CRCF: Youth Grants

The CRCF Youth Grants support initiatives that benefit teens aged 12-18 in Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties, Michigan. With a focus on pressing issues like substance abuse, mental wellness, and violence, the grants are awarded through the Youth Advisory Council, consisting of local high school students. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and governmental entities. This program aims to empower youth and address critical challenges they face in today's society.

General Grantmaking Guidelines
The Community Foundation is a public charity organized as a collection of permanent endowments. The income from these endowed funds is awarded through a grant application process to provide charitable funding to nonprofits classified by the IRS as 501(c)(3) organizations and other eligible entities (such as municipalities, schools and faith-based organizations), for projects that predominantly benefit residents of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties, Michigan.
Youth Youth Advisory Council
The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) is a group of high school students from across the tri-county capital region. The YAC keeps tabs on the most pressing issues that affect teens age 12-18 by conducting a Youth Survey and awarding grants to support programs that help teens deal with these issues.
The top three issues facing teens in 2025 are:

• Substance Abuse (especially vaping)Teen Mental Wellness (depression, anxiety, stress, bullying/cyber bullying)Violence (especially gun violence)

Eligibility

Youth Grant proposals must predominantly benefit teens in the tri-county capital region of Michigan.Organizations eligible for Youth Grants must serve youth ages 12-18 in Ingham, Eaton or Clinton counties, and must be one of the following:

A public or non-profit private school A registered student organization within the school
A non-profit charitable organization with IRS 501(c)3 status

Ineligibility

Endowment funds Existing obligations, debts or expenses incurred before the grant approval date