The Youth Fund for Social Change is a grantmaking initiative managed by the Crossroads Fund, established in 2007 following a legacy grant from the Girls Best Friend Foundation. It is designed to support youth-led activism and organizing work in the Chicago metropolitan area and Northwestern Indiana. The fund continues to invest in projects initiated by young people, emphasizing grassroots solutions and systemic change in areas affecting their communities. Rooted in the belief that youth have the vision and capacity to lead transformative change, the Youth Fund prioritizes initiatives that directly engage young individuals in social justice work.
This fund supports a wide range of issue areas including education, health, environment, incarceration alternatives, racial justice, gender justice, public safety, media accountability, and more. It funds youth who are organizing to challenge systemic inequalities and advocate for policy and institutional change. Grant requests can range from $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the scale and scope of the project. Projects that encourage collaboration across neighborhood, racial, economic, gender, and ability lines are strongly encouraged and may receive special consideration.
Eligible applicants include youth up to 30 years old with either a current project or a clear new idea aimed at social change. Organizations led by youth, or with youth acting as key decision-makers, are also eligible to apply. The organization or group must have a nonprofit status, fiscal sponsorship, or an organizational bank account. While fiscal sponsorship is not mandatory, individual applicants without any form of organizational backing are not eligible for funding. The fund also considers applications from 501(c)(4) organizations on a limited basis.
Applications open on August 12, 2025, and the final deadline for submission is September 16, 2025. All applications must be submitted through the Crossroads Fund's online grant portal. Required materials include a completed application form, a project budget, and a Youth Fund Demographics Form, both of which can be downloaded from the portal. After submission, applications are screened by staff, and qualifying projects are visited by the Youth Fund Grantmaking Committee, which consists of board members, staff, and youth representatives. Final funding decisions are made by the Crossroads Fund Board, and announcements are expected by January 2026.
Projects must be located in the Chicago metropolitan area—including the City of Chicago, its suburbs, and Northwestern Indiana up to Gary, Indiana. The fund favors organizations with budgets under $500,000 but will consider those slightly above that threshold if previous year expenses fall below. The fund emphasizes social change over direct services, prioritizing projects with clear plans, measurable outcomes, and a long-term vision for impact. Strong candidates will show grassroots leadership, strategic collaboration, and diverse community involvement.
For additional information or to seek clarification on eligibility and application materials, applicants can contact Joanna Preston via email at joanna@crossroadsfund.org or by phone at 773-227-7676. Applications not selected may receive feedback if requested at least a week before the deadline. Applicants are encouraged to submit draft materials early for feedback to improve alignment with the fund’s criteria.
Submit a one-pager or draft to Joanna Preston at least a week before the deadline for feedback on alignment and strategy.
