Grants for After School Programs

Dwight Stuart Youth Fund Grant

Originally established as an independent foundation in 2001, the Dwight Stuart Youth Fund (DSYF) was endowed by Dwight L. Stuart, Sr. (1924-1998) to benefit and serve the needs of children and youth in Los Angeles County. Since 2010, DSYF has been a grantmaking arm of the San Francisco-based Stuart Foundation. 

Our mission is to support organizations that provide direct services and experiences to underserved children and youth so they may gain the skills, values, and confidence to achieve their potential.

Funding Areas

Education Enrichment

This funding area supports and strengthens programs that provide a well-rounded education for youth. These include before-school, in-school, and after-school programs that enhance academic skills, expose and provide instruction in arts and culture, and allow youth opportunities to participate in new activities and a world beyond their communities. These programs help youth develop skills and knowledge regardless of ability and teach values such as respect, patience, self-discipline, integrity, tenacity, and teamwork.

Programs Include:

• Sports and Recreation
• Visual and Performing Arts
• Cultural Enrichment
• Homework Assistance and Tutoring
• Language Arts and Literacy
• Creative Writing
• Field Trips and Camps
• Career Guidance and Youth Employment
• College Readiness and Educational Planning

Mentoring

This funding area supports and strengthens programs that allow adults and youth to interact with one another in a consistent, nurturing, and long-term relationship that offers understanding, guidance, and practical life skills.

Programs Include:

• Adult-Youth Mentoring
• Team Mentoring
• Peer Mentoring
• Apprenticeships / Internships

Leadership

This funding area supports and strengthens programs that teach and develop leadership skills and principles. Programs in this area also educate and encourage youth about their responsibilities as concerned and informed members of society.

Programs Include:

• Youth Advocacy
• Youth Organizing
• Skills Development: Leadership, Written and Oral Communication
• Programs Run by Youth
• Community Service
• Peer Counseling
• Peer Education

School Readiness

This funding area supports and strengthens programs that influence learning and literacy experiences for pre-school children ages 2-5.

We give priority to programs that:

• Create an individualized curriculum based on each child’s developmental needs
• Provide a safe and stimulating environment for learning
• Focus on a clear philosophy and communicate with staff, parents, and the community
• Regularly assess their curriculum and work with local schoolsReflect the culture, class, and language of their community

Programs Include:

• Cognitive Development
• Language Development
• Emotional DevelopmentLiteracy

NOTE: The Goizueta Foundation accepts applications on a rolling basis, so organizations may complete the online application at any time. Proposals are considered at the May and November board meetings. Notification of grant approvals and declinations are announced following each meeting.

Who We Are

Roberto C. Goizueta was chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company from 1981 until 1997. He established The Goizueta Foundation in 1992 to provide financial assistance to educational and charitable institutions. Today, the Foundation is a family philanthropy that works alongside forward-thinking organizations in metro Atlanta to inspire motivated young people to learn and succeed. 

We believe that challenging organizations to think about education in innovative, strategic ways is a catalyst for creating life-changing opportunities for individuals and long-term benefits for the communities in which they live and serve.

The Foundation’s primary focus is on expanded learning initiatives in the 10-county metropolitan Atlanta region, specifically:

• Early Learning
• K-12 Education

The Goizueta Foundation is a private, general-purpose, grantmaking philanthropy. Since its inception, the Foundation has partnered with more than 85 organizations through 555 grants, totaling more than $386 million.

Types of Funding

The Goizueta Foundation supports efforts within metropolitan Atlanta that are most aligned with our focus and shared values as well as our strategic priorities. We seek to build relationships with organizations and understand their impact before investing in them over the long term.

We provide support for:

• Institutional strengthening
• Organizational and program development or expansion
• Organizational and project planning 

Since 2005, the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation has been one of the most active private foundations in Vermont. We use our resources to ease hardship, help people overcome barriers to success, and drive innovative change.

We are a small, nimble organization. We spend aggressively, granting at nearly triple the rate of most other foundations nationwide. Our mandate is to spend our resources efficiently, and in partnership with the people and organizations that are doing the best work in their communities and fields.

A key element of the Foundation’s investment strategy is our commitment to using our dollars to address today’s challenges. Instead of setting funds aside as a permanent endowment, the Tarrant Foundation intends to fully expend its resources and sunset its grantmaking by the year 2040.

Tarrant Foundation Grant Program

The Tarrant Foundation awards between 50 – 70 competitive grants annually. Because we believe we can have the most impact by concentrating these funds in Vermont, applications are accepted only from Vermont organizations.

While we acknowledge the many pressing needs facing Vermont, and the many effective interventions targeting those needs, our grantmaking is primarily focused on the following populations and strategies:

Youth: Resilience and Aspiration

Our primary interest here is programs that support school-age youth to develop the dispositions, skills and resources they will need to move productively into adulthood. Our focus includes: achievement gap, job readiness, mentoring, out-of-school time, financial literacy, emergency & transitional housing, and community–based addiction recovery. 

Working-Age Adults: Employment and Financial Independence 

We support strategies that promote and facilitate the journey to economic independence, and that ultimately reduce reliance on public assistance. Our focus includes: job training/retention, financial literacy, homelessness prevention, and community-based addiction recovery.

Seniors: Comfort and Dignity in Aging

We believe in ensuring that seniors’ most basic needs are met, and in community-based supports that promote wellbeing and fight the premature limitation of independence. Our focus includes: independent living, nutrition, and activity & enrichment.

Communities: Local Resources and Investments

Some small grants are available to complement Vermont communities’ own investments in important local resources and services. Here we look for programs with evidence of strong local financial and/or volunteer support.

What We Look For

We partner with organizations that have a deep understanding of the community needs they seek to address, and a demonstrated track record of effective strategies and interventions.

As we evaluate proposals, we also look for:

• Strong leadership
• An entrepreneurial mindset
• Efficiency
• A focus on action and outcomes
• A balanced blend of funding sources to create greater long term stability
• Organizations that are committed to maximizing the impact of our investment

NOTE: The Skillman Foundation reviews grant requests throughout the year. Grant approvals take place at Foundation board meetings in March, June, September, and December. Generally, it takes 2-3 months from inquiry to approval.

We’re committed to expanding the opportunities young people see for themselves after high school graduation.

We work to ensure that Detroit youth are prepared for college, career, and life; That they have the supports and the opportunities needed  to follow a path of their choosing, helping to lead us all into a more prosperous and equitable future.

Education

For youth to reach their full potential, they must be provided with meaningful continuum of learning opportunities, both inside and outside of the classroom. Working in collaboration with others, we aim to bolster Detroit’s system of schools and expanded learning opportunities to advance academic proficiency and impart children with the skills required for an ever-changing economy.

Our Approach

We're focused on three key approaches to improve education for Detroit kids:

• Beyond Schools - Building community awareness & engagement around student attendance and providing schools with supports needed to reduce chronic absenteeism  
• Loving Schools & Communities - Increasing academic proficiency -- particularly in third-grade reading -- and supporting teacher recruitment efforts  
• Strong Schools - Strengthening the conditions in which all Detroit schools operate by providing actionable data, supporting educator development and retention, and family & community engagement 

Economy

We’re committed to helping prepare and connect Detroit youth to the ever-evolving economy. We support experiences both inside and outside of school that introduce youth to career options, engage them in rigorous learning opportunities, and allow them to forge connections that can support their path to economic mobility.

Our Approach

We're focused on three key approaches to ensure that Detroit youth benefit from and contribute to the ever-evolving economy of Detroit and beyond:

• College & Career Pathways - Connecting students to post-secondary education avenues and career options
• Youth Employment - Connecting the next generation workforce with employers
• Financial Empowerment - Helping young people learn how to become financially self-sufficient and supporting youth entrepreneurship
• Community & Youth Leadership - Creating pipelines for new leaders, platforms for existing leaders, and providing reliable data to help inform civic action and decision making

Equity

We’re committed to helping reduce barriers and increase opportunities for Detroit youth so that they may benefit from and contribute to the city’s resurgence.

Our Approach

We aim to foster a more equitable Detroit through three key approaches: 

• Youth Development - Increasing high-quality out-of-school programming for Detroit kids by pursuing a dedicated public funding stream, supporting program quality improvement, and investing in promising youth programs that can serve as proof points for scalable investments 
• Safety - Reducing the number of young Detroiters whose future prospects are limited by exclusionary disciplinary practices (including school suspensions and expulsions), supporting youth violence interventions, and expanding the use of restorative practices in schools and by law enforcement 

How we give

The Weinberg Foundation fulfills its mission to help those in greatest need by providing grants within five focus areas. These focus areas serve different populations, as well as different geographic areas. However, the Community Services focus area is intended for large community organizations operating multiple programs that meet a range of needs. Most nonprofit grant requests should align with one of the four core focus areas: Housing, Health, Jobs, or Education.

The Small Grants Program (SGP)

The Weinberg Foundation recognizes that small, community-based organizations provide critical services to vulnerable individuals and families. Through the Small Grants Program (SGP), the Foundation supports smaller nonprofits with a streamlined grant application and review process. Grants awarded under the SGP must still align with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in the areas of Housing, Health, Jobs, and Education.

Funding requests through the Small Grants Program can be for operating, program, or capital grants. The maximum Small Grant amount is $50,000 per year over two years, or $100,000 total. Organizations are eligible to apply if they meet the Foundation’s eligibility criteria and maintain an annual organizational budget of $3 million or less.

Housing

Stable housing provides a foundation for individuals, children, and families to lead healthy and productive lives.

Without housing, people are unable to focus on education, employment, health care, and meeting other basic needs. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations that provide safe and affordable housing.

The Foundation supports the creation of new housing units, as well as the renovation of existing housing, to provide and maintain affordable, quality, and supportive housing options. Projects should be integrated into the broader community and must incorporate supportive services. Priority is given to projects that add new units of housing into a community.

Affordable Housing Development and Renovation

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Affordable housing for older adults, including services that allow residents to age independently, within their communities, and with maximum quality of life.
• Permanent supportive housing serving people exiting homelessness. Project details must include the types of services offered, as well as a focus on financial management and job training and career development.
• Affordable housing that meets the needs of veterans, young adults with developmental disabilities, those escaping domestic violence, and other vulnerable populations.

Maintaining Stable Housing

The Foundation supports programs that allow people to remain housed within their communities by providing comprehensive services that meet a range of social, economic, and health needs.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Aging in community programs that allow older adults to age independently and with maximum quality of life. Specifically, programs may include home modification and repair, which can also be used as a platform for delivery of a variety of services.
• Rapid Re-Housing programs for families, youth, veterans and others who have experienced homelessness. These programs include case management, limited financial assistance, and job services and career development.
• Independent living, including supportive services that allow young adults with disabilities to live in the least restrictive environment possible, within their community.

Health

Good health is a prerequisite for any other life pursuit.

Poor physical or mental health can prevent people from seeking education, employment, and other opportunities that would allow for economic mobility. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations that help children, adults, and families lead healthy lives.

Health Care Access

The Foundation supports organizations that provide access to health care, as well as those that work to improve the health status of vulnerable patients.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Capital projects that expand access to primary care. Grantees are typically Federally Qualified Health Centers, and other community health centers, that provide a single-access point for a range of services. Please note that the Foundation does not fund hospitals or free clinics.
• Oral and behavioral health programs that increase access to care through the construction of new facilities as well as operating support that leverages billing revenue.
• Health care transition programs that ensure young adults with developmental disabilities have access to qualified primary care providers as they move into adulthood.

Aging in Community

The Foundation supports projects that enable older adults to remain independent. Projects must incorporate a model that connects older adults and/or caregivers with a range of services that help them age independently, within their communities, and with maximum quality of life.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) Centers or other capital projects that provide nursing home-eligible older adults with a single-access point for a range of services.
• Prevention models that address older adults’ social determinants of health, with the goal of preventing hospitalization, readmission, and institutionalization.
• Caregiver support programs that help with older adults’ daily personal care (bathing, dressing, walking, eating, etc.).

Veteran Mental Wellness

The Foundation supports programs that enhance the mental wellness of veterans who are reintegrating into civilian life.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Retreat programs, including an intensive on-site experience with a minimum of one year of follow-up. Programs must use a proven curriculum.
• Post-traumatic mental health therapy that is evidence-based and proven to reduce symptoms.
• Coordinated resource networks that facilitate access to a range of supportive services. These networks have a single-access point that evaluates veterans and connects them with the most appropriate service providers.

Nutrition and Food Access

The Foundation supports organizations and programs that increase access to sufficient and nutritious food.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Meal service programs that ensure homebound people living with severe, chronic illnesses have access to nutritious food.
• Food delivery models, including nonprofit grocery stores, which increase access to healthy foods in food deserts.
• Food bank expansions and other capital projects that increase warehouse space, add cold storage and handling, and make other modifications necessary to serve more people. Please note that the Foundation focuses on regional food banks and not on food pantries or feeding programs.

Trauma, Abuse, and Safety

The Foundation supports programs that promote child and family safety and that reduce the long-term traumatic effects of child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, intimate partner or family violence, elder abuse, and exposure to community violence.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Domestic violence programs that provide safe shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and other support services.
• Shelters and multidisciplinary team projects, including comprehensive services, for older adults fleeing physical, mental, economic, and sexual abuse.
• Prevention and treatment programs that strive to reduce, and alleviate the effects of, child sexual and physical abuse, child trafficking, and child neglect.

Jobs

Employment provides the best opportunity for personal success and financial security.

Quality training programs that lead to employment enable individuals and families to achieve economic stability. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations that help people secure and keep quality jobs with opportunities for advancement.

Job Training

The Foundation supports job-training programs that result in industry-recognized credentials, as well as job-placement and retention services. Employers must engage with the training organizations to verify program content and support placement and retention services. Organizations should track job retention and wages for at least two years.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Sector-based training programs in the health care, manufacturing, construction, food service, information technology, biotechnology, manufacturing industries, and more.
• Life-skills and job-readiness training, including case management and referrals to technical-training programs or direct job placement.
• Capital costs for job-training centers, including construction or renovation projects or large equipment purchases, that result in an increased number of individuals served in a sector-based training program.
• Veterans programs that provide job-placement services for military members and their spouses.

Financial Literacy and Economic Stability

The Foundation supports programs that provide people with the financial tools necessary to achieve economic stability.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Financial coaching programs to help participants decrease debt, increase savings, and set long-term financial goals.
• Free tax preparation for low-wage workers provided by IRS-trained and certified volunteers.

Youth Employment and Career Support

The Foundation supports programs that provide career exploration and work-based learning opportunities for youth.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• Hard and soft-skills training to help disconnected youth (neither in school nor working) reconnect with career-pathway opportunities.
• Paid internships that expose youth to a direct work experience.
• Summer jobs programs for youth citywide.
• Customized, community-based employment opportunities for young adults with disabilities who are transitioning from a school environment into the workplace.

Education

Education can help break the cycle of poverty.

Providing at-risk children and youth with academic opportunities helps prepare them for a stable and productive future. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations that provide or supplement a high-quality education from kindergarten through high school.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)

The Foundation supports in-school and out-of-school STEM programs, professional development to strengthen STEM instruction, and programs proven to improve math proficiency, in order to prepare youth for evolving workforce needs that require STEM literacy.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• STEM programs, either in or out-of-school, that engage students in project-based learning. Programs should be able to demonstrate the academic impact of this work.
• Intensive, evidence-based math interventions proven to increase students’ math scores. Please note that the Foundation will not fund curriculum only.
• Programs that teach educators how to use and incorporate project-based STEM learning into their classrooms.
• Construction of STEM spaces, including labs, makerspaces, and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) centers.

Out-of-School Time

The Foundation supports after-school, weekend, and summer programs for students, kindergarten through grade 12. Funded programs must have an academic component with demonstrated academic outcomes.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• After-school, weekend, or summer programs that work with students for a minimum of six weeks over the summer and one year during the school year and blend academic learning with enriching activities to increase academic achievement, school attendance, and positive social behavior.
• Summer programs that blend academic learning with enriching activities and provide nutritious meals, as well as opportunities for physical activity. See Summer Funding Collaborative for more information.
• Job opportunities that introduce teens to the workforce and teach soft skills necessary for work and life. Ideally these programs will have opportunities for advancement, continued involvement, or handoff to another employer.

College and Career Preparedness

The Foundation supports programs that assist students in developing a post-secondary plan and position them for success after graduation from high school.

Here are a few examples of appropriate projects:

• College access programs that help students and families navigate the college application and admissions processes, including SAT/ACT testing, financial aid, and scholarship access. Priority will be shown to programs that also help students persist through college to obtain a degree.
• Career technology education (CTE) programs that help students achieve an industry-recognized certification that will allow them to graduate from high school in a position to enter the workforce and eventually earn a family-sustaining wage.