Safe Summers Fund

The Safe Summers Fund, launched by The Campaign for Camp Safety and powered by The Safety Navigator, is a strategic funding initiative designed to help nonprofit youth camps in Texas meet the new safety requirements mandated under the Heaven’s 27 Youth Camp Safety Act and the Youth CAMPER Act. Both legislative measures, signed into law in September 2025, aim to enhance child safety and accountability in camp environments across the state. These reforms take effect in summer 2026, prompting an urgent need for camps to adopt infrastructure, staffing, and procedural changes that comply with the new laws. The Campaign for Camp Safety, a 501(c)(3) organization operating under the Youth Safety Initiative, created the Safe Summers Fund to close critical gaps for camps that are deeply committed to safety but lack the financial or operational capacity to implement required changes independently. With an understanding that camps have varying risk exposures and resource limitations, the Fund utilizes The Safety Navigator platform to support applications and guide organizations through a structured risk assessment process. This platform is free to use and acts as the central hub for eligibility checks, application submission, and status tracking. Funding decisions are based on a combination of demonstrated financial need, risk level, and organizational readiness. This tri-criteria framework ensures that funds are directed toward camps where safety investments will have the most immediate and lasting impact. The application process is driven by camp-specific risk profiles, developed using The Safety Navigator’s proprietary tools and advisory support. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis beginning January 20, 2026, allowing camps to apply at any time via the Safety Navigator platform. The Fund is currently limited to nonprofit camps operating in Texas that are actively working to comply with the new legislation. While there are no specified award ceilings or minimums published, funding will be prioritized based on alignment with key risk-reduction goals and the quality of submitted implementation plans. There is no mention of a cost-sharing or match requirement. Financial support for the Safe Summers Fund is provided through generous contributions from the Shalom Austin Texas Flood Relief Fund, Lauren Kate and Peter Holt, BBYO Jewish Youth Movement, and a broad network of individual donors affiliated with the Campaign for Camp Safety. These partners ensure that the Fund is able to offer timely support in advance of the mandated compliance date during summer 2026. Camps interested in applying are encouraged to create an account on The Safety Navigator platform, review application criteria, and complete a risk assessment as part of their submission. While specific evaluation criteria have not been detailed, applications are guided by the platform’s assessment structure. Contact information is not explicitly listed; however, inquiries may be routed through the platform. No fixed deadline has been announced, and applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, reflecting the Fund’s rolling review structure and alignment with the urgent compliance timeline.