Youth Fund
Engaging Students in Philanthropy
Students from public, private and home-school high schools throughout greater Grand Rapids make up Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Youth Grant Committee. During the school year, Youth Grant Committee members meet and assess youth issues, develop a request for proposals process to address those needs, follow up with previous grantees, conduct interviews and site visits and award grants.
Youth Grant Committee
Youth Grant Committee presents an awesome opportunity for local high school students to gain leadership experience while working as part of a diverse team to make decisions that make a real impact.
Youth Grant Committee, explained by its members. Produced by Sparsh Aiyar.
informed by students
2024 Needs Assessment Survey Results
The Youth Grant Committee at Grand Rapids Community Foundation conducts a Needs Assessment Survey of high schoolers in Kent County to inform grantmaking priorities and processes. Click on the images to make them bigger.
Meet the Committee Members
YGC 2024-2025
We are thrilled to have this great group of teens as part of our Community Foundation!
- Alexander Bartish, West Catholic High School
- Andrew Wu, City High Middle
- Beatrice Kilburn, Northview High School
- Christian Boyce, Forest Hills Northern High School
- Claire Jones, East Grand Rapids High School
- Elaina Juarez, Godwin Heights High School
- Halima Suleiman, Union High School
- Hannah Chun, Grand Rapids Christian
- Isabel Landero, Godfrey Lee
- Isabelle (Izzy) Underhill, Godwin Heights High School
- Jerry Benedict, Grand Rapids Christian High School
- Julian Wilson, City High Middle School
- Kaitlynn Araujo, The Potter's House High School
- Karina Rodriguez, City High Middle
- Kenna Charbauski, Forest Hills Northern High School
- Kimani Brame, East Kentwood Freshman Campus/East Kentwood High School
- Krish Agarwal, Forest Hills Eastern
- Lia Lin, City High Middle School
- Orli Dujovny, East Grand Rapids High School
- Ram Reddy, City High Middle School
- Syncere Hobson-Washington, East Kentwood High School
Grants Awarded March 2025
Youth Fund Awards
Recipient
Amount
Date
Purpose
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15 Pearls & A Promise
$1,500
To support the Vital Wholeness Project, which shares life skills, financial literacy, healthy relationships and self-esteem workshops for 40 young ladies in grades 6 – 12.
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Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Services
$2,500
Supporting Resilient Roots DBT Program, which provides youth-centered mental health care to reduce suicide and self-harm, manage intense emotions, and foster resilience and community strength.
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Black Book Exchange Box
$5,000
Supporting Black Book Exchange Box’s Youth Ambassadorship Program, a youth community engagement program that promotes Black representation in literacy.
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Blessed by Brookelyn
$2,250
To address the social and spiritual needs of youth involved in the juvenile court system.
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Code on Wheels
$4,000
Empowering youth through free coding classes with YMCA, with hands-on tech skills, coding education and pathways to STEM careers.
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Comprehensive Therapy Center
$1,000
To provide youth 1:1 interaction with therapists so they can have exposure to this field and possibly consider as a future career.
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Diatribe
$3,000
Provide youth with a safe space and skills to process, discuss and poetically express about social issues they want to address with the public.
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Girls Choral Academy
$2,000
A 6-week summer camp offering musical education, creative development, and career exploration for girls in grades 3-5.
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Gospel Army Black History Group
$3,000
To empower Grand Rapids students through historical education, leadership and equity-focused outreach.
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Grandville Avenue Arts & Humanities
$5,200
Supporting the Teen Leaders program, which provides teens with opportunities for belonging and community connection through creative workshops, internships and mentorship.
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Hispanic Center of West Michigan
$1,500
Rise Up Summer Camp empowers Hispanic youth to build confidence, discover talents, develop life skills and create a sense of belonging and pride.
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HOAP, Inc.
$1,500
HOAP IMPACT supports disadvantaged youth by building self-esteem and confidence through mentorship, workshops and activities to help them thrive.
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Mayfly Project
$2,000
To support children in foster care through fly fishing and increase access to the outdoors.
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Meaning in Colors
$2,300
Expanding the Empowering Future Professionals program.
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Positive Impact for Life
$1,500
To address disparities for students in grades 1–8 by providing holistic support through tutoring, leadership development and health education during the summer.
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Save A Life A Day Outreach
$3,500
To empower youth through academic advocacy and comprehensive support providing structured programs to help achieve goals and potential.
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The Chosen Academy
$1,000
To give student athletes a safe space to learn and talk about mental health in sports and life.
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The Delta Project
$2,000
Supporting the Boys to Men-tors program to empower boys involved in the juvenile justice system to envision and achieve brighter futures through mentorship.
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The PLAYGROUNDgr
$2,200
Supporting Therapy Camp, which guides campers through Healing through Play, with teens assist in facilitating mental health and play therapy strategies alongside professionals.
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Treetops Collective
$2,500
The Teen Concentric Program empowers refugee and immigrant youth with mental health support, academic skills and leadership development.
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Urban Core Collective
$2,000
Empower students' voices and decision-making in Grand Rapids Public Schools through collective student action in Student Association for Leadership and Transformation (SALT), fostering a stronger sense of belonging and care.
Youth Grant Committee FAQ
Thinking About a YGC Grant for Your Organization?
Here's everything you need to know about youth grants from Grand Rapids Community Foundation and how to apply for funds.
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501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government entities (including schools), or community groups with fiduciaries may apply for grants for programs that benefit youth in the greater Grand Rapids area. Proposals should address one of the youth needs identified in the fund guidelines, be creative and well-defined, and demonstrate equitable community impact. A project budget and plans for program evaluation should be included as well. Call the Grand Rapids Community Foundation at 616.454.1751 if you have questions.
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Grant applications are available online each year. Past applicants will receive an email notification when future grant application timelines have been established. Please contact Chantal Pasag, YGC advisor, at CPasag@GRFoundation.org if you wish to be notified when the application opens.
The money available for grants comes from income generated by a $1.8 million Youth Fund, which is held in permanent endowment by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. The Youth Fund was established in 1994 with $1 million in matching funds from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Approximately $45,000 in grants is available annually.
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In the last two decades, we have awarded more than one million dollars to local nonprofits. We particularly like to support programs that are unique, address racial, social and economic justice, and incorporate youth leadership.
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Membership in YGC is open to any Grand Rapids area high school student interested in serving their community and willing to volunteer their time. Hundreds of area students have served on the Committee since YGC began, with many of them serving through all four years of high school. Membership applications are available each March and new members are selected in May. For more information contact Chantal Pasag, YGC advisor, at CPasag@GRFoundation.org.
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Youth across the state of Michigan are active serving their communities and addressing issues of concern. Learn more about Michigan's many Youth Advisory Committees by visiting the Michigan Community Foundation Youth Project's website.