities in specific East Tennessee counties to deliver holiday gifts and seasonal assistance to under-resourced and underserved children in need.

This funding opportunity supports local organizations in Lewis County to implement innovative programs that address the opioid crisis through prevention, treatment, and recovery initiatives.

The Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services (DMHSS) is offering a grant program to support Youth Team Sports (YTS) programs for underserved youth under the age of 18. This initiative aims to foster the development and operation of organized physical activities that encourage competition among groups of two or more individuals. The program's mission aligns with the DMHSS's broader goal of promoting the well-being of the community's youth, recognizing the significant role that sports can play in their holistic development. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are underserved youth under 18 in Chautauqua County. The program's impact goals are multifaceted, extending beyond mere physical activity. It seeks to achieve educational connection and achievement, physical health and well-being, mental health and well-being, employment, and community cohesion. These goals highlight a comprehensive approach to youth development, acknowledging the interconnectedness of various aspects of a young person's life. The funding awards are guided by a set of core principles that serve as the program's priorities and focuses. These include educational connection and achievement, emphasizing the link between sports participation and academic success; physical health and well-being, promoting active lifestyles; mental health and well-being, recognizing the positive impact of sports on emotional and psychological health; employment, potentially through skill development and teamwork; and community cohesion, fostering a sense of belonging and collective effort. The expected outcomes and measurable results are tied to these guiding principles. By supporting YTS programs, the DMHSS anticipates improvements in the educational engagement and academic performance of participating youth, enhanced physical fitness and reduced health risks, improved mental resilience and emotional regulation, development of transferable skills that can aid in future employment, and a stronger sense of community and social responsibility among the youth. Each applicant can request up to $15,000 in funding to support programming for the program year of October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025. The program, created under the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), reflects a strategic priority to invest in community-based initiatives that directly address the needs of vulnerable youth. The underlying theory of change posits that by providing access to organized team sports, underserved youth will gain valuable life skills, improve their overall well-being, and become more engaged and productive members of their communities. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits or other community-based organizations operating in Chautauqua County that meet specific requirements, further underscoring the commitment to local, impactful interventions.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and community groups in Connecticut to support projects that improve mental health for Black men and boys through training or awareness campaigns.

The Centre Foundation's Field-of-Interest grant program, open to qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental units in Centre County, Pennsylvania, offers $162,914 in funding for projects focusing on education, health, social services, arts, and youth development, to be used within a year starting from December 2024.

The Community Foundation of Mendocino County is offering the Charles F. Flinn and Walker B. Tilley Fund for Sustainable Forestry, a grant program designed to support the economic, social, and environmental values of Mendocino County's working forests and rangelands. The foundation's primary mission, as aligned with this grant, is to make grants to nonprofit organizations that assist public and small private (non-industrial) forest owners. This initiative reflects the foundation's strategic priority to foster sustainable practices within the region's vital natural resources. The target beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations working with public and small private forest owners in Mendocino County. The overarching impact goal is to enhance the long-term sustainability and health of these working forests and rangelands, ensuring they provide ongoing economic benefits, social value, and ecological integrity. The foundation's theory of change posits that by supporting these organizations, it can empower forest owners to adopt best management practices and implement projects that directly contribute to these multifaceted goals. The program prioritizes a range of key activities. These include research and demonstration projects, particularly those involving re-measurement of plots, and public and youth education and outreach focused on the economic production of forests, rather than solely conservation. Education on best management practices is also a core focus. Furthermore, the fund supports restoration efforts for forests and watersheds, with a preference for forest restoration projects over stream restoration, as well as the removal of invasive species and mitigation of forest road impacts. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved forest health, increased adoption of sustainable forestry practices, enhanced economic viability for small forest owners, and greater public understanding and engagement with sustainable forest management. Specific activities like fire management, including Tan-Oak management, and fish and wildlife habitat protection and enhancement, are also key areas of focus. The foundation anticipates that these investments will lead to a more resilient and productive forest ecosystem within Mendocino County, demonstrating tangible progress in sustainable land management.

This grant provides funding to nonprofits in Mendocino County to create enriching outdoor experiences for disadvantaged youth and adults, promoting personal growth, environmental stewardship, and community engagement.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and public service entities in Boone County, Illinois, to support community-oriented projects that improve residents' quality of life through health services, education, and cultural initiatives.

The Huron County Community Foundation (HCCF) is currently accepting applications for its fall grant cycle, inviting projects that aim to make a positive impact on Huron County, Michigan. As a nonprofit community corporation, HCCF's mission is deeply rooted in supporting the people of Huron County by fostering prosperity. This is achieved through a focus on Community & Economic Growth, aligning the grant program directly with the foundation's core purpose of enhancing the well-being and development of the region. HCCF's strategic priorities are designed to cultivate a thriving environment within Huron County. These include retaining and attracting a talented, trained workforce, creating vibrant and dynamic communities, and cultivating an environment conducive to business development. Projects addressing these areas are given preference for unrestricted grantmaking dollars. This focus reflects the foundation's theory of change, which posits that by investing in these key areas, they can catalyze broader community and economic growth, leading to a more prosperous future for all residents. Beyond the strategic priorities, the HCCF also encourages applications for projects that address numerous other interest areas, indicating a broad scope for potential beneficiaries. These areas include Arts and Culture, Education, Health & Medicine, Basic Needs Services, Beautification of Huron County, Natural Areas Preservation, Disadvantaged Youth, Recreation, and Women in STEM. This diverse range of focus areas ensures that a wide array of community needs and interests can be supported, reflecting a comprehensive approach to community development and impact. Applicants are required to submit a detailed project narrative, outlining the project's description and purpose, including its location and the number of people it will serve. This narrative should also address the project's long-term impact and measurable results, demonstrating how the grant from HCCF would be recognized. Furthermore, applicants must describe their evaluation methods to determine if their purpose was accomplished, and provide a budget with estimated income and expenses. These guidelines are designed to ensure accountability and to help the HCCF assess the potential effectiveness and sustainability of each proposed project, ultimately aiming for impactful and measurable outcomes that align with the foundation's mission.

The Skillman Foundation President's Youth Council is offering a grant opportunity designed and implemented by youth, from concept development to funding decisions. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission by fostering youth leadership and voice, empowering young people to shape their communities. The program aims to support Detroit-based and/or Detroit-serving organizations that are youth-led or actively increase youth leadership within their structures. The target beneficiaries of this grant are Detroit youth, with a particular interest in supporting grassroots organizations. The program's impact goals are centered on developing youth leadership and providing opportunities for young people to express their voice. While all eligible applications will be considered, the youth council members specifically prioritize identifying and supporting these grassroots efforts, recognizing their potential for deep community impact and authentic youth engagement. To be eligible, organizations must be a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity (or apply through a fiscal sponsor), be based in Detroit or serve Detroit youth, and offer opportunity and service inclusively, regardless of age, race, creed, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. These requirements ensure that the grants support legitimate organizations committed to equitable service delivery within the Detroit community. The expected outcomes of this grant program include strengthening youth-led initiatives, enhancing the leadership capacity of Detroit youth, and empowering young people to drive positive change in their city. While specific measurable results are not detailed in the provided information, the youth council's direct involvement in designing the decision-making process suggests an emphasis on effective program delivery and meaningful impact for Detroit's youth. This initiative reflects the Skillman Foundation's strategic priority of investing in the potential of young people and their capacity for leadership and community transformation.