Grants for Youth Programs

BNSF Railway Foundation

The BNSF Railway Foundation supports communities by funding a wide variety of arts and social service organizations and college scholarship programs. We also make a difference through our employees’ incredible volunteer spirit and their active contributions to many worthy community programs, from serving on city councils to building homes for Habitat for Humanity.

Since 2000, the BNSF Railway Foundation has contributed more than $150 million, to educational, cultural and other worthy programs in communities we serve. This includes donations made to match employee gifts. The foundation routinely donates to youth programs and community projects with significant local involvement.

Our Mission

The mission of the BNSF Railway Foundation is to support and help improve quality of life for thousands of communities across the 28 states where BNSF operates, primarily across the Midwest, Southwest and Northwest regions of the U.S. As one of the largest freight railroads in North America, BNSF Railway is focused on making a difference in the communities where our employees live, work and volunteer. The BNSF Railway Foundation is our company’s main vehicle for charitable giving.

Programs

Please note the following updates in order to be considered for a BNSF Railway Foundation grant:

In order to more effectively accomplish our mission and continue to respond to the hardships and difficulties currently experienced by nonprofits stretched to their limit to provide services, the BNSF Railway Foundation has further refined our criteria for consideration. 

While we understand that nonprofits' needs are great, we have a responsibility to make the most impactful investments possible in our communities. Therefore, it is highly unlikely that your request will be considered if you do not meet the following criteria: 

You will be considered for a BNSF Railway Foundation grant only if you can show that you meet at least two of the following criteria: 

• Your organization or project has significant BNSF employee participation
• Your organization or the services provided are in close proximity to a BNSF main line; or if BNSF is the only railroad or major corporation in your area of the state
• Your request is related to the railroad industry
• Your request is for direct programming or project support

If your organization is volunteer-driven, there must be significant BNSF employee involvement in order for the BNSF Railway Foundation to consider funding your project.

Community Investment

Centene believes that successful corporate citizenship is defined by investments in community-based institutions and organizations that address the needs of communities while advancing initiatives that focus on inclusion, the whole person, and community development.

Centene Charitable Foundation

We appreciate your interest in Centene's philanthropic goals and objectives. At Centene, we believe that grant-making decisions are more effective when made locally. That's why we are actively involved in the communities where we live and work and why our team members are leaders in helping our communities succeed. We work toward giving back to organizations that span all areas of ethnicity, cultures and abilities through our philanthropy.

Centene recognizes that there are a broad range of organizations engaged in worthy activities, and we regret that due to budget constraints we are often unable to consider and/ or fund every request. Because we receive funding requests that far exceed our annual giving program budget, Centene reserves the right to decline applications at its sole discretion. Such a response does not reflect in any way a negative appraisal of the prospective organization or the value of its services.

Health is at the center of Centene's giving. We also invest in philanthropic initiatives and partnerships with organizations offering programs in education, children and the arts as well.

Focus Areas

Consideration will be given to organizations that fall within one or more of the following areas of focus:

• Health (Including Social Determinants of Health)
• Education
• Children
• Arts

Youth Service America’s 2022-2023 Partner Grants are a strategy for increasing youth participation rates to 50% by America’s Semiquincentennial (America250) in July 2026. Applicants from the same geographical area are encouraged to apply for applicable grant opportunities to maximize funding impact in your area. 

The 2022-2023 Lead Agency program supports local governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, faith-based organizations, and K-16 schools and institutions that lead partner coalitions or organize projects to engage youth volunteers on National Days of Service: 

• 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance (September 11, 2022)
• MLK Day of Service (January 16, 2023)
• Global Youth Service Day (Late April or Early May 2023). 

Grants up to $6,000 will be awarded based on the number of youth volunteers engaged. Applicants may work locally, regionally, statewide, or in multiple states and must be based in the United States. 

Supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and AmeriCorps, the Lead Agency program offers grant funding, capacity-building training, and ongoing support to effectively engage young people in meaningful service and service-learning activities. 

Volunteering for the first time in childhood is an expressway to a lifetime of civic participation. National days of service – such as 9/11 Day of Service, MLK Day of Service, and Global Youth Service Day – are the perfect on-ramps. By engaging youth as volunteers on national days of service, Lead Agencies fulfill a vital role to increase youth participation in their community. 

Two types of Lead Agency grants will be awarded: 

• Partner Coalitions are convened by the applicant. The applicant will co-lead the coalition, sharing knowledge and tools learned with coalition partners and reducing barriers to youth leadership and participation.
  • $3,000: 15 external Coalition Partners collectively activating 1,000 youth during the program year. 
  • $6,000: 30 external Coalition Partners collectively activating 2,000 youth during the program year. 
• Project Organizers use the knowledge and tools shared by YSA to support youth in their network to organize youth-led service projects. For example, you are a state association or network (BGCA, YMCA, FCCLA, FFA, Camp Fire, etc.) and seek funding to support 15 chapters or affiliates across your state with youth-led service projects.
  • $3,000: 15 internal Project Organizers collectively activating 1,000 youth during the program year.
  • $6,000: 30 internal Project Organizers collectively activating 2,000 youth during the program year.

Partner Examples:  

• K-12 schools, colleges, and universities 
• Youth development, afterschool, and extracurricular programs 
• Community and faith-based organizations 
• Government agencies 
• National service programs 
• Volunteer centers, etc. 

Regardless of the grant type selected, 80% of youth engaged must be middle and high school age, and 50% must be from low-income families. All Lead Agencies must engage youth in a service activity or host a coalition capacity-building activity on 9/11 Day of Service.

To support Lead Agencies in building their own capacity or the capacity of their coalition members, we will provide training and networking opportunities throughout the year.  

• Grantees are required to participate in a virtual Youth Service Institute (YSI) tentatively scheduled for July 18. There may be an opportunity for grantees to attend an in-person training. In that case, YSA will cover the travel cost.

In turn, Lead Agencies will engage youth, ages 5-25, to lead service or service-learning projects on national days of service, through which they:

• Build youth-adult partnerships that create connections with caring adults who encourage them to use their Sparks (passions, interests, and skills) to help others,
• Provide opportunities to learn and practice 21st Century Skills (Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, and Critical Thinking),
• Strengthen their community by working towards achieving the Global Goals (17 UN Sustainable Development Goals), and
• Lead ASAP (through Awareness, Service, Advocacy, and Philanthropy projects).

Grantees are expected to submit periodic project activity reports to outline proposed activities for National Days of Service and describe the impact of service projects. 

Our giving strategy focuses on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education and leadership development programs for youth that help young people become productive, healthy adults. Local Community Affairs Councils engage with their communities by managing local community affairs programs and administering corporate programs and grants in their area.

H.B. Fuller’ philanthropic vision is to help young people grow into productive, successful adults. H.B. Fuller Company Foundation grants are strategically focused in two areas:

• STEM education – youth education initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)
• Leadership development for youth – organizations and programs that help young people become successful, productive adults

Our long-standing commitment to be a responsible corporate citizen is a great source of pride for H.B. Fuller. We recognize the world’s finite resources require us to minimize our impact on the environment while creating value for our customers.

NOTE: If the proposal meets the stated guidelines and priorities of the Foundation & Memorial Trust, Grant Application instructions will be sent to the applicant.

About The Memorial Trust

In 1975, two years after his death, The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust was established in New York. The four original trustees were a member of the Snow family, a lawyer, a publishing associate and a corporate trustee, the Irving Trust Company, now BNY Mellow N.A.. The current Trustees continue this legacy being well aware of the donor and his beliefs, values and ideals. The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas. They meet once a year, usually in June.

The John Ben Snow Memorial Trust

The Memorial Trust strategically focuses funding within specific geographic regions of the United States across a range of program areas (prioritized below and visually depicted here) while responding to the ever-changing needs of various segments of the population, especially to the needs of youth and people who are disadvantaged economically, emotionally, or physically.

Dating back to the inception of the Trust in 1973, the primary and overarching grant making priority has been and continues to be programs that focus on education.

• Education: This program area targets funds to organizations that provide educational opportunities or academic assistance to individuals who demonstrate an intellectual aptitude and a financial need. Examples include scholarships, fellowships, academic tutoring or counseling, literacy, and journalism.

Secondarily, the Trust considers proposals within the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Initiatives, and Youth Programs. The Trustee’s objective is to extend the primary educational focus by providing funding support within these additional program areas.

• Arts and Culture: This program offers grants that promote arts education and appreciation, particularly for young adults, via the development of educational curriculum and professional instruction including visiting artists and performance support for targeted populations.
• Community Initiatives: This program provides funding for programs or services that directly improve the quality of life within the geographic focus areas that we serve. Examples include support for libraries, food pantries and shelters, and neighborhood revitalization. Generally, the Trust does not seek proposals for health care initiatives or animal welfare programs.
• Youth Programs: This program area offers grants that provide character education or enrichment opportunities via mentoring or after-school programming. 

As a third priority, the Trust does consider proposals in the areas of Disabilities and Universal Access, Environmental, and Historic Preservation. As these are not core focus areas, funding is often limited. Priority will be given to proposals with an educational focus.

• Disabilities and Universal Access: This program offers grants to organizations in complying with ADA requirements within their facilities (e.g. elevator, handrails, automatic doors, and ramps) or offering services targeted for individuals with physical, mental, or emotional disabilities.
• Environmental: This program provides funds for organizations that strive to protect strategic parcels of land and bodies of water as well as programs that educate the general public on key environmental issues such as conservation and water management.
• Historic Preservation: This program provides funding for organizations that preserve historical artifacts (e.g. sites, structures, objects) and accounts (e.g. events), and educate the greater community on their significance. Examples include museums, historical societies and educational programming.