Grants for Youth Programs

Last updated October 7, 2026

Grantable tracks 3,664 active grants for youth programs in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 89 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 1,689 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.

Grants tracked: 3,664; from 2,493 funders
Median award: $10K; middle half $3,000–$50K
Total listed funding: $246.8M; across 1,689 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 90; 251 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Ward & Brenda Morgan Community Grant Greater Manhattan Community Foundation · Foundation Oct 26, 2026 · $5K – $20K The Ward & Brenda Morgan Community Grant, administered by the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation, aims to support enriching projects in Manhattan and Riley County, Kansas.	Oct 26, 2026	$5K – $20K
Community Grants Program Telluride Foundation · Foundation ~October · $2K – $1.5M The Telluride Foundation's Community Grants program is one of its fundamental programs, supporting the vibrancy of the community as well as core safety net programs.	~October	$2K – $1.5M
Arnold F. Keller, Jr. Grant for New Initiatives/Program Expansion Capitol Hill Community Foundation · Foundation ~October · $25K The Keller Grant is a single $25,000 grant awarded each year. Similar to Innovation Grants, it supports the creation or expansion of major initiatives with potential to significantly benefit the Capitol Hill community.	~October	$25K
Youth and Philanthropy (YAP) - High School Grant Program United Way of Tompkins County Inc · Foundation ~October · $25K YAP empowers local 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to take an active role in their community and understand the role of philanthropy in their lives.	~October	$25K
Hancock Whitney Opportunity Grant (Hancock Whitney Community Reinvestment Act Program) The Greater New Orleans Foundation · Foundation ~October · Up to $25K The Hancock Whitney Opportunity Grant, in collaboration with the Greater New Orleans Foundation, invites applications from eligible nonprofits starting October 7, 2025.	~October	Up to $25K
Future Fund Central Texas Community Foundation · Foundation ~October · Varies The Future Fund is designed for community-minded people who want to impact Central Texas through collective giving.	~October	Varies
Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities Funding Request Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities Inc · Foundation ~October · Varies The Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities (San Antonio, TX) funds local children's charities (over $2.75M donated since inception).	~October	Varies
Grants to Amateur Radio Organizations Arrl Foundation Inc · Foundation Oct 31, 2026 · Up to $3K The ARRL Foundation offers grants for amateur radio projects, focusing on education, licensing, and community support in the U.S. Organizations can apply three times a year for funding, with a preference for youth initiatives and…	Oct 31, 2026	Up to $3K
Patriot's Pen Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept VFW Mass · Foundation ~October · $500 – $5K The VFW's Patriot's Pen® annual youth essay contest encourages students to examine America's history and their own experiences in modern American society.	~October	$500 – $5K
Patriot's Pen Youth Essay Contest Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept of TX · Foundation ~October · $1.4M The Texas Department of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)'s Patriot's Pen Essay Contest encourages students in grades 6th through 8th to express their patriotism through writing.	~October	$1.4M
Fred Harris Daniels Foundation: Investing In Girls Strategic Grants The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation · Foundation Oct 31, 2026 · Up to $40K The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation offers Investing In Girls Strategic Grants to support programs for girls aged 10-14 in Worcester, MA.	Oct 31, 2026	Up to $40K
Scout of the Year Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept VFW Mass · Foundation ~October · Varies The VFW Scout of the Year program recognizes members of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts for their standout citizenship, patriotism, and love of country. The VFW has a strong partnership with scouting organizations dating back to 1915.	~October	Varies
Community Innovative Grants United Way of Midland Inc · Foundation ~October · Up to $15K	~October	Up to $15K
Girdwood Forest Fair Youth Scholarship Girdwood Forest Fair · Foundation Oct 31, 2026 · Varies Awards scholarships to youth to support enrichment opportunities in Arts, Academics, and Athletics	Oct 31, 2026	Varies
Voice of Democracy Veterans of Foreign Wars Dept VFW Mass · Foundation ~October · $1K – $35K Established in 1947, the Voice of Democracy® program provides high school students with the opportunity to express themselves through a recorded essay on a patriotic and democratic theme.	~October	$1K – $35K
The Discovering Me Scholarship Essay Contest Georgia Ave Family Support Collaborative · Foundation ~October · Up to $2K Annual cash prize scholarship for teen girls facing the challenge of father absence. Applicants write essays sharing their personal stories of resilience and self-discovery while growing up without their father.	~October	Up to $2K
Helping Hands Grants (Christopher K. Jarvi) Anaheim Community Foundation · Foundation ~October · $500 – $3K The Christopher K. Jarvi Helping Hands Grants program focuses on strengthening youth, residents and community through supporting community-based organizations.	~October	$500 – $3K
Annual Grant Cycle Old Greenwood Community Foundation · Foundation ~October · Varies	~October	Varies
Pacific Northwest Opportunities Fund (PNWOF) Pacific Northwest District of Key Club International Inc · Foundation ~October · Varies A grant program for Key Club projects and initiatives within the Pacific Northwest District.	~October	Varies
Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities Funding Request Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities Inc · Foundation ~October · Varies The Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities has donated over $2.75 million to local children's charities since its inception. They support nonprofit organizations that serve local youth in need.	~October	Varies
Maine Youth Environmental Leaders Scholarship Chewonki Foundation Inc · Foundation ~October · $15K Maine Coast Semester focuses on transformative growth, appreciation and stewardship of the natural world, and building sustainable communities.	~October	$15K
FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund Floatarama Inc · Foundation ~October · $50K – $160K The FLoatarama LGBTQ Youth Fund provides grants to South Florida agencies aligned with FLoatarama's mission to support LGBTQ+ Youth. As of 2026, over $412,134 has been granted to date.	~October	$50K – $160K
Shooting Stars Scholarship Program Arts Council of Johnson County · Foundation ~October · $300 – $1K The Shooting Stars Recognition, Scholarship & Awards Program was created in 1997 by former Arts Council of Johnson County chairman Bob Endres to celebrate young Johnson County artists for their artistic excellence in high school.	~October	$300 – $1K
Individual Grant Just For Kids Foundation Inc · Foundation ~October · Up to $500	~October	Up to $500

Showing 1–24 of 3,642

Grants for youth programs by the numbers

How deadlines work

Rolling or ongoing: 90 2%
Upcoming date published: 251 7%
Stated cycle, no date yet: 1,076 29%
No deadline published: 2,247 61%

When dated deadlines fall

Share of the 251 grants with a published date, by quarter.

40%

Jan–Mar

Apr–Jun

Jul–Sep

51%

Oct–Dec

Funders with the most active grants for youth programs

City of Boston 11 active
Midland Area Community Foundation 11 active
Communitygiving 10 active
Michigan 4-H Foundation 10 active
Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation 9 active
The Oregon Community Foundation 9 active

2,493 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

Source: Grantable's grants database, compiled from funder websites, Grants.gov and state grant portals. Figures cover all 3,664 active grants for youth programs (with a deadline today or later, or none published) as of October 7, 2026, and refresh daily. Award amounts are each grant's listed maximum; 14 listed amounts over $10M are left out, since they're usually program-wide totals rather than single awards.

About grants for youth programs

Grants for youth programs support after-school, summer learning, mentoring, recreation, and enrichment activities for young people. Federal funding flows largely through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (administered by state education agencies under the U.S. Department of Education's ESSA) and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), while private funders such as the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation back youth development nationwide. Local community foundations, United Way chapters, and corporate giving programs round out the field.

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

Grants for Youth Programs by state

Browse grants for youth programs available to organizations in 33 states.

Related grant categories

Grants for Youth Sports 789 Youth Leadership Grants 650 Youth Services Grants 255

Top funders for youth programs

Foundations and grantmakers active in youth development — explore each funder's giving history, typical grant sizes, and what they fund.

View all 186 youth development funders

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for youth programs award?

Of the 3,664 grants for youth programs Grantable lists as of October 7, 2026, 1,689 publish an award amount. The median listed award is $10K, and the middle half fall between $3,000 and $50K. The largest is $10M. Amounts are each grant's stated maximum, so a typical award can be smaller.

Which funders offer the most grants for youth programs?

By number of active listings, the leading funders are City of Boston (11), Midland Area Community Foundation (11), Communitygiving (10), Michigan 4-H Foundation (10), and Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation (9). In all, 2,493 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for youth programs due?

Of 3,664 grants listed, 90 accept applications on a rolling basis, 251 have a published upcoming deadline, 1,076 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 2,247 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 51% fall in October–December.

What grants are available for youth programs?

Funding ranges from federal formula and competitive grants for after-school and summer learning, to foundation grants for mentoring, recreation, and enrichment, to small corporate and community-foundation awards. The largest dedicated federal source is the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which supports academic enrichment during out-of-school time at high-poverty schools and community organizations. OJJDP also funds mentoring, delinquency prevention, and youth intervention programs.

Who funds youth programs?

Funders include federal agencies (the U.S. Department of Education through 21st CCLC and OJJDP within the Department of Justice), national foundations such as the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Wallace Foundation, and corporate philanthropy. Community foundations and local United Way chapters are often the most accessible sources for grassroots youth organizations.

Who is eligible to apply for youth program grants?

Eligibility varies by funder. Federal programs like 21st CCLC typically require schools, districts, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, or parks and recreation departments to apply, often in partnership. Most foundation grants require 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or a fiscal sponsor. Review each funder's guidelines for geographic focus, target age groups, and program-type restrictions before applying.

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