Youth and Young Adult Well-Being Grant

Youth and Young Adult Well-Being Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Nantahala Health Foundation
Amount: Up to US $100,000
Last Updated: March 24, 2026

Summary

The Youth and Young Adult Well-Being Grant from the Nantahala Health Foundation aims to enhance the health and well-being of youth and young adults aged 5 to 24 in Western North Carolina. This initiative encourages partnerships with local organizations to address critical issues, such as mental health and educational support. Grant awards can be up to $100,000, focusing on innovative projects that foster resilience and improve health outcomes for underserved populations.

Overview

NOTE: Those interested in receiving Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Well-Being grant funds must submit responses to pre-qualifying questions. See Pre-Proposal Deadline above.Those invited to move forward will be notified when to begin their application. Nantahala Health Foundation Nantahala Health Foundation is committed to collaborating with organizations to build capacity and address areas that significantly affect the health and well-being of all people in the community we serve. Nantahala Health Foundation, a public 501(c)3 nonprofit, is charged with improving the health, wellness and overall quality of life for those living in the westernmost region of North Carolina, including Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, as well as the Qualla Boundary. Our Priority: Youth and Young Adult Well-being We are committed to partnering with local organizations best aligned with our mission to support youth and young adults struggling to thrive in far Western North Carolina. Through our grant cycle, we plan to invest in projects designed to significantly move the needle on issues that impact health and well-being for children from age 5 to young adults age 24. NHF seeks to partner with organizations that embrace this vision for our region. Together we will work to catalyze and accelerate change to improve the lives, health, and futures of adolescents and young adults of Western North Carolina through: Projects that emphasize integrating mental health and substance use prevention into services for families and education systemsProjects that address dire family and community conditionsSocial supports extending from schools to communities and familiesProven and/or innovative out-of-school time modelsAdult and peer-to-peer mentoringParent engagementInnovative job training and career pathway development, including intern and apprenticeshipsCommunities in Schools or similar modelsAddressing transportation issues that prevent students and young adults from participating in activities and programs designed to support their successPrograms that foster social-emotional development and equip students and young adults with resiliency skill NHF also seeks to build capacity and support professionals working with adolescents and young adults in our community. We will seek to achieve these results through innovative projects to increase recruitment and retention among our teachers, mental health practitioners, and other social services providers. We seek to increase the cultural competency of these professionals by helping them to better understand health disparities among vulnerable populations. YYA grant recipients will demonstrate how their problem-solving projects improve health outcomes for underserved youth and young adults (school-age through age 24) living in the Nantahala Health Foundation region. They will work inclusively with their communities, make the most of existing resources, and consider collaborating with at least one organization as part of their problem-solving and/or response process. Funding Grant awards will be capped at $100,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To be eligible in general for grant opportunities offered by Nantahala Health Foundation, an applicants must be:A public charity described in sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a) (1,2 or 3) of the Internal Revenue CodeA private operating foundationA unit of government for public purposes; this includes Native American tribal governments and public school systemsOther types of nonprofit organizations or businesses so long as the proposal furthers our purposeProjects should address reforms primarily benefiting disadvantaged and underserved youth populations.Applicants must illustrate that at least one collaborative partnership is required to implement their plan.

Ineligibility

We will not make awards to:IndividualsIneligible organizations based on business status or missionOrganizations with a political purpose, including lobbyingRequests that fall outside our defined strategic funding areasRequests for projects that fall outside our defined geographic area, which includes Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Macon, Jackson, and Swain counties in Western North Carolina, as well as on the Qualla BoundaryRequests prohibited by laws and regulations