YCF: Think Big for Kids Grant

YCF: Think Big for Kids Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Youthbridge Community Foundation
Amount: More than US $25,000
Last Updated: January 26, 2026

Summary

The Think Big for Kids grant, offered by the Youthbridge Community Foundation, aims to fund innovative proposals that address significant challenges faced by children and youth in the Saint Louis metropolitan area. By supporting bold and transformative ideas, it seeks to make a measurable impact on issues such as childhood hunger, mental health, and homelessness. This competitive grant, which is open to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations, encourages applicants to leverage community insights for effective solutions.

Overview

NOTE: While Think Big for Kids accepts grant applications by invitation only, we welcome inquiries. Think Big for Kids Think Big for Kids grants are designed to stimulate innovative thinking and fund big ideas that serve children and youth in our community. Grant Requirements Think Big for Kids seeks to fund proposals that are bold, innovative or ambitious and that are transformative for the community of children and youth. In recent years, a number of community wide master plans or needs assessments, have identified strong needs for children and youth in our region and have issued calls to action. Examples for the issues highlighted by these reports include but are not limited to: Quality early childhood development;coordinated school health programs;mental health awareness, screening, treatment, and surveillance including for substance abuse and teenage suicide;childhood hunger;child/youth homelessness;substantiated child abuse/neglect and number of children (re)entering state custody. Think Big for Kids is looking for proposals from applicants that utilize these reports as a launching point for their big idea and that show how they, alone or in collaboration with others, will measurably contribute to solving the problem.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The applicant is either an IRC section 501(c)(3) public organization, has an IRC section 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, or is a governmental organization.The application is for a project or organization(s) serving children or youthImpact on the Saint Louis metropolitan area is a priorityRegional or national scale are encouraged but viewed as secondaryWe intend to fund proposals for one year; nevertheless, we will consider multi-year proposals.The project may be unproven or seen as risky.We may refer applicants to other funders when there is a strong fit.We consider funding any size organization; nevertheless, small or mid-sized organizations are preferred.

Ineligibility

The grant is generally not intended to fund start-up organizations.The grant is not intended to fund traditional capacity building projects or capital campaigns.The grant is not intended to fund the routine expansion of an existing program.