The NCW Foundation for Youth Grant, managed by the Community Foundation of North Central Washington (CFNCW), is designed to support programs that directly benefit youth aged 18 and under in Chelan and Douglas counties. The funder emphasizes opportunities for local youth and aims to enhance access to beneficial experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. Applications are accepted year-round, with awards distributed every other month.
The grant provides funding of up to $1,000 per organization for one or more projects or programs. Eligible expenses include in-state field trips, afterschool activities, supplies and materials for youth programs, transportation to special events, admission or scholarships for youth, basic necessities such as food and clothing, and equipment that improves safety or accessibility for youth. Programs that serve a large number of youth or provide unique opportunities are given special consideration.
Eligibility is restricted to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that serve Chelan and Douglas counties and comply with CFNCW grant guidelines. Funds must be used within six months of the award, and recipient organizations must wait 12 months after receiving funding before applying again. Certain expenses are not eligible for funding, including fundraising events, facility improvements, general operations, staffing, and out-of-state activities.
Applications must detail how the project will directly impact youth and include a project budget that specifies how grant funds will be used, along with any secured or pending funding from other sources. Required application fields include project name, amount requested, counties served, number of youth served, age or grade range of youth served, and project description.
Evaluation criteria focus on the direct benefit to youth, the number of youth served, and whether the opportunity would otherwise be inaccessible to them. For assistance or questions about the grant, applicants can contact Jennifer Short at jennifer.s@cfncw.org or call (509) 663-7716.
Applications are reviewed and awards are issued on a bi-monthly schedule in January, March, May, July, September, and November. There is no specific opening date, as applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
