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
Huntington County Community Fdn.: General Grant Cycles ( Cycle I & Cycle II ) Huntington County Community Fdtn Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $100K The Huntington County Community Foundation offers two General Grant Cycles each year to support local charitable organizations that enhance the quality of life in Huntington.	Not published	Up to $100K
Anna Paulina Foundation Grant Anna Paulina Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Anna Paulina Foundation runs an active 2026 grant application (APF Grant Application) for 501(c)(3) nonprofits.	Not published	Varies
Youth Engagement Participation Program \| Cohort Two California State Alliance of Ymcas · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
Got the Dot High School Leadership Program Scholarship JJs Legacy · Foundation Not published · Varies To support high school students who develop educational campaigns about organ, eye, and tissue donation and demonstrate leadership excellence.	Not published	Varies
Paramedic/Fire Academy Cadet Training Program San Diego Regional Fire & Emergency · Foundation Not published · $250 – $1K	Not published	$250 – $1K
V4 Gen Mini-Grant International Visegrad Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies The V4 Gen Mini-Grant aims to support cross-border mobility for youth aged 12 to 30, promoting democratic values, civic participation, and community engagement.	Not published	Varies
Torchbearers Sakura Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Listed as a program under Sakura Foundation's offerings.	Not published	Varies
Youth Fund / Youth Advisory Council (YAC) Grants LJ Midge Verplank Community Impact Fund · Foundation Not published · $3K – $60K The Youth Advisory Council of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation awards grants to support youth-focused initiatives and community programs.	Not published	$3K – $60K
Ginny Looney Servant Leader Award Southern Education Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Established in 2018 by the Southern Education Foundation in honor of Ginny Looney, a long-time Atlanta-based attorney.	Not published	Varies
Black History Month Youth Leader Award Bears Care · Foundation Not published · Varies Honors two outstanding young athletes who excel in the classroom and in their community.	Not published	Varies
L.E.O. Program™ (Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Opportunity) Leonidas Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies	Not published	Varies
CFSCNY Women's Fund Grant The Community Foundation for South Central New York Inc · Foundation Not published · $1K – $10K The CFSCNY Women's Fund Grant aims to empower women and girls in South Central New York by supporting innovative projects that promote economic self-sufficiency, mental health, and personal safety.	Not published	$1K – $10K
GIRLS Mentorship Grant Chicago Women in Philanthropy · Foundation Not published · Varies The GIRLS Mentorship Program, organized by Chicago Women in Philanthropy, empowers young girls through mentorship and leadership development.	Not published	Varies
Rotary Youth Leaders Awards (RYLA) The Denver Rotary Club Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Leadership-training programs that promote, encourage and reward outstanding young people	Not published	Varies
Southeastern Illinois CF: Fall Cycle: Siemer Milling Company Fund for Youth Leadership Development Grant Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Siemer Milling Company Fund, established by the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, supports youth leadership development in Effingham County, Illinois, Christian County, Kentucky, and Dearborn County, Indiana.	Not published	Varies
Youth United Way RFP United Way of South Central Michigan · Foundation Not published · Up to $6K Support programs that address racism and/or college and career readiness through youth empowerment and community action.	Not published	Up to $6K
Call for Kindness Grant Riley's Way Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Call for Kindness Grant, offered by Riley's Way Foundation, empowers young leaders aged 13-23 to launch impactful social projects focused on kindness and community connection.	Not published	Up to $5K
Girls at the Center Initiative Women's Foundation of Alabama · Foundation Not published · Varies Girls at the Center represents one of the foundation's focused grantmaking initiatives supporting organizations that prioritize adolescent female development and economic opportunity.	Not published	Varies
What is Your Legacy of Change? Video Contest with Grant Prizes Youthprise · Foundation Not published · $20K	Not published	$20K
Woody and Gayle Hunt - Aspen Institute Fellowship Grant The Aspen Institute Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies The Woody and Gayle Hunt - Aspen Institute Fellowship aims to empower exceptional leaders from the Borderplex Region by providing financial support for participation in leadership development programs.	Not published	Varies
In Youth We Trust Grants Community Foundation of Northern Illinois · Foundation Not published · Up to $3K In Youth We Trust is a philanthropic initiative by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, designed to empower youth through grantmaking and leadership training.	Not published	Up to $3K
Community Grants Martin W Richard Charitable Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Grants that strengthen opportunity for young people of all abilities by investing in local organizations that manage direct programming.	Not published	Varies
Channel Kindness Awards Born This Way Foundation · Foundation Not published · $500 The Channel Kindness Awards recognize young people ages 13-24 for their incredible work to make the world a kinder, braver place.	Not published	$500
Grassroots Fellowship Iowa Soybean Association · Foundation Not published · Varies An experience for young farmers looking to learn more about government and the legislative process while improving leadership skills.	Not published	Varies

Showing 193–216 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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