Greenville Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) Grant Cycle

Greenville Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) Grant Cycle

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Greenville Area Community Foundation
Last Updated: August 11, 2025

Summary

The Greenville Youth Advisory Council (GYAC) Grant Cycle, supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, empowers local youth through philanthropy, having established an endowment exceeding $1 million. This initiative encourages community engagement by funding projects addressing critical youth issues such as mental health, racism, and bullying. Nonprofits, schools, and municipalities in the greater Greenville area are invited to apply, fostering collaboration and addressing the community's pressing needs based on regular student surveys.

Overview

Greenville Youth Advisory Council Through an opportunity provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, GACF was able to start an arm of our community foundation in May of 1993 to specifically provide youth participation in philanthropy. That group is called the Greenville Youth Advisory Council (GYAC). Locally raised funds combined with matching funds from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation provides an endowment fund of over $1,000,000 for the GYAC to use to award grants that benefit youth-related needs in the community. Members of this very active and involved group come from the Greenville area and are learning first-hand about the importance of community involvement and philanthropy. GYAC utilizes criteria to assist with decisions in the grantmaking process. Some of the major considerations include: Number of area youth affected by the grantArea where youth will be most affected by the grant (geographic location)Ability of the grant to fulfill the needs of area youthYouth involvement with the grant application Grant Priorities This cycle is open to greater Greenville area nonprofits with programs or projects that fall within the identified needs of area youth. Every three years, GYAC surveys local students to identify needs, and compiles the results into a Needs Assessment, serving to guide grant funding where it is most needed. The GYAC priority needs include: Mental HealthRacismDrunk DrivingBullying/ CyberbullyingDrug AbusePhysical/ Emotional AbuseSexismPollution & LitteringSexual Harassment/ AssaultViolence/ Gun Violence

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations (under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), schools, municipalities and other government entities that serve a charitable purpose in the greater Greenville area are encouraged to apply for grants to fund programs or projects that address the community’s educational, health, human service, environmental, and recreational concerns.

Ineligibility

What will typically not be funded?Annual fund-raising drives; Endowments - unless they are within the GACF Family of endowmentsReligious programs that advocate specific religious doctrines or do not serve the broader community;What will typically not be funded … but could be considered?General/yearly operating support other than organizational startup expenses.Projects, outside the geographic service area of the GACF.