Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants Program

The Youth Service Capacity-Building Grants (YSCG) program is administered by the William T. Grant Foundation, a private philanthropic organization based in New York City that is dedicated to supporting research and community-based programs aimed at reducing inequality in youth outcomes. This specific grant initiative focuses on strengthening the organizational infrastructure of small nonprofit organizations that deliver direct services to youth aged 5 to 25 across New York City's five boroughs. The goal of the YSCG program is to enhance the long-term stability and service capacity of youth-serving nonprofits. Funding is provided as general operating support, allowing organizations to apply the resources toward self-identified capacity-building needs, which may include improvements in financial management, board development, staff training, human resources, IT systems, strategic planning, leadership development, communications, and evaluation systems. Applications must demonstrate a clear rationale for the selected capacity-building focus, backed by a formal or informal needs assessment. Grants are awarded in the amount of $60,000 distributed over a three-year period: $30,000 in the first year, $20,000 in the second, and $10,000 in the third. A required match of $10,000 must be secured by the grantee in the third year. The foundation encourages applicants to use this opportunity to leverage additional funding sources. In addition to financial support, grantees benefit from customized one-on-one technical assistance and participate in collaborative learning community meetings facilitated by Community Resource Exchange over the grant term. Eligibility for the YSCG program is limited to youth-serving nonprofit organizations that are physically based in New York City, have an annual operating budget between $250,000 and $1 million, and provide direct services to youth. Applicants must also meet at least one of the foundation’s criteria for reducing inequality: either by serving one of eleven specific high-need community districts in the Bronx, Brooklyn, or Manhattan, or by operating tailored programming specifically for youth of Mexican descent or LGBTQ+ youth. The applicant must either have their own 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or operate under a fiscal sponsor with such designation. Audited or certified financial statements from either the applicant or sponsor are required. Applications are reviewed annually by a multidisciplinary volunteer committee composed of William T. Grant Foundation staff with expertise in nonprofit administration, finance, and communications. Strong applications should clearly outline the organization’s mission and current services, provide a compelling rationale for capacity-building efforts, include a well-defined and realistic three-year plan, and specify how progress and sustainability will be measured. The 2025 application period opened on July 7, 2025, and the deadline for submission is September 18, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST. A virtual Q&A session is scheduled for July 30 at 2:00 p.m. EST, featuring the Grants Administrator Selina Lee and Senior Vice President Kim DuMont. Applicants new to the Foundation must email Selina Lee with their organization’s name and EIN, or their fiscal sponsor's information if applicable. Applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online portal using provided templates. For additional information, the Foundation can be reached at info@wtgrantfdn.org or at 60 E. 42nd Street, 43rd Floor, New York, NY 10165.

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