The Youth for Community Improvement (YCI) Fund is an annual grant program of the Greater Worcester Community Foundation (GWCF), driven by its teen philanthropy committee. Each year, the YCI cohort identifies priority areas for funding, focusing on critical community needs. The program encourages projects that meaningfully engage young people through leadership, decision-making roles, and program involvement, emphasizing the importance of youth voice in every funded initiative.
For the 2025 cycle, the YCI cohort has set four priorities: arts and culture, health and wellbeing, basic needs, and economic opportunity. Arts and culture projects should increase access to cultural institutions for underserved communities and foster inclusive experiences. Health and wellbeing initiatives should address mental health awareness and provide tailored resources for diverse populations. Basic needs proposals should connect individuals to essential services like financial assistance, food distribution, and housing programs. Economic opportunity programs should focus on preparing youth for postsecondary education or the workforce through job training, internships, and financial planning workshops.
Eligible applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) organizations or have a fiscal sponsor, and their work must occur within Worcester County. The grants cover project or program costs, excluding operating and capital expenses. Grants are capped at $5,000, and the total project budget must not exceed $40,000. Applications are submitted online, with first-time applicants required to create an organization account.
The application period runs from December 11, 2024, to January 27, 2025. Finalists, notified by February 14, will engage in a 20-minute conversation with the YCI committee on February 25 or March 4. Interested applicants can contact Amaris Gonzalez, Program Officer for Youth and Families, or Sarah Shugrue, Director of Grantmaking and Capacity Building, for support. For further details, applications can be accessed through the GWCF online portal.
