Youth Stop Hunger Innovation Grants

The Stop Hunger Classroom Challenge, part of the Global Youth Service Day 2026 initiative, is facilitated by Youth Service America (YSA) and supported by the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation. This annual program invites K–12 classrooms across the United States to reimagine and enhance their existing hunger-relief projects, such as food drives and backpack programs, into more impactful, student-led initiatives. It is an opportunity for educators to guide students in community engagement and social change, while YSA provides structured support through toolkits and resources. The challenge aims to make a measurable difference in the fight against childhood hunger by encouraging youth to reflect on local needs and strategize improvements to familiar hunger-relief efforts. Upon registration, educators receive a Teacher Resource Guide and a project toolkit designed to facilitate classroom discussions about hunger and to help students identify areas for growth in their service projects. The initiative centers student leadership while keeping the logistics simple for educators to manage. The program timeline is designed to give schools several months to develop and implement their projects. From November through December 2025, participating classrooms engage in discussions and planning. In January and February 2026, they carry out their projects. The registration deadline for the challenge is February 6, 2026, and the final submission—a short video no longer than three minutes documenting their project—is due by March 6, 2026. Recognition and funding are awarded to finalists in June 2026. While specific award amounts are not stated in the program materials, the implication is that top projects will receive monetary or material support. The celebration of student efforts occurs during Youth Service Month and Global Youth Service Day in April and May 2026, giving national visibility to the work of young changemakers. Eligibility is inclusive, targeting K–12 schools and classrooms nationwide. The sign-up process is simple and requires basic information such as teacher and school contact details. There is no mention of a formal proposal or financial documentation, suggesting the application burden is intentionally light to encourage broad participation. For questions, interested applicants can reach out directly to Scott Ganske at Youth Service America via email at sganske@ysa.org. This grant opportunity is recurring annually, with the next anticipated cycle expected to open in late November 2025.

Prioritize student leadership and make existing hunger projects more impactful.