The application deadline has passed and grantees will be announced shortly.

GWCF’s teen philanthropy committee, Youth for Community Improvement (YCI), awards annual project grants in areas they deem as critical in our community.

2023 Priorities

The 2023 YCI cohort has identified the following priorities for this year's grant cycle:

1) Mental Health

YCI is interested in organizations supporting the mental health of young people in the following ways:

• Efforts that increase awareness, reduce stigma and/or provide education on issues impacting young people’s mental health.
• Increasing access to care (efforts that reduce waitlists, connect young people to clinicians and especially those focused on serving young people who are neurodivergent).
• Innovative programs in self-care and treatment options.

2) Educational Support Programs

YCI is especially interested in programs that support the following:

• Alternative pathways (Jobs training, educations in the trade, night classes, etc.)
• College support (guidance, access, navigating financial aid and scholarships, test preparation courses and fees).
• Access to arts (programming costs, scholarships, supplies).

3) Housing/Food & Basic Needs

YCI is interested in helping ensure all residents have access to their basic needs especially in the following areas:

• Organizations and efforts that distribute care packages of basic needs items (blankets, clothing, shoes, etc.)
• Pantries and groups distributing hygiene items.
• Efforts to increase shelter access & services (advocacy, program expansion, resettling new arrival and migrant families, etc.)

All proposals must speak to youth voice, meaning that the project/program/organization engages young people in an authentic manner on the scope of work.

Examples include:

• Young people designing and/or running the program.
• A youth advisory council.
• Young people asking for the program to exist.

Serving young people or asking them to complete a survey with no meaningful leadership or power is not in alignment.

Eligibility, Scope & Limitations

• Applicants must be registered 501c3s or have a fiscal sponsor.
• Applicants must be doing their work within Worcester County.
• Grants are for related project/program costs. Operating and capital requests are not eligible.
• Typical grant size is $2,000-5,000.