CFSM Youth Leadership Grants

CFSM Youth Leadership Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan
Amount: US $2,500 - US $20,000
Last Updated: March 02, 2026

Summary

The CFSM Youth Leadership Grants support youth-led programs that empower young people to take leadership roles within their communities in southeast Michigan. Established in 1991, this initiative encourages youth participation in grant proposal reviews and has funded over $1.8 million in youth-serving grants. Grants typically range from $2,500 to $20,000, fostering partnerships and enhancing young people's awareness of critical local issues. Applications are reviewed by the Youth Advisory Committee, ensuring youth voices are central to the decision-making process.

Overview

Purpose Working with youth and youth-serving nonprofits in the region, we support programs that give young people a voice in their communities and help them gain leadership experience Background The Community Foundation’s Youth Leadership project was established in 1991 with a $1 million challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. These funds established an endowed youth fund that would, in perpetuity, involve young people in reviewing grant proposals from organizations that benefit youth in southeast Michigan. Impact For more than 30 years, our middle school- and high school-aged youth advisors have recommended 245 youth-serving grants totaling more than $1.8 million. These grants have had a real impact on growing youth leaders at nonprofit organizations across the region. The Youth Leadership project makes several grants each year that typically range in size from $2,500 to $20,000. The grants are made to local nonprofit organizations or school districts proposing a project that will either involve youth in the development of the program or will build opportunities for youth leaders. Here are a few key facts about applications to the Youth Leadership Fund: Grants generally range in size from $2,500 to $20,000 and are made twice a yearGrants are made only to youth-led programs, meaning that youth are involved in the vision for the project, the development of the application, and will be involved in implementing the work if a grant is received; it’s great if the youth have adult allies who are assisting or supporting them in their effort, but youth must be involved for a grant to be considered Proposed projects should enhance young people’s knowledge of critical issues facing southeast Michigan Proposed projects should strengthen existing partnerships or promote new partnerships that can bring together young people of different backgrounds School districts may apply in addition to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations; thus, if a group of youth is working within their school to better their community in some way, the district may apply for support for the project Applications will be reviewed by a group of young people the Community Foundation oversees called the Youth Advisory Committee; they make grant recommendations to the Community Foundation’s Board

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Grants are made only to youth-led programs, meaning that youth are involved in the vision for the project, the development of the application, and will be involved in implementing the work if a grant is received;it’s great if the youth have adult allies who are assisting or supporting them in their effort, but youth must be involved for a grant to be considered. Proposed projects should enhance young people’s knowledge of critical issues facing southeast Michigan. Proposed projects should strengthen existing partnerships or promote new partnerships that can bring together young people of different backgrounds .School districts may apply in addition to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations;thus, if a group of youth is working within their school to better their community in some way, the district may apply for support for the project .