Youth in Boulder County

15 Forever is a youth-led grantmaking initiative established in 2006 at Community Foundation Boulder County to inspire civic engagement, philanthropy, and leadership among Boulder County youth. Since its inception, the program has distributed over $250,000 to local organizations. Each year, youth committee members conduct a Community Needs Assessment (CNA), raise funds, and lead the grantmaking process with 100% of student-raised funds distributed to grantees. The 2025 grant cycle is centered on two core themes affecting Boulder County youth: addiction/substance use and body image. The mission of the 2025 grant cycle is to empower youth by addressing body image issues and substance use through education, support, and access to community resources. The program highlights a rising concern among Boulder County teens, with substance abuse and unrealistic body standards identified as leading challenges due to sociopolitical and cultural factors in the region. The program’s peer-to-peer structure makes it unique, ensuring funded activities resonate with actual community experiences and youth-driven priorities. Organizations are invited to submit proposals that address one or both of the program’s identified needs: (1) supporting youth recovery and education related to substance use and addiction, and (2) promoting healthy body image among youth. Grants must benefit youth in Boulder County directly, with a strong emphasis on equity and inclusion. Projects should ideally serve historically marginalized groups such as people of color, LGBTQ+ youth, immigrants, low-income families, individuals with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness or isolation. To be eligible, applicants must be IRS-designated 501(c)(3) public charities, governmental, or public entities. Groups without this status may apply using a qualified fiscal sponsor. Funded activities must be charitable or educational in purpose, serve Boulder County youth, and cannot promote a particular religious doctrine. Grant applications must be submitted online using the provided Google Form link, and applicants will receive a confirmation email upon successful submission. The Request for Proposals opened on March 13, 2025, and applications are due by April 11, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Selected grantees will be notified in early May, and there will be a Year-End Celebration on May 29, 2025, to honor the applicants and awardees. A final grant report will be due by August 31, 2026. The primary staff contact for the program is Sydney Zorensky, Programs Manager, who can be reached at szorensky@commfound.org.