Youth Service America (YSA), with federal funding from AmeriCorps, administers the We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day of Service Grants to encourage youth-led community service. These grants support projects that take place on or around September 11, 2025, as a way to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and honor the service of first responders, military personnel, and all those who contributed in the aftermath.
The grant program aims to engage youth changemakers, aged 5 to 25, along with schools and organizations, to plan and lead meaningful service projects. These projects must include elements of remembrance and service, bring together diverse community members, and encourage participation from youth not usually invited to serve. Reflecting the national spirit of unity post-9/11, the program emphasizes inclusivity and cross-community collaboration.
This year, YSA will directly award up to 60 grants of $1,000 each. An additional 40 grants will be distributed through partners including Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the Arizona Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism, the Michigan Community Service Commission, and the New Jersey Governor’s Office of Volunteerism. Each grant recipient must engage at least 100 youth as volunteers in implementing their service activity.
Applicants must be based in the United States or its territories, including American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C. All projects must comply with federal restrictions on allowable activities. Documentation of volunteer engagement is required, using sign-in sheets, surveys, or equivalent systems with unique identifiers for each participant.
Applications are currently open and must be submitted by Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 11:59pm local time. To apply, interested parties must sign up on the YSA website. For questions not addressed in the program FAQ, applicants may contact grant administrator Scott Ganske.
Review FAQ and contact Scott Ganske if needed. Projects must be inclusive and align with themes of remembrance and service.
