Youth Development & Leadership Grants

Last updated October 13, 2026

Grantable tracks 651 active youth development & leadership grants in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 5 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 264 list an award amount, with a median of $5,000.

Grants tracked: 651; from 514 funders
Median award: $5,000; middle half $1,896–$25K
Total listed funding: $25.4M; across 264 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 3; 53 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

Find the youth leadership grants matched to your org

Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 648 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.

Start finding grants

Sort

Type

State

Amount

Eligibility

Include closed grants

Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Boys State Scholarship AMERICAN LEGION Merrill Mitchell Post 39 · Foundation Not published · Varies American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students.	Not published	Varies
YMCA Youth Advocate Program Grant National Council of YMCAs of the USA · Foundation Not published · Varies The YMCA Youth Advocate Program empowers high school students to advocate for YMCA priorities in Washington, D.C. This four-month program offers advocacy training, allowing participants to connect with peers, create advocacy plans, and…	Not published	Varies
Rural Youth Voter Fund Clean and Prosperous America · Foundation Not published · Varies A year-round power-building effort in collaboration with the Rural Democracy Initiative (RDI) and Movement Voter Project (MVP).	Not published	Varies
DC Student Leader Awards Kiwanis Foundation of the District of Columbia C/O Jackson & Campbell · Foundation Not published · Varies A prestigious program that celebrates the exceptional achievements and leadership of high school students in the District of Columbia. Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Washington, D.C., this program has recognized young leaders for 27 years.	Not published	Varies
Bill Flaig Community Service Scholarship Alexandria Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K Recognize and support students with strong community service records who are transitioning to college	Not published	$1K
Meninak Leadership Grants Meninak Charity Foundation Tru · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Devil Pups Youth Program - Candidate Encampment Devil Pups Foundation · Foundation Not published · $150 The encampment is held in cooperation with the United States Marine Corps. Each geographic area is assigned a specific quota of participants.	Not published	$150
Education & Leadership Impact Grants - Greater than $15,000 or over Multiple Years The Cedarcrest Charitable Foundation Aka · Foundation Not published · Varies BLBB Charitable considers requests for operating support, project support, and capacity building (including sustainability and strategic planning, program planning and growth, leadership or professional development, or staff training) in…	Not published	Varies
Best and Brightest Management Fellowship Program (CO) Grant Colorado Department of Local Affairs · Foundation Not published · Varies The Best and Brightest Management Fellowship Program in Colorado aims to connect students with local governments, providing valuable internships and fellowships that enhance their public service experience.	Not published	Varies
Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank Competition Philanthropy Tank Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K A county-wide initiative aimed at inspiring and empowering teens to address needs within their own communities. Student participants compete by presenting creative solutions to social issues impacting the community.	Not published	Up to $15K
Miami Fellows Class XII Grant The Miami Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Miami Fellows Class XII is a transformative 15-month leadership program designed for individuals under 45 who are committed to enhancing Greater Miami.	Not published	Varies
Fall Education, Lay Leadership and Community Grant Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Catholic Community Foundation is offering the Fall Education, Lay Leadership, and Community Grant Cycle, aimed at supporting Catholic education and community initiatives.	Not published	Varies
Community Organizing Grants Program Peace Development Fund · Foundation Not published · $5K The Community Organizing Grants Program by the Peace Development Fund empowers local organizations to drive social justice initiatives. It supports groups that foster grassroots leadership and systemic change while dismantling oppression.	Not published	$5K
Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit (AYLS) Partners for Rural Impact Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Appalachian Youth Leadership Summit is a leadership development program for high school students that combines self-discovery, community service, and professional mentorship.	Not published	Varies
Constantine Youth Advisory Council Fund Grant Sturgis Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Constantine Youth Advisory Council Fund, managed by the Sturgis Area Community Foundation, supports youth-related programs and projects in the Constantine area.	Not published	Varies
The National Philanthropic Collaborative of Young Women's Initiatives (NPCYWI) New York Women's Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies A dynamic national effort by leading women's foundations to amplify the collective voice of young women, particularly from underrepresented communities, and ensure their safety, health, and economic prosperity.	Not published	Varies
San Antonio Area Foundation: Legacy Scholars Grant San Antonio Area Foundation · Foundation Not published · $10K The San Antonio Area Foundation's Legacy Scholars program provides substantial scholarships to high school juniors in Bexar and Webb counties.	Not published	$10K
YAC Grants Fremont Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Supporting positive opportunities for youth. Grants are available for programs that improve the quality of life for youth in Newaygo County.	Not published	Varies
New Britain-Berlin Rotary Club Scholarships Grant Community Foundation of Greater New Britain · Foundation Not published · $500 – $30K The New Britain-Berlin Rotary Club Scholarships, managed by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, support graduating seniors from local high schools, including technical schools.	Not published	$500 – $30K
Anna+Anton Olson Legacy Fund Central Texas Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Anna+Anton Olson Legacy Foundation (TAAOLF) was established to honor the lives of Anna and Anton Olson, Swedish pioneers and Texas farmers.	Not published	Varies
Midland Area Youth Action Council Youth Philanthropist Mini-Grant Midland Area Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $500 With over 700 funds, each with a unique purpose, the Midland Area Community Foundation has been the organization in Midland, Michigan, building permanent community capital since 1973.	Not published	Up to $500
Youth Leadership Program (YLP) Funding Valley United Way Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Youth Leadership Program is a Valley United Way initiative dating back to the 1990s that gives high school seniors in the Lower Naugatuck Valley the opportunity to become leaders in their community while allocating funding to local…	Not published	Varies
St. Patrick Centre Ambassador Program (Young Ambassadors) Ancient Order of the Hibernians in America Inc - Parent Organization · Foundation Not published · Varies A partnership between the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America and the Saint Patrick Centre in County Down, Northern Ireland.	Not published	Varies
Iris Teen Tzedakah Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest NJ · Foundation Not published · $16K A signature teen leadership initiative that educates teens about philanthropy. Participants pool their own donations—matched by the Herb and Milly Iris Endowment—and collaboratively decide how to allocate grants to Jewish organizations.	Not published	$16K

Showing 313–336 of 648

About youth leadership grants

Youth leadership grants fund programs that build leadership, civic engagement, and decision-making skills in young people, often through service-learning, mentoring, and youth-led projects. Funders include national foundations such as the William T. Grant Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, along with corporate initiatives and community foundations that run youth-advised grantmaking funds. Many awards target middle and high school students and the organizations that serve them.

A long list is the starting point, not the shortlist. Our grant prospecting guide shows how to narrow youth development & leadership grants down to the funders most likely to say yes, using their giving records.

Want new funders like these found for you every week?

This page is a snapshot. Funders change, and a list stops being true the day it's made. A grants department keeps looking for you, and tells you when it finds something that fits — with the grant history it reasoned from attached.

Create your grants department

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do youth development & leadership grants award?

Of the 651 youth development & leadership grants Grantable lists as of October 13, 2026, 264 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $5,000, and the middle half fall between $1,896 and $25K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most youth development & leadership grants?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are The Aspen Institute Inc (8), Morasha Olami Inc (6), First Alaskans Institute (5), One Young World (5), and Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin Inc (4). In all, 514 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are youth development & leadership grants due?

Of 651 grants listed, 3 accept applications on a rolling basis, 53 have a published upcoming deadline, 258 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 337 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 51% fall in January–March.

What youth leadership grants are available?

Grants fund leadership training, civic-engagement and service-learning projects, youth-led community initiatives, and youth advisory programs. Some funders support organizations that build leadership skills among teens, while others, such as community-foundation youth funds, put grant decisions directly in the hands of young people. Awards range from small project grants to larger multi-year program funding.

Who funds youth leadership programs?

Funders include national foundations such as the William T. Grant Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, corporate philanthropy from companies that support youth entrepreneurship and leadership, and community foundations that operate youth-led grantmaking funds. National youth-serving organizations and local foundations also fund leadership development in their regions.

Who can apply for youth leadership grants?

Most grants are awarded to schools, nonprofits, and youth-serving organizations rather than to individual students, though some programs engage youth directly as decision-makers or fellows. Applicants usually need 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor and should confirm the funder's target age range and geographic focus. Check each program's guidelines for whether youth, educators, or organizations are the intended applicants.

Get a shortlist of youth leadership grants built for your organization

Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.

Find my grants — emailed to me

Your AI grants department