Pay it Forward Project School Grant Program

The Pay It Forward Project Grant is a youth empowerment funding opportunity administered through the El Dorado Community Foundation. This grant program encourages student-led service and environmental initiatives that contribute to building stronger, more connected communities. By providing financial support for volunteer-based projects, the grant promotes civic responsibility, compassion, and sustained community engagement among students. Eligible applicants include student clubs or organizations from high schools located in El Dorado County, California; Douglas County, Nevada; and Carson City, Nevada. For the 2025–2026 cycle, eligibility has been expanded to include student organizations at South Tahoe Middle School in California. Projects must be based on volunteer work and should be executed during the 2025–2026 school year. Each student club must have an adult advisor who is responsible for overseeing the application process and who remains involved for the entire school year. While the advisor creates the login and submits the application, students are required to complete the majority of the application and final reporting responsibilities, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on youth leadership. The Pay It Forward Project will award grants of up to $1,000 per student organization. The grant can either be a direct award of up to $500 for student-led community service projects or a match of up to $1,000 for funds raised independently by the club for a project that promotes community or environmental improvement. Grant funds must be used for materials necessary to complete the student project. The funds may not be used to compensate individuals; the work must be entirely volunteer-based. The deadline for applications is September 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. Projects must be implemented during the 2025–2026 academic year. There is no pre-application or letter of intent process, and applications are accepted online via the El Dorado Community Foundation’s grants management system. The system allows advisors and students to save progress and return later to finalize submissions. To be considered, applicants must clearly outline the purpose of the proposed project, provide a breakdown of how the grant funds will be used, and confirm that the club advisor will remain engaged throughout the project’s lifecycle. No specific evaluation rubric is provided, but the program emphasizes volunteerism, community benefit, and student involvement as core values. For any inquiries about the grant application process, applicants are encouraged to contact Kathy Haven at kathy@eldoradocf.org. As part of the Foundation’s recurring grant offerings, the Pay It Forward Project is expected to continue annually, with the next cycle anticipated in September 2026.

Students must complete the application with guidance from their club advisor