Forward Turn Grant

Forward Turn is a youth-led philanthropic initiative operating in partnership with the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties. It is funded through the S. Murray and Mary H.C. Rust Student Philanthropy Project endowment, established by the descendants of Stirling and Murray Rust and Mary Hilton Coburn Rust. The program collaborates with the Loudoun County Youth Advisory Council and is designed to support youth-focused projects in Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties, Virginia. The Forward Turn program is a distinctive opportunity for young people to both lead and influence grantmaking in their communities. The purpose of the Forward Turn Youth Grantmakers program is to empower youth and support innovative, community-based initiatives that strengthen positive lifestyles, promote unity, and encourage youth involvement. Proposals are encouraged for projects that address critical issues such as teen mental health, internet safety, substance use, school engagement, mentoring, and other challenges facing young people. Environmental stewardship is also within the scope of funding. The grant prioritizes initiatives that are youth-led or directly benefit youth, especially those that demonstrate collaboration with peers, schools, faith-based organizations, or nonprofits. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, schools, government agencies, and faith-based entities that serve Loudoun and/or Northern Fauquier Counties. While adults may assist in application preparation, proposals must be endorsed by a youth participant. Applicants are strongly encouraged to involve youth in the design and implementation of their proposed programs. Youth participation is a central evaluative criterion, and the program values ideas that deliver high impact with limited funding and those that leverage additional resources such as in-kind contributions and volunteer time. The grant cycle begins with an optional pre-application workshop held via Zoom. For the 2026 cycle, this workshop was scheduled for January 6, 2025. Applications open on December 1, 2025 and must be submitted online by January 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Selected finalists will be invited to an in-person presentation and Q&A session with the youth review committee, taking place on either March 2 or March 23, 2026. These sessions provide an opportunity for applicants to further explain their proposals and engage directly with the youth reviewers. Awards typically range from $500 to $1,500. Notifications are expected by April 1, 2026, and recipients have up to one year from the award date to implement their projects and use the grant funds. Applications must be submitted via the Community Foundation's online grant portal. The program emphasizes the importance of youth voice and leadership in all stages of the process, from application to implementation. For more information or to ask questions about the application process, interested parties may contact Joanne Trimmer, Director of Grants and Nonprofit Programs, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 703-779-3505 x1. Additional resources, including recordings of the pre-application workshop, are available on the Community Foundation's website.

Proposals authored by youth and those with clear, measurable impact on local youth are prioritized.