Youth Endowment Grant Application

Our Youth Endowment supports youth causes and organizations across our region. 

Youth Endowment grants are open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, organizations with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor, education institutions, governmental entities, and Tribal organizations across Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, and Leelanau Counties as well as the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, a federally recognized Tribe.

The total amount available for grants this year is $91,800 or $18,360 per county. Applicants may request funding from one or more counties for up to $5,000 per county.

Photo credit: The Rock of Kingsley, one of our previous Youth Endowment grant partners

Grant Eligibililty

• Requests can be for programs, projects, or operational support.
• Requests should respond to need(s) identified as important by the local youth in our community, as noted in our Youth Needs Assessment and/or our Youth Wellness Initiative report.

Preference is given for requests that:

• Build positive developmental opportunities for area youth.
• Offer a unique and innovative opportunity for the county it will serve (i.e. not a duplication of existing services or programs)
• Demonstrate support by community members and youth. 

Grant Review Process

• Each application is read and reviewed by members of our Youth Advisory Councils (YAC).
• YAC Members in each county meet in October/November for a County Grantmaking Meeting to review and discuss the grant applications, and recommend how grant funds in their county should be awarded. Grant applicants may be required to have a representative give a short presentation at the Grantmaking meeting in each of the counties to which they are applying. 
• Recommendations for funding are brought to our Board of Directors in early December for final approval. Following this, all applicants will be notified of the decisions and grant funds are anticipated to be disbursed by mid-December.

Apply Now

• Youth Endowment grant applications are closed for 2023.

Application Notes:

• Applicants may request funding from one or more counties for up to $5,000 per county.
• If you are applying for a grant in more than one county for the same program, you do not need to submit more than one application.
• If you are providing the same program, but it differs in cost, implementation or population served, or plan to provide a completely different program in each county, a separate grant application is required for each county.

Post-Grant Reports

The Community Foundation values data and how it informs both our ongoing impact and future grants. Post-grant reports will be sent to grant partners and are intended to provide feedback on our process and effectiveness as grantmakers. 

Questions

Contact Torey Caviston, Youth & Community Impact Coordinator, at tcaviston@gtrcf.org, or by calling 231-935-4066 ext. 111.