Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program

The Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program (HSYJ), administered by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office (AGO), provides funding to support youth employment opportunities that simultaneously promote public health outcomes within Massachusetts communities. For the Summer 2026 cycle, the AGO invites proposals from eligible organizations to fund one or more summer youth positions. These positions must include structured professional development components such as career readiness training, financial literacy, or pathways to professional certification. The initiative aims to foster personal growth and job-readiness among youth while addressing pressing community health issues. The AGO emphasizes alignment between youth employment and public health impact. Examples of eligible programming include mental health peer support, nutrition and food access initiatives, environmental health projects, harm reduction efforts related to substance use or vaping, violence prevention through restorative justice, health education campaigns, and physical wellness activities. Through this integrated approach, the program seeks to build the leadership and workplace skills of youth participants while generating measurable benefits for the communities they serve. The AGO defines eligible youth as individuals between the ages of 14 and 21, with employment permits required for those under 18. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations, municipal or local government entities, or state agencies operating within Massachusetts. Public charities (e.g., 501(c)(3) organizations) must be in full compliance with Massachusetts nonprofit reporting statutes and IRS filing requirements, including use of the AGO Charity Portal. While applications from all eligible entities are welcome, the AGO may prioritize nonprofit organizations with operating budgets below $10 million. Individuals seeking personal employment are not eligible to apply. Grant awards will vary in amount, with a maximum individual award of $12,500. These funds should fully support one or more youth positions rather than partially funding many roles. Grant budgets may include up to $500 for professional development expenses and indirect (administrative) costs up to 15%. Youth workers must be paid at least $15 per hour, and requests for stipends below this wage threshold will be disqualified. The overall grant fund pool is capped at $375,000. Disbursement of awarded funds will occur via Electronic Funds Transfer following contract execution, with unspent funds to be returned within 45 days of the grant period’s end. The application portal opens on February 9, 2026, and all applications must be submitted through the AGO’s Online Grants Portal no later than 5:00 P.M. on March 13, 2026. A new system is in place as of February 1, 2026; applicants must create new accounts, which may take up to two business days for activation. The AGO encourages early submission to prevent last-minute technical issues. Confirmation of receipt is typically emailed within two business days. Support is available via email ([email protected]) or phone ((617) 963-2797). Applications will be evaluated on several criteria, including the applicant’s experience with youth workforce development, the impact of the proposed public health programming, quality and integration of professional development, strategies to engage underserved populations, geographic reach, and evaluation methods. Grant-funded programs must adhere to youth employment laws, participate in outcome tracking surveys, and may be invited to participate in AGO-led trainings or workshops. Required documents upon award include a standard contract, scope of services agreement, W-9, and EFT form. All programs must use funds in strict alignment with the approved proposal and maintain records for potential AGO review.

Strong proposals show clear public health impact, focus on underserved youth, and integrated development plans.