Y.O.U.T.H. Grants - Youth Opportunities Unlimited Throughout Hillsdale

The Y.O.U.T.H. Grants program, sponsored by the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, aims to enhance the quality of life for youth in Hillsdale County. It funds diverse projects in education, arts, and wellness that actively involve young people. Preference is given to initiatives that reach a broad audience, promote independence, and foster collaboration among organizations. This grant opportunity is open to tax-exempt entities and emphasizes youth participation in project planning and execution.

Purpose
The HCCF YOUTH Council is interested in funding projects that will improve the quality of life for the young people of Hillsdale County. Eligible projects generally fall within these categories: education, fine arts, social services, community development, recreation, environmental issues, health and wellness, and improvement in the physical, mental, and moral conditions of Hillsdale County young people. The Foundation aims to support creative approaches to community needs and problems that benefit the widest possible range of people. The YOUTH Council has an ongoing program for studying the assets, needs and concerns of the young people of Hillsdale County, which identifies areas of opportunity that guide decision-making regarding grants. A copy of these survey results is available upon request.
Funds
The Kellogg Youth Advisory Fund is a special endowment fund made possible by an initial challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. This Fund is now a part of the Hillsdale County Community Foundation. Income from this Fund must be used for projects that involve and benefit young people under 21 years of age throughout Hillsdale County.

Eligibility

The YOUTH welcome grant applications from the Hillsdale County area or outside Hillsdale County if a significant number of the youth to be served reside within Hillsdale County.Applicants shall be tax exempt according to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an educational institution, or a governmental unit.Grant requests must include youth in the planning and implementation of the project. The application must be filled out by the youth of the applying organization, with the only exception being a project involving very young children

Ineligibility

Low priority is given to requests for bricks and mortar, and ongoing programs where alternative funding is not planned to carry a program/project forward following a Foundation grant. The current objectives of the Foundation do not allow grants for:Religious or sectarian purposesIndividualsLegislative or political purposesLoansCapital campaignsRoutine maintenance, including office equipmentAdministrative costs for maintaining the present operation of an organization, including, but not limited to, staff salaries, wages, and benefits.Education requests that supplant rather than supplement the ongoing operations of the school district such as equipment or education materials, including state-mandated/benchmark core curriculum supplies and resources.