Category Archives: Youth

Pool Safely Grant Program

The Pool Safely Grant Program from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission supports enforcement and education projects to to prevent drowning and drain entrapment of children in pools and spas. 

Applications for $50,000 – $400,000 over 2 years are due by July 12, 2024. There is no matching requirement. At least 25% of grant funding must be spent on enforcement activities; the remainder may be spent on education.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • U.S. state and territory governments
  • Local governments
  • Native American Tribal governments

Definition

For the purposes of this program, a public pool or spa is:

  • Open to the general public for free or for a fee
  • Open exclusively to members of an organization and their guests
  • Open exclusively to residents of an apartment building, apartment complex, residential real estate development, or other multi-unit residential area
  • Open exclusively to patrons of a hotel, motel, etc.
  • Operated by the federal government or by a concessionaire on behalf of the federal government for the benefit of members of the Armed Forces and their dependents or employees of any department or agency and their dependents

Allowable Expenses

Enforcement

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A minimum of 25% of grant funding must be used for enforcement of state and local standards for pool safety, such as:

  • Salaries of enforcement personnel and grant managers
  • Administrative costs of enforcement and education
  • Training lifeguards

Education

Remaining funds may be used to educate the general public as well as pool owners and pool installation and/or service companies about state and local standards for pool safety. Eligible expenses include:

  • Administrative costs associated with educational programs
  • Lifeguard training equipment and materials
  • Lifeguard instructor training costs
  • Direct mailings

Funds may not be used to build or renovate pools/spas or to install or repair pool/spa equipment.

Funding Preference

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Applicants may request a funding preference equal to an additional 5 points on their review score. To qualify, they must submit valid data that their service area experiences a significantly higher proportion of child drownings, nonfatal submersions, and drain entrapments than comparable national statistics.

Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood

The Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood was founded in 2014 as part of the estate of Teresa Caplan.The Foundation serves as an incubator for research and development in the U.S. that has the potential to improve the lives of children aged birth to 7.

Funding is available in three focus areas: Early Childhood Welfare, Early Childhood Education and Play, and Parenting Education. Letters of Interest are due by May 31, 2024 and should be sent to info@earlychildhoodfoundation.org.

Eligibility

Applicant

This grant is open to nonprofit, non-religious and non-political organizations in the United States.

Program

Eligible programs must be:

  • New, not pre-existing
  • Secular
  • For the benefit of children only
  • For the benefit of children in the United States
  • Potentially capable of having a national impact

Funding Limitations

Grant funds may not be use for:

  • Purchasing or renovating capital equipment
  • Staging single events
  • The creation or purchase of works of art or literature

No more than 15% of grant funding may be spent on indirect costs.

Focus Areas

Early Childhood Welfare

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Welfare is defined to include:

  • Physical and mental health
  • Safety
  • Nutrition
  • Education
  • Play
  • Familial support
  • Acculturation
  • Societal integration
  • Childcare

Early Childhood Education and Play

The Foundation seeks to fund projects to develop:

  • Innovative curricula
  • Research based pedagogical standards
  • Imaginative play materials
  • Creative learning environments

Parenting Education

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The Foundation seeks to fund projects that teach parents about:

  • Developmental psychology
  • Cultural child rearing differences
  • Pedagogy
  • Issues of health
  • Prenatal care and diet

and/or provide parents with cognitive and emotional support.

Emma Carey Groh Trust

The Emma Carey Groh Trust, administered through Wells Fargo Trust Philanthropic Services, supports projects that benefit children living in group homes, orphanages, and homeless shelters in the U.S.

Applications for an average of $4,000 are due annually by May 1st.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations.

Funding Limitations

Grant funds must be used to provide direct services to children, including children with disabilities. They may not be used for:

  • Indirect costs
  • Construction
  • Capital improvements

Kubota Hometown Proud Grant

The Kubota Hometown Proud Grant supports community-based projects in the United States. Ten $50,000 grants and ten $10,000 grants will be awarded through a review process followed by public voting. An additional Sweepstakes prize will be awarded to an individual who participated in the voting process.

Applications are due by April 12, 2024 at 11:59 PM CT and voting will occur August 1-14, 2024. Applicants must have an existing relationship with a local Kubota dealer or suggest a way for the local dealer to help, such as through the provision or maintenance of Kubota equipment. Final projects must also include signage with the Kubota logo.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations located within 50 miles of an authorized Kubota dealer.

Selection Process

Review

Kubota will review all applications based on:

  • Clearly demonstrated need for project (25%)
  • Timeline for completion and use of funds within one year (25%)
  • Statement of impact on the community (25%)
  • Existing or proposed relationship with a Kubota dealer (25%)

They will select 2 applications from each of 10 districts to move on to the public voting round.

Public Vote

The public voting period will be held August 1-14, 2024 during which anyone can vote once per day. The winner from each district will receive $50,000 and the runner-up will receive $10,000.

Sweepstakes

Each vote during the voting period equals one entry into the Sweepstakes. A single person may earn up to 14 entries. On or around August 21, 2024 a winner will be drawn who will receive their choice of a Kubota zero-turn mower or Kubota BX sub-compact tractor. 

Voices for Healthy Kids Policy Campaign Grant

The Voices for Healthy Kids Policy Campaign Grant supports efforts to increase children’s health equity through legislation, regulations, executive orders, or ballot initiatives.

Short form applications are due by March 25, 2024 at 5 PM PT. For those invited to submit, full applications will be due by May 28, 2024 at 5 PM PT.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 nonprofit organizations
  • Organizations with a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 nonprofit as fiscal sponsor
  • Federally recognized Native American tribes and tribal subdivisions

Organizations must be able to engage in lobbying activities.

Preference will be given to groups led by people from communities statistically impacted by health disparities, including Black, Latinx, and Native American individuals.

Funding Priorities

Funding for Early Care and Education Access

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Applications under this funding area must include at least one of the following priorities:

  • Targeted outreach and recruitment of licensed early care and education programs and technical assistance for programs seeking licensure.
  • Assisting childcare facilities with funding for capital improvements that encourage healthy eating and physical activity
  • Increasing subsidy reimbursements for childcare facilities meeting healthy eating and physical activity standards

Early Head Start/Head Start Appropriations

Projects under this funding area should focus on securing financial support for Head Start and Early Head Start for eligible children and/or children from families living above current income threshholds.

Paid Family and Medical Leave

Projects under this funding area should focus on campaigns to enact state level policies on paid family and medical leave for public and/or private sector employees.

Healthy School Meals Expansion

Projects under this funding area should focus on campaigns to enact state level policies to expand access to free school meals, including universal free meals, free breakfast or lunch, and covering the cost of reduced price meals.

Sugary Drink Tax and Investment

Projects under this funding area should focus on community-level campaigns to enact excise taxes on sugary drinks and use the revenue to provide health services in communities experiency inequity. Communities must be involved at every step from the decision to pursue the tax to the implementation of the program to allocation of revenue.

SNAP Access and Expanded Benefits

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Projects under this funding area should focus on policies that increase participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by:

SNAP Incentives and Produce Prescription Programs

Projects under this funding area should focus on policies that increase access to fruits and vegetables through SNAP incentives and produce prescriptions programs.

Water Access in Schools and Communities

Projects under this funding area should focus on campaigns to ensure that new and renovated schools have water bottle filling stations.

Innovative Policy Issue

Other innovative approaches to decreasing health inequity for children up to age 3, such as maternal health policy and family income supports.

Third Wave Fund: Mobilize Power Fund

The Mobilize Power Fund is a grant program from the Third Wave Fund, which provides rapid response support to gender justice organizations in the U.S. and its territories. This money is intended to help groups act in the face of unanticipated opportunities or threats.

Applications for up to $10,000 ($20,000 for partnerships and coalitions) are accepted and reviewed five time a years. Due dates for 2024 are March 5, May 7, July 2, September 3, and October 1.

Eligibility

This grant is open to organizations in the United States and its territories, with or without a 501(c)3 nonprofit designation. Applicants must, however:

  • Be led by transgender or cisgender women of color and/or trans, gender non-conforming, and intersex people of color under age 35
  • Be working on issues of gender inequity, gender-based violence, homophobia, or transphobia
  • Be responding to a time sensitive opportunity or threat that necessitates a change in regular operations
  • Be focused on strategies that strengthen the community in which they’re working
  • Have an annual opperating budget of less than $500,000

Allowable Activities

Grant funds may be use for:

  • Marches or rallies
  • Bail or legal fees
  • Leadership training
  • Mutual aid
  • Healing justice work
  • Unanticipated legislative or ballot initiative campaigns

Grant funds may not be used for:

  • General operating support
  • Regularly scheduled activities
  • Budget shortfalls

Submission Options

Applicants have the option to submit their project narrative in written or video form or through a phone interview with a Fund representative.

  • Written narratives must be no more than four pages
  • Video narratives must be no more than 10 minutes long
  • Phone interviews may be scheduled by emailing programs@thirdwavefund.org or calling 917-387-1262 ext. 806 before the last Tuesday of every month. Availability of this option will be based on the number of requests each month. Priority will be given to groups for whom a written narrative is inaccessible.

Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation

The Charles and Joan Hermanowski Family Foundation supports projects that help youth in the United States up to age 21 achieve their full potential. This may include the arts, education, health, and welfare services.

Letters of Interest for requests of $1,000 – $10,000 are due annually by March 31st. Full proposals for those invited to submit will be due by August 1st.

Eligibility

This grant is open to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. The Foundation does not award grants to large, national level organizations such as the United Way or the American Cancer Society.

Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator

The Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator helps young people in the United States and India create positive change in their communities. One grand prize winner in each country will receive $25,000/₹1,000,000, but many others will receive smaller awards.

Applications are due by March 14, 2024 at 11:59 PM EST in the U.S. and March 15, 2024 at 10:29 AM IST in India. All applicants who submit a draft by the Early Entry Deadline (February 15, 2024 in the U.S. or February 16, 2024 in India) will receive feedback and the chance to resubmit with changes.

Eligibility

This opportunity is open to individuals and teams in the United States, U.S. territories, and India who are:

  • 16 – 26 years old
  • Residents of the United States, U.S. territories, or India
  • The founder or co-founder of the project they’re applying for

U.S. based applicants must also be able to participate in the Ambition Accelerator U.S. Summit in California the week of August 2, 2024. India-based applicants must be able to participate in the Ambition Accelerator India Summit in Bangalore the week of September 9, 2024. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Prizes

Early Entry Standouts

Ten Early Entry Standouts will be chosen from those who submit by the early deadlines in February. At least one each will be from the U.S. or its territories, India, and a Taco Bell restaurant team member. They will receive:

  • $500 – U.S. and territories
  • ₹20,000 – India

Seed Prize Awards

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All applicants will have the chance to participate in the Community Review process during which they will evaluate other projects and receive feedback from their peers. Based on the scores from this process, 250 Seed Prize winners will be chosen. At least 50 each will be from the U.S. or its territories and India and at least 10 will be Taco Bell restaurant team members. They will receive:

  • $500 – U.S. and territories
  • ₹20,000 – India

Summit Semi-Finalists

Fifty U.S. applicants and 25 Indian applicants will be chosen as Semi-Finalists and attend their country’s Ambition Accelerator Summit. At least 5 of the 75 Semi-Finalists will be Taco Bell restaurant team members. In addition to airfare, lodging, and meals, attendees will receive:

  • $1,000 – U.S. and territories
  • ₹40,000 – India

Pitch Finalists

Five Summit particpants from each country will be chosen to pitch their idea to the judges. All finalists will receive recognition on the Taco Bell Foundation Ambition Accelerator website and social media accounts. They will also receive:

  • U.S. Grand Prize Winner – $25,000
  • 4 U.S. Runners-up – $5,000
  • Indian Grand Prize Winner –  ₹1,000,000
  • 4 Indian Runners-up – ₹200,000

Review Criteria

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All applications will be evaluated based on:

  • Fueled by community – Understanding of and connection to the problem, informed by impacted people, and dedicated to improving the community
  • Innovation – Making something new, focusing on an overlooked issue, or providing a new perspective on a known problem
  • Collaborative leadership – The existence of or plans to form a team and/or partnerships
  • Commitment – A well developed plan with actionable steps and the dedication to carry it out

Every Kid Sports

Every Kid Sports provides grant funding to pay youth sports registration fees through their Every Kid Sports Pass program. To be eligible, youth must be enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC.

Requests are submitted seasonally for Fall, Winter, and Spring sports. The Winter 2023 season is currently open and the Spring 2024 season will open on January 23, 2024. Applicants will receive a decision within 7-10 business days.

Eligibility

Applicants must be the parent or legal guardian (including foster parents) of a child who is:

  • 4-18 years old
  • Currently enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC
  • Participating in a recreational sports league

Registration fees must be unpaid at the time of application. Every Kid Sports will not reimburse for payments that have already been made.

Youth are eligible to submit one application per season each year.

Proof of Enrollment

Applicants must provide documentation showing that their child is currently enrolled in Medicaid, SNAP, or WIC. Qualifying documents must have the child’s name, date of benefits, and the program name.

To obtain this documentation, Every Kid Sports suggest that applicants:

  • Log in to their online account and take a screenshot or picture that includes the required information
  • Log in to their provider’s app and take a screenshot that includes the required information
  • Contact their provider and request an active enrollment document

Eligibile Sports

Every Kid Sports has helped youth participate in 70 different sports including baseball, cheer, gymnastics, martial arts, and pickleball. A noncomprehensive list can be found on their website.

Activities that are paid for on a month-to-month or annual basis can be paid for by applying for the cost of 3 months as the equivalent of a season.

Youth Homelessness System Improvement Grant

The Youth Homelessness System Improvement Grant is a program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which supports programs to create or improve response systems for youth homelessness. HUD expects to make about 35 total awards in the categories of:

  • Planning and Partnerships – up to $400,000
  • Data – up to $300,000
  • Coordinated Entry – $200,000
  • Racial and Gender Equity – $200,000

These maximums will be doubled for projects that cover two or more Continuums of Care or if the CoC covers the entire state. All requests must be $200,000 – $2 million per project period for up to 30 months. Applications are due through Grants.gov by February 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET.

Eligibility

This grant is open to:

  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Units of state, county, and municipal government
  • Special district governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Public housing authorities
  • Native American tribal organizations

Objectives

The objectives of this program are to:

  • Improve the capacity of youth in the community
  • Establish partnerships
  • Improve the centralized or coordinated assessment system also known as the Coordinated Entry Systems
  • Improve data collection and use between systems that work with youth at-risk of and experiencing homelessness. 
  • Assess, address, and improve equity in youth homeless response systems

Potential Project Activities

Photo by Timur Weber: https://www.pexels.com/photo/homeless-person-sitting-on-the-sidewalk-9533102/

Funded projects may work to create or improve response systems for youth homelessness through activities such as:

  • Developing peer support models
  • Training for communities and Youth Action Boards
  • Collecting and analyzing data
  • Building partnerships with groups who work with youth in unstable housing like the public school system and child welfare

Review Criteria

All applications will be reviewed based on:

  • Proposed Project Activities – 40 points
  • Budget – 10 points
  • Youth Involvement – 20 points
  • Project Outcomes and Evaluation – 15 points
  • Regional Approach – 15 points