Student United Way, a youth leadership initiative spearheaded by United Way of Logan County, invites applications for its 2026 grant cycle. Each year, the program selects a diverse group of high school juniors and seniors from every high school in Logan County, Ohio. Over a six-month period, these students engage in hands-on leadership development activities focused on community engagement and philanthropy. As part of their experience, students are entrusted with the responsibility of reviewing and allocating grant funds to address pressing human service needs affecting local youth.
In 2026, the Student United Way committee has $25,000 in funding to distribute. The funding priorities for this cycle are grounded in the students’ immersive learning experiences, which included simulations of poverty, site visits to local service organizations, and dialogues with community leaders. As a result, the students have identified several critical areas of concern for local youth, including mental health support, anti-vaping education, poverty intervention strategies, and mentoring programs. Proposals that offer creative and effective solutions in these focus areas are highly encouraged.
The grant program is open to a wide range of applicants serving Logan County, including public and private schools, educators, nonprofit organizations, churches, and government agencies. Proposals may support either new or existing initiatives, provided they directly benefit youth under the age of 18 within the county. Examples of eligible activities include in-school mental health counseling, after-school mentoring, employment readiness workshops for teens, and classroom-based financial literacy programs.
Applications are due by Friday, March 13, 2026. Submitted proposals will be reviewed by the Student United Way committee, and funding decisions will be announced by the end of April. Grants awarded through this program may be used either during the summer of 2026 or throughout the 2026–2027 academic year. The selection process will prioritize programs that demonstrate clear impact, sustainable outcomes, and alignment with the youth-defined priorities.
The Student United Way program represents a unique model of participatory grantmaking, empowering youth not only to identify community challenges but also to invest in solutions. It reflects United Way of Logan County’s commitment to building future civic leaders while meeting the immediate needs of young people in the region. By investing in local organizations through this initiative, the program aims to foster resilience, well-being, and opportunity for the next generation of Logan County residents.
