Grants for Youth Programs

Q: How much money do grants for youth programs award?

Of the 3,609 grants for youth programs Grantable lists as of November 1, 2026, 1,635 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.

Q: 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, 2,460 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

Q: When are grants for youth programs due?

Of 3,609 grants listed, 90 accept applications on a rolling basis, 225 have a published upcoming deadline, 1,095 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 2,199 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 50% fall in January–March.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Last updated November 1, 2026

Grantable tracks 3,609 active grants for youth programs in its free grants database, drawn from foundation sources and updated daily. 83 of them have a verified open deadline or accept applications on a rolling basis. 1,635 list an award amount, with a median of $10K.

Grants tracked: 3,609; from 2,460 funders
Median award: $10K; middle half $3,000–$50K
Total listed funding: $226.4M; across 1,635 grants that list an amount
Rolling deadlines: 90; 225 with a published date

On this page: Foundation · Updated daily

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Grant	Deadline ▲	Amount
Applied Ethics Bowl Va Foundation for Independent Colleges · Foundation Not published · Varies To strengthen student engagement with ethics in the workplace, classroom, and all aspects of life.	Not published	Varies
Youth Workforce Initiative Program The Conrad Prebys Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Many young people in the United States today face challenges to financial stability that prior generations did not.	Not published	Varies
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
Hagedorn Fund Grant Hagedorn Fund · Foundation Not published · Varies _NOTE: To locate information about this grant program, please search by name using the foundation finder here._ Health (including cancer, HIV/AIDS, blindness), social services, youth, education, senior services and housing and community…	Not published	Varies
Charlotte Martin Foundation Youth Programs Grant Charlotte Y Martin Foundation-Ima · Foundation Not published · Varies The Charlotte Martin Foundation funds programs for youth ages 6-18 in three areas: Athletics (value of sports for lifelong participation, esp. rural/inner-city and middle-school programs), Culture (art, music, dance, literature, theater…	Not published	Varies
Assertive Community Treatment Grant FORECAST Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminis · Foundation Not published · Varies The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program aims to establish or expand services for transition-aged youth, adults, and older adults suffering from serious mental illnesses (SMI).	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
Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund Grant Delta Dental Institute · Foundation Not published · Varies The Delta Dental Future Workforce Fund, launched in 2023, dedicates up to $1 million annually to inspire school-aged children to pursue careers in oral health.	Not published	Varies
Women United Grant Program United Way of Knox County Ohio Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies Women United, an affiliate group of United Way, seeks to serve the community by supporting local initiatives and projects that impact women and children in the areas of leadership development, health, and educational equity.	Not published	Varies
Nora Roberts Foundation Grant Nora Roberts Foundation · Foundation Not published · Up to $5K The Nora Roberts Foundation, established in 2001 by best-selling author Nora Roberts, prioritizes literacy as a fundamental human right.	Not published	Up to $5K
Berry Family Foundation Grants The Berry Family Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Berry Family Foundation Grants aim to support entrepreneurial initiatives and strengthen the Dayton community.	Not published	Varies
Representation and Diversity (RAD) Coaching Grant Ultimate Players Association · Foundation Not published · Varies Program subsidizing costs associated with becoming a certified coach for those with financial need, encouraging people from underrepresented groups to take on leadership roles in their communities.	Not published	Varies
Olive Tree Foundation Grant Program The Olive Tree Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · $5K The Olive Tree Foundation Grant Program supports Canadian charities by awarding grants that address various community needs.	Not published	$5K
Grace Russell Scholarship Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Association · Foundation Not published · Varies Supports current Chattanooga Youth Symphony members who plan to attend the Sewanee Summer Music Festival.	Not published	Varies
McClure Foundation Mini-Grants J Warren and Lois McClure Foundation · Foundation Not published · $250 – $3K The McClure Foundation Mini-Grants aim to enhance career exploration and postsecondary planning for young Vermonters.	Not published	$250 – $3K
Educational Program with Ricardo Pablo Pedro US Mexico Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies Mentorship and inspirational program bringing the story and spirit of perseverance of Ricardo Pablo Pedro to young people from low-income and vulnerable communities.	Not published	Varies
Desert Financial Foundation Grants to Nonprofits Desert Financial Credit Union · Foundation Not published · $8K – $15K Grants awarded to organizations serving: Desert Financial Foundation has provided more than $2 million to Arizona nonprofits through grants in the past decade. In 2024, 26 organizations were selected from formal application pool.	Not published	$8K – $15K
Raiders Foundation Grant Raiders Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The mission of the Raiders Foundation is to uplift the community through support of military members and veterans, health and wellness initiatives and youth development efforts.	Not published	Varies
A.V. Hunter Trust Grants to Organizations (General Operating) Av Hunter Trust Incorporated · Foundation Not published · $10K – $20K General operating grants to qualifying 501(c)(3) Colorado nonprofits (operating >=3 full years, annual budget < $1,000,000, financially stable) that provide direct services to Coloradans in the priority areas People in Financial…	Not published	$10K – $20K
National Cyber Scholarship Program (General) National Cyber Scholarship Foundation · Foundation Not published · $2M – $13.8M The National Cyber Scholarship program empowers America's future Cyber Stars by awarding more than $2 million in scholarships and $13.8 million in cybersecurity training to high school and college students.	Not published	$2M – $13.8M
John Jordan Foundation Grant John Jordan Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The John Jordan Foundation Grant is dedicated to enhancing the lives of vulnerable communities through targeted initiatives.	Not published	Varies
MSF: Participation in the Arts Grant (serves ages 5 to 18) The Morris Stulsaft Foundation · Foundation Not published · Varies The Morris Stulsaft Foundation offers the Participation in the Arts Grant for organizations serving youth ages 5 to 18 in the Bay Area.	Not published	Varies
St. John's UCC Reading Fund Grant Program Berks County Community Foundation Inc · Foundation Not published · Varies In 2017, a majority of its remaining members voted to dissolve St. John’s United Church of Christ as a legal entity.	Not published	Varies
McDonald’s Chicago Community Impact Grants - (Feeding Futures: Food Access and Insecurity) Mcdonalds Corporation · Foundation Not published · $50K – $150K McDonald’s Chicago Community Impact Grants focus on addressing food access and insecurity for youth aged 16-24 in underserved communities.	Not published	$50K – $150K

Showing 2017–2040 of 3,589

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much money do grants for youth programs award?

Of the 3,609 grants for youth programs Grantable lists as of November 1, 2026, 1,635 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, 2,460 funders have at least one active grant in this category.

When are grants for youth programs due?

Of 3,609 grants listed, 90 accept applications on a rolling basis, 225 have a published upcoming deadline, 1,095 run on a stated cycle (such as annual or quarterly) without a published date, and 2,199 don't publish a deadline, so check the funder's site. Among dated deadlines, 50% fall in January–March.

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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