Youth Community Investment Grant

The Oregon Department of Education, on behalf of the Youth Development Division (YDD), has released the 2025–2027 Youth Community Investment Grants Request for Applications. These grants aim to support Oregon-based initiatives that serve youth ages 6 to 19 who are at risk of school disengagement or exposure to harmful behaviors. The funding is designed to foster educational success, mental and physical wellness, and community engagement for youth experiencing barriers to opportunity. The grants will support a wide variety of programs, including academic enrichment and support, out-of-school-time activities, case management, mental health services, mentoring, conflict resolution, and essential life skills development. Projects may also include workforce development and post-secondary exploration activities. All initiatives must be implemented within Oregon and must demonstrate measurable progress within six months of funding. Awarded applicants are required to provide quarterly and annual reports covering narrative progress, expenditures, and participant-level data. Funding amounts range from $100,000 to $300,000 per project, with applicants eligible for up to $600,000 total across all Youth Grants categories for the biennium. Entities considered returning grantees may apply for the maximum amount if they meet specific operational and data-reporting conditions. Organizations proposing new or limited-duration projects can apply for smaller awards, provided they show potential for timely implementation. Eligible applicants include Oregon-based nonprofits, public benefit corporations, faith-based organizations, tribal entities, schools, community colleges, and local governments. All applicants must be registered with the Oregon Secretary of State if applicable. Applications must be submitted through the SM Apply portal and must include a certification sheet, executive summary, detailed narrative, budget, and at least two letters of partnership. The application process includes a mandatory pre-application conference or viewing its recording, and follows a structured evaluation process based on specific scoring criteria across five narrative areas. Applications are reviewed in a two-step process—first regionally and then statewide—to ensure geographic distribution of awards. Deadlines include a June 9, 2025 due date for questions, a July 8, 2025 final application deadline, and an anticipated award notification on September 5, 2025. Bethany Moreland serves as the single point of contact for this RFA. She can be reached at Bethany.Moreland@ode.oregon.gov or 503-508-8991. More information, including application materials and updates, is available on the Youth Development Division’s website.