ACF Youth Empowerment Grant Program

The Aspen Community Foundation (ACF) is offering the 2025 Youth Empowerment Grant to support nonprofit organizations operating in the Aspen to Parachute region of Colorado. The foundation is committed to advancing opportunities and resources for youth aged six to twenty-four, with a focus on fostering resilience, educational achievement, and holistic well-being. Funding for this grant program is sourced from contributions by donors who support ACF’s pooled grantmaking efforts. A total of $250,000 will be disbursed through 10 to 15 grants, each ranging from $15,000 to $25,000. The objective of the Youth Empowerment Grant is to ensure equitable access to culturally responsive services, career-connected learning, and enrichment activities beyond the classroom. The initiative prioritizes efforts that support physical, social-emotional, and mental health needs, especially for disengaged youth—defined as young people not regularly involved in structured programs, not enrolled in school, or unemployed. Eligible applicants must align with these empowerment priorities and demonstrate a strong commitment to under-resourced populations across the region. Only nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (or those with a fiscal sponsor) or qualified government entities, such as school districts, may apply. Importantly, organizations that received a 2025 Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Foundation Youth Impact Grant are not eligible. The work must serve youth within Pitkin and Garfield counties and the Roaring Fork Valley portion of Eagle County. Applications will not be considered if the organization operates outside the service area or does not meet other outlined criteria, such as longevity of operation (minimum one year), and compliance with nondiscrimination standards. The application process takes place through ACF’s online Foundant grant portal. Applicants must first complete an eligibility quiz, followed by detailed sections including the grant request, board governance, organizational and staffing details, financial overview, demographics and impact metrics, and a narrative. Required uploads include IRS documentation, budget statements, a board list, and optionally a 990 form. All questions marked with an asterisk must be answered, and the system does not autosave, so frequent saving is advised. Review of applications will occur from June through August, with the Board making final decisions in September. Awards will be distributed in October, with notifications and agreements sent out in September and October. Applicants can join virtual office hours on May 1 and 7 and must submit their completed applications by May 29, 2025. Application scores are based on a 100-point rubric focusing on alignment with priorities, service to disengaged youth, geographic reach, depth and duration of contact, cultural responsiveness, and impact metrics. A cutoff score of 75 is typical, though exceptions may be discussed. For support, applicants may contact ACF’s Grants Manager, Scott, via email at Scott@AspenCommunityFoundation.org or by phone at 970-925-9300.