Youth Opportunities Program Grant

The Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) aims to enhance community engagement and positive development for youth under 21 years old through public-private partnerships. Administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, YOP offers tax credits to eligible donors, facilitating funding for local projects that promote self-esteem and reduce youth violence, particularly in high-crime areas. With $6 million in credits available, YOP prioritizes initiatives that foster community-based solutions for youth.

Purpose
To broaden and strengthen opportunities for positive development and participation in community life for youth.
General Information
Administered by the Department of Economic Development (the DED), YOP is a tax credit for contribution program created to broaden and strengthen opportunities for positive development and participation in community life for youth 21 years old and under through public-private partnerships. To administer a project, eligible organizations must be approved by the DED through the YOP application process.
An approved applicant is granted assistance in the form of state tax credits to help attract eligible donors who would be able to, in effect, redirect their Missouri tax dollars to an approved project. Under YOP, a tax credit is equal to 50% of eligible monetary contributions and 30% of eligible in-kind donations. The tax credit is used to offset an eligible donor’s income tax liability and is claimed when the donor files their Missouri tax return. The credit may be used against taxes owed for the year of the donation plus five additional tax periods. This form of assistance is not a grant and does not include the transfer of tax dollars from YOP to approved organizations. Through fundraising efforts, approved organizations assume full responsibility for securing the financial support necessary to implement the YOP project. The State’s role is to approve projects, provide project oversight, and issue tax credits to eligible donors that contribute to YOP projects.
The total amount of YOP tax credits available for distribution is $6 million, with no more than $200,000 in tax credits awarded to any one project.
YOP Priorities
While there are many types of projects that qualify for the Youth Opportunities Program, the Department actively seeks and prioritizes proposals that directly address the following YOP goals:
Programs that are local/neighborhood/community based.Programs designed to generate self-esteem and a positive self-reliance in youth and which abate youth violence.Programs located in areas of the state which have statistically higher incidence of crime, violence, and poverty.