Intensive Mentoring for Oasis Youth Leadership Program

The District of Columbia Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) has released the FY26 Request for Applications (RFA) for the OASIS Intensive Mentoring Program. This funding opportunity seeks to identify a community-based organization that will provide a robust array of supports and services for at-risk youth and their families. The program is designed for young people aged 10 to 14 who are referred to DYRS and reside either at the Laurel campus or in various District communities. The overarching objective is to guide court-involved and at-risk youth toward successful adulthood through structured, intensive mentoring and community-based interventions that foster public safety and positive youth development. DYRS functions as the District’s juvenile justice agency, responsible for the care, custody, and rehabilitation of detained or committed youth. This initiative aligns with the agency's vision to offer the nation’s leading continuum of care for justice-involved youth, focusing on strengths-based approaches, restorative justice, and community empowerment. The OASIS program seeks to advance this mission by funding programs that offer intensive mentoring (minimum 40 hours per month per youth), social development training, career readiness services, and family support. The ultimate goal is to enhance public safety and support systemic community healing by investing in local organizations deeply rooted in the target neighborhoods. Applicants must be District-based nonprofit or for-profit community organizations, though for-profit applicants may not include profit in the budget. Eligible organizations must demonstrate a commitment to serving justice-involved or at-risk youth and have operational facilities located within Washington, DC. Additional eligibility requirements include incorporation within DC, a record of service delivery to the targeted neighborhoods, cultural and linguistic competence, and documented capacity for program and financial management. Staff working directly with youth must complete extensive background checks prior to engagement. The maximum award for this RFA is $500,000 for a 12-month project period beginning October 1, 2025. Only one award will be made. Allowable costs include salaries, travel within the Beltway, equipment, and consultant services (up to $650/day). Unallowable costs include lobbying, legal fees, alcoholic beverages, building acquisitions, and personal loans. This grant is not subject to a matching requirement. DYRS may consider multi-year continuation depending on the availability of funds and grantee performance. Applicants must submit a comprehensive narrative, budget, and multiple attachments including financial documents, tax exemption status, letters of support, and organizational policies. Submissions are due by August 29, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET via email or web submission. A pre-application virtual conference is scheduled for July 18, 2025, and applicants are encouraged to attend. Questions about the RFA must be submitted by July 21, with DYRS publishing answers by July 28, 2025. Applications will be evaluated by a panel based on project idea, target population alignment, organizational capacity, evaluation strategy, budget accuracy, and narrative clarity. For further support or questions, applicants may contact DYRS at DYRS.Grants@dc.gov. This opportunity provides a critical avenue for organizations to engage directly with vulnerable youth populations and support their rehabilitation through evidence-based, community-rooted programming.

Attend the pre-application webinar. Use descriptive filenames and combine resumes into a single file.