Youth Grant Program

Youth Grant Program

Funder: VyStar Foundation Inc (FL, US)

Status: Next cycle opens August 31, 2026

Geographic Scope: VyStar Credit Union service areas including Georgia, North Florida, and Central Florida

Focus Areas:

Equitable access to creative learning environments

Food and housing assistance for youth

Career counseling and skill development (workforce experience and education leading to long-term career pathways)

Mental health support

Academic success and personal growth programs

Wraparound services for at-risk youth

Programs serving youth ages 12-18

Strategic Pillar: Youth - Empowering youth by providing equitable access to creative learning environments

Eligibility Requirements

General Criteria:

Must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity

Located or provide benefits to communities within VyStar Credit Union service areas

Must align with at least one of VyStar Foundation's strategic giving pillars

Must clearly articulate organizational impact with measurable outcomes

Must demonstrate ability to measure, track, and report program outcomes

Minimum of one full year of program services and outcomes required

Exclusions:

Religious denominations or congregations (unless serving diverse, nonsectarian populations)

Organizations that discriminate based on race, creed, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, or veteran status

Political action committees, political causes, or candidates

Organizations with conflicts of interest due to employee/board member affiliations

Organizations posing reputational risk to VyStar

Funding Information

Award Range: Up to $20,000 per grant

Total Pool: Approximately $200,000+ available (varies by cycle; 2025 cycle distributed $202,621)

Number of Awards: Determined by Board of Directors based on application quality and impact

Grant Type: One-time grants; multi-year projects will not be considered

Selection Criteria

Grant decisions made by Foundation staff and Board of Directors based on:

Review and alignment with VyStar Foundation's Strategic Giving Pillars

Program innovation and design

Impact in the community

Method to measure and track program outcomes

Clearly articulated sustainability plan beyond Foundation funding

Evidence of financial stability

Evidence of collaboration to leverage resources

Contact Information

Email: info@vystarfoundation.org

Mailing Address: VyStar Foundation, P.O. Box 45085, Jacksonville, FL 32232-5085

Tax ID: 87-2247208

Background

VyStar Foundation is the philanthropic arm of VyStar Credit Union, established in 2021 as a 501(c)(3) charity. The Youth Grant Program has funded organizations supporting programs including:

Food and housing assistance

Workforce experience and education pathways

Creative learning environments

Mental health services

Academic support and tutoring

Mentorship programs