Our Empowered Youth Grant

Our Empowered Youth, funded by Meyer Memorial Trust, focuses on enhancing educational equity in Oregon. The initiative supports community organizing to ensure access to resources for historically marginalized students. It aims to build leadership among youth and promote policies that foster educational justice. Organizations applying for funding must align their goals with these priorities, emphasizing community engagement and the cultivation of a diverse educator workforce, while adhering to eligibility requirements.

About the Portfolio
Through Our Empowered Youth, we support strategies that ensure Oregon’s children have access to a fully resourced education — one that empowers them to reach their highest aspirations. Our focus is on efforts that build community power, expand opportunities for historically marginalized students and support educators and leaders who reflect the diversity of the students they serve.
Funding Goals
Community organizing is our top priority in this year’s funding opportunity. We’re looking for organizations that are building power to influence education policy, hold decision-makers accountable and uplift narratives to make schools more just and equitable for all students.
We also want to continue supporting work that advances racial equity in education like culturally specific programs that close opportunity gaps or efforts to grow and retain educators of color across Oregon. However, we will allocate a smaller portion of our grant dollars for these efforts.
A subset of the portfolio’s overall goals and strategies are outlined in the chart below. Applicants will be required to select one goal and strategy that best aligns with their proposed work to be considered for funding.
Strategies (Choose One)
Strengthen community capacity to engage in systems and policy change for educational justiceIncrease leadership opportunities for youth and community to advocate for educational justice

Eligibility

Meyer will accept applications from the following types of organizations:
501(c)(3) public charitiesState, local and tribal governments (including public schools)Tax-exempt faith-based organizationsFiscally sponsored charitable groups or programsAdditional Eligibility Requirements:
In order to start an application, you will be asked to confirm that the applicant organization(s) meet the following general eligibility requirements:Meyer will only fund work that takes place in or otherwise benefits people in Oregon.Meyer funds cannot be used for proselytizing.In addition, applicants must comply with Meyer’s policy regarding nondiscrimination.Examples of Work We May FundBuilding a base of community leaders to shape policies at local school districtsDeveloping narratives about the importance of an equitable public educationEfforts to strengthen community organizing infrastructure

Ineligibility

We Won’t Fund
Arts and music programsAfterschool programsEducator Professional DevelopmentAthletic programsUnallowable Costs
Capital improvements or construction costs
Lobbying activities. See the “Projects with Lobbying” section of this document for more information
Voter registration activities
Efforts to support or oppose candidates for political office