Funding Amount

Up to $400

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

WISH: What Inspires Students' Hearts

Overview: The WISH Program helps youth in foster care attend camps, participate in sports, and engage in extracurricular and enrichment activities by providing grants to offset activity costs.

Purpose: To help youth dream big and reach their educational and enrichment goals by removing financial barriers to participation.

Award Amount: Up to $400 per grant

Eligible Request Categories

Education

  • Tutoring

  • Laptops and learning tools

  • College needs
  • Enrichment

  • Camps

  • Extracurricular activities

  • Sports

  • Music or art lessons
  • Overall Self-Esteem

  • Cultural connection activities

  • Specialty clothing (not regular clothing available at Project Lemonade Store)

  • Therapeutic needs

  • Self-expression activities
    • Non-Eligible Expenses

      WISH does not fund:
    • Toys
    • Furniture
    • Cell phones
    • Large equipment (e.g., trampolines)
    • Gaming systems
    • Utility payments
    • Travel-related expenses
    • Car repairs
    • Clothing and shoes regularly found at Project Lemonade Store

      Eligibility Requirements

    • Age: 5 years and older
    • Foster Care Status: Open ODHS/DCYF Child Welfare case, receiving ILP services, or finalized Guardianship status within the last 3 years
    • Exclusions: Youth involved in CPS Assessment or finalized adoptions are not eligible

      Renewal

    • Youth showing continued commitment to the same activity can submit a one-time renewal request during the same calendar year
    • WISH does not reimburse for activities already completed - Project Lemonade must pay directly to vendor

      Review Timeline

    • WISH review committee meets bi-monthly
    • Submit applications 3-4 weeks prior to a funding deadline for standard review
    • For urgent requests, email wish@projectlemonadepdx.org

    Contact Information

    Kelly Saavedra Email: wish@projectlemonadepdx.org

    Organization: Project Lemonade
    501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN: 46-1675159
    Portland, OR

    How to Apply

    Application Process

    Frequency: Youth can apply once per calendar year (with one-time renewal option)

    How to Apply: Complete the online application form

      Required Information

    • Application form completion
    • Documentation of foster care status (verification conducted upon application submission)
    • If WISH staff cannot verify status with ODHS, applicant must provide copy of:
    • - Placement letter - Guardianship court order

      Review and Decision

    • WISH review committee reviews applications bi-monthly
    • Committee responds to every application with a decision of:
    • - Approved - Denied - Needs Additional Information

      Payment Method

    • Project Lemonade pays vendors directly - reimbursement for already-paid activities is not available
    • Ensure vendors receive payment from Project Lemonade

      Urgent Requests

    • For time-sensitive funding needs, email wish@projectlemonadepdx.org
    • Standard committee review occurs bi-monthly

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    foster-parentsyouth-programsafter-school

    Categories

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