Developing Agency, Identity, and Belonging In Young People Grants

Developing Agency, Identity, and Belonging In Young People Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Colorado Health Foundation
Last Updated: November 22, 2025

Summary

The Developing Agency, Identity, and Belonging In Young People Grants aim to empower BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and other marginalized youth by creating safe spaces that foster community and belonging. This funding supports programs focused on developing identity, agency, and resilience, helping young people navigate challenges. Eligible organizations can apply for up to $250,000 over two years, prioritizing culturally responsive and inclusive initiatives that actively involve youth in program development.

Overview

Priority Area: Thriving Young People- Developing Agency, Identity and Belonging in Young People This funding opportunity is intended to support programs that provide safe, welcoming spaces for young people to develop trusted relationships outside of school or home. It supports programs that help young people who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ or members of other groups facing inequities, feel a sense of belonging, community and connection. It will also provide these young people with greater access to programs informed by and responsive to their cultural backgrounds, helping them build the characteristics needed to navigate adverse circumstances and feel a sense of agency regarding their physical and mental well-being. BIPOC and LGBTQIA2S+ identified young people are more likely to experience adverse childhood experiences related to being in oppressed groups, including racism, bullying/otherization, community and systemic violence, and gentrification-related harms. These challenges are evident in Colorado. Funding will be considered for programming focused on groups of young people experiencing significant inequities including those whose first language is not English, immigrants and refugees, those who have been involved in the juvenile criminal legal system, those who are involved with or aging out of the foster care system, or those living with disabilities. This funding opportunity is informed by the learning and evaluation of two completed funding opportunities: Culturally Responsive and Youth-Driven Physical Well-Being; and Supporting Healthy Minds and Youth Resiliency. The work done under those opportunities has been impactful but having two youth programming opportunities created challenges for grantees as well as the Foundation’s strategic effort. They’ve been merged and evolved into this new funding opportunity. Funding Details Organizations may seek up to two years of project support. Organizations may request up to $125,000 per year for a total of $250,000 over two years.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Programs must intentionally serve BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ or youth experiencing significant inequities who are primary and/or secondary school aged. Programs serving areas with populations of 50,000+ should be designed to specifically serve BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA2S+ youth.  Programs serving areas with populations below 50,000 must be intentionally culturally responsive and inclusive of BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA2S+ youth. Programs must support young people as they build their skills and/or develop in each of the following areas:  Development of identity: Young people will feel confident and affirmed in their identities and able to explore them safely.Demonstration of agency: Young people will engage in programming that facilitates their making positive change in their lives and communities through demonstrated exercise of power and influenceExperience of belonging: Young people will establish supportive relationships with peers and trusted adults and understand themselves to be valued members of their communities.Programs should incorporate learning of historic and current societal systems, the inequities present in those systems and the role identities play in those systems. This learning should be specific to the youth being served and focused on. Programs that help young people connect to their identities and the communities that share their identity will be prioritized. Programs must engage, affirm, and intentionally respond to cultural identities and dynamics of the young people served: Program components are designed or adapted to meet historical and contemporary cultural needs.Program staff bring lived and learned experiences that help them understand the needs, identities and culture of participants, and reflect the communities they serve.The organization has a history with and is trusted by participants.Programming affirms participants’ languages and traditions.Programming builds on community and cultural strengths.Programs must include the same group of young people and adults meeting over a sustained period. Programs during the school year should have programming engagement for at least 35 hours per school year, and summer programs should be at least 3 weeks long with 75 hours of engagement.  Programs must involve, collaborate with and empower the young people served and/or their families and be responsive to their feedback. For programming focused on elementary-aged children, regular communication and intentional and explicit incorporation of families into the development and improvement of programming is required.For middle and high school-aged programming, direct engagement with youth in the programming around how to develop and improve it is required.

Ineligibility

Organizations currently receiving funding for Supporting Healthy Minds and Youth Resiliency and/or Supporting Holistic, Culturally Responsive and Youth-Driven Physical Well-Being will not be eligible to apply for this funding opportunity until their grant has ended.  What We Will Not Fund:Programming that is based in schools, for school credit.Programs that lack a deep understanding of the needs and desires of the young people served and their community.Programs primarily focused on mentorship without a relational or community-based component with adults and fellow young people.Programs that do not require ongoing participation for a specific duration (e.g. drop-in programs).Programs centered on competition or whose primary outcome is focused on training toward individual athletic ability.Programs that require a fee for participation and do not have an intentional sliding-scale or scholarship system.Programs that provide clinical mental health care.Grants focused on planning or program development.