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

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
SisterFund Grants The Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies SisterFund Grants, part of a collective giving circle at the Community Foundation, empowers African American women through philanthropy.	Not published	Varies
WKKF Community Leadership Network (CLN) Grant WK Kellogg Foundation Trust - No 5315 · Foundation Not published · Varies The W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Community Leadership Network (CLN) is an 18-month program aimed at empowering local leaders as agents of community-led change.	Not published	Varies
UWTC: Youth and Philanthropy Grant United Way of Tompkins County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Youth and Philanthropy Program, facilitated by the United Way of Tompkins County, empowers high school students to engage in philanthropy by assessing community needs and distributing approximately $25,000 annually to local…	Not published	Varies
Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) The Luzerne Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
KICK Fund (Kiwanis Investing in Circle K) Ohio District Kiwanis Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $100 Support leadership training for the Ohio District Circle K	Not published	$100
Youth Voice in Action: Empowering Learners as Leaders Grant Hawaii Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The 'Youth Voice in Action' initiative by the Hawai'i Community Foundation empowers youth by providing nonprofits with funding to enhance youth leadership and decision-making in educational settings.	Not published	Varies
Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge Grant Social Shifters · Foundation Not published · Up to $15K The Social Shifters Global Innovation Challenge empowers young people aged 18-30 worldwide to tackle critical social and environmental issues.	Not published	Up to $15K
Trailblazers Leadership Program (TLP) Minnesota Private College Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies This fund supports educational programs and services benefiting communities in need. Yo The Trailblazers Leadership Program (TLP), a project of the Minnesota Private College Fund.	Not published	Varies
Valley Guardians Executive Leadership Coaching Program Valley Guardians Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K No child's circumstances should hold them back from success.	Not published	Up to $5K
By Youth For Youth (BYFY) - Youth Grant Program United Way of Dane County Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies By Youth For Youth is a volunteer committee of Dane County high school students that make investment decisions for youth-led programming and initiatives in Dane County. Funding Priorities (vary annually; 2024 examples):	Not published	Varies
Young Leader Program Iowa Soybean Association · Foundation Not published · Varies An educational program that focuses on leadership and communication, the latest agricultural information, and the development of a strong peer network.	Not published	Varies
LCF: Youth Grants Lenawee Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K The Lenawee Community Foundation offers Youth Grants for local projects in Lenawee County, providing up to $2,000 to nonprofit organizations. These grants aim to build youth assets and enhance community engagement.	Not published	Up to $3K
Leadership Institute Center for American Progress Action Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies All chosen participants must be able to attend all Leadership Institute sessions.	Not published	Varies
Youth In Action Ambassador Program Humaniti Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies A program calling on dynamic, forward-thinking individuals to join as youth ambassadors focused on youth empowerment, leadership, and advocacy. The foundation supports various initiatives including:	Not published	Varies
Boulé Education Initiative Scholarship Grant The San Diego Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K – $5K The Boulé Education Initiative Scholarship, offered by The San Diego Foundation, supports students in San Diego County who exhibit academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to community service.	Not published	$1K – $5K
Carnegie Young Leaders Cohort Institute for Citizens and Scholars · Foundation Not published · Varies Identify and develop Gen Z civic leaders and young civic problem-solvers.	Not published	Varies
LookUp Innovator Challenge Grant (LUIC) Lookup Incubator Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The LookUp Innovator Challenge Grant (LUIC) is an annual grant program that supports young innovators developing solutions and stories to address the harms caused by living in a technologically connected world, particularly focusing on…	Not published	Varies
HKS Center for Public Leadership: David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program Grant Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) - Harvard University · Foundation Not published · $10K The David Gergen Summer Fellowship Program at Harvard Kennedy School offers an exceptional opportunity for students to engage in public service internships during summer 2026.	Not published	$10K
Driving a Stronger Community Scholarship (KS) Grant The Walser Foundation · Foundation Not published · $1K The Driving a Stronger Community Scholarship, funded by The Walser Foundation, awards $1,000 to high school seniors demonstrating exceptional volunteer service and civic responsibility.	Not published	$1K
Youth Climate Justice Fund Grant The Climate Group Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $40K The Youth Climate Justice Fund aims to support climate justice young leaders with trust-based funding, resources, and capacity strengthening, enabling them to amplify their voices and to keep their vision and influence alive.	Not published	Up to $40K
Hour of Code Initiative Grant Upper Arlington Education Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Neng & Bao Xiong Volvo Scholarship Grant Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Neng & Bao Xiong Volvo Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, awards scholarships to deserving graduating high school seniors from the greater Wausau area.	Not published	Varies
Alianza Youth Leadership Program - Fellowships Latino Community Fund of Washington State · Foundation Not published · Varies The Alianza Youth Leadership Program is a youth-led movement of collective voices connecting leaders to unlock their leadership potential and bring change to their communities.	Not published	Varies
EMERGE Grants (Local FFA Chapter Grants) Idaho FFA Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $750 – $2K Local FFA Chapter grants provided by the Idaho FFA Foundation to support chapter-based programs and initiatives.	Not published	$750 – $2K

Showing 361–384 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.

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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.

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