Youth for Community Improvement (YCI), a teen-led grantmaking committee of Greater Worcester Community Foundation, is now accepting applications for their $25,000 grant cycle. In its twentieth year of operating, this year's awards will add to the impressive total of $376,000 granted through 140 awards to area nonprofits.

YCI's 20th cohort is made up of twenty-two students from twelve local high schools. Through the program, participants have spent the past month working together to develop granting priorities that most resonate with them and their fellow community members. Organizations that work in the following areas and incorporate youth voice into their programming are encouraged to submit an application:

• Basic Needs

  • Organizations supporting those who are housing insecure or homeless

  • Organizations engaged in work on affordable housing

  • Organizations providing basic needs (clothing, household items, toiletries, food and supplies for babies)

• Academic Enrichment of Young People

  • Organizations providing services in the areas of emotional health and wellbeing and/or substance use

  • Organizations providing academic enrichment opportunities (priority given in the areas of STEM/STEAM and ESL)

  • Organizations working in the space of sexual health education

• Space Beautification

  • Organizations focused on urban sustainability, protecting natural resources, and maintaining vibrant community spaces

  • Organizations with neighborhood improvement projects

  • Organizations looking to support projects on beautifying their physical building spaces

Applications must be received by November 15, 2019. For more information, contact Sarah Shugrue, at sshugrue@greaterworcester.org or 508-755-0980.