Overview
The Brookline Youth Fund, which supports Brookline’s youth and youth-related activities through the Youth Development Grant Program, is the Brookline Community Foundation’s largest endowed, donor-advised fund. The Fund was established in 1999 through the generosity of The Country Club (TCC). In addition to the initial endowment, which was drawn from proceeds from the 33rd Ryder Cup, TCC continues to build the fund by sponsoring an annual charitable golf tournament.
Grant Program Details
The Youth Development Grant Program aims to ensure equal access to opportunities for all youth in Brookline, and support and enhance the well-being of youth and their families. The Youth Development Grant Program seeks to promote activities that are inclusive and represent the diversity within the Brookline community, with a focus on Brookline youth whose families earn less than the town’s median annual income or are underserved. Examples of the types of youth-related activities that may be considered for funding include:
- Programs that fill programmatic gaps, particularly for middle school aged youth and youth from low-income families
- Programs that develop youth leadership and/or create job and internship opportunities
- Programs focusing on arts and culture, environmental education, or health and fitness
- Programs that support education including early childhood education, out-of-school time programs, access to academic supports
- Programs that help ensure the basic needs of Brookline’s youth are being met
- Programs that address the opportunity gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic
- Programs that support the social, emotional and mental health needs of Brookline youth
Total amount available to grant: This fiscal year, BCF has $154,200 to distribute within the Youth Development Grant Program.
Maximum Grant Amount: Grant requests are limited to $25,000 or below this year. For reference, the average Youth Development grant awarded in fiscal year 2024 was ~$12,750.
BCF is inviting requests for one-year Youth Development grants to be submitted through our FY25 grant application.
Priority Considerations
In alignment with our organizational vision, as we review proposals, we will give preference to community organizations and groups that:
- Are working to advance equity (including removing barriers to opportunities, meeting the immediate individual needs of those impacted by inequities, addressing root causes of inequities);
- Are led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color); and/or
- Focus on BIPOC and other vulnerable or marginalized populations, including those populations most impacted by the pandemic
For this grant program, an organization/group is considered BIPOC-led if they meet at least one of the following three criteria:
- The organization/group’s Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer or Board Chair identifies as BIPOC.
- 50% or more of the organization’s leadership staff or program directors identify as BIPOC.
- 50% or more of board members identify as BIPOC.
Eligibility
Please note: This year, we are asking organizations to submit one application to either the Community Grant Program or the Youth Development Grant Program. Additionally, for the Community Grant Program and Youth Development Grant Program, we will only accept one application per organization. Organizations who are currently funded through the Safety Net grant program are eligible to also apply to Community Grants or Youth Development Grants.
501(c)(3) nonprofits organizations, Town departments or agencies, and community groups can apply for funding. If you are a Town department or agency, please see our additional guidelines. Organizations and groups that are currently funded through other BCF grant programs are eligible to apply. Proposed projects or programs should directly benefit members of the Brookline community, which we define as those who live, learn, work, or play in Brookline.
If an organization or project is new and/or not yet tax-exempt (is not a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), an application may be submitted through a fiscal sponsorship. BCF can assist applicants in identifying an appropriate fiscal sponsor. If you are interested in pursuing fiscal sponsorship, please refer to our Grant FAQs for more information or contact BCF.
BCF grants cannot be used to cover travel costs, political campaigns, or lobbying, and we are unable to provide direct support or scholarships to individuals. While we cannot provide direct assistance to individuals, BCF grant programs may fund organizations and groups that provide direct financial support or scholarships to individuals.
To be eligible, an applicant must be operated and organized so that it does not discriminate in the hiring of staff or provision of services on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, military status, or disability.
Important Updates to the Youth Development Grant Program
As part of our ongoing efforts to maximize the impact of our Youth Development grants, the Brookline Community Foundation (BCF) is implementing the following changes:
- Funding Requirement: BCF will now only fund applications where at least 50% of the total amount requested can be granted. This change ensures that funded projects are feasible and not compromised by partial funding, improving the likelihood of successful implementation. By providing at least half of the requested amount, organizations can more effectively plan and deliver on their proposals.
- Collaboration Prioritized: BCF will prioritize programs that demonstrate collaboration with other local organizations or town departments to address youth needs collectively. We believe collaboration leads to more holistic and scalable programs, enhances the impact of our funding, and promotes resource sharing within the community.
We encourage applicants to consider these updates as they prepare their proposals. Thank you for your commitment to supporting Brookline’s youth!
BCF Values
At the Brookline Community Foundation, our commitment to creating lasting impact is unwavering and is deeply rooted in core values that guide our actions, decisions, and collaborations. We Lead by Listening, understanding that the nuances of our community’s strengths, challenges, and needs are best grasped by lending an attentive ear. Our mission is firmly Anchored in Equity, ensuring that our vision and processes consistently hold us accountable to the diverse community we serve. We recognize the importance of Sustainable Support; by investing in Brookline, we are not just addressing the immediate needs but are also building a resilient foundation for generations to come. At the heart of our ethos is the principle of Community First. Your insights, experiences, and feedback shape our endeavors, fostering a collaborative environment where our shared objectives are realized in unison. We invite you to keep these values in mind as you prepare your applications and partner with BCF. We hope these values serve as a guidepost for our collective journey towards a brighter, more inclusive future for Brookline.
Application Timeline
- October 2024: Youth Development Grant Request for Proposals (RFP) released
- Friday, November 1, 2024: Grant applications open
- Friday, December 6, 2024: Deadline to submit grant proposals
- Friday, December 13, 2024 – February 2025: Grant Review Period; BCF reviewers may contact organizations to schedule a site visit or call during this time
- Early March 2025: Grant decisions announced
How to Apply
Please apply through our online grant application.
Application Support / Technical Assistance (TA)
We encourage all applicants to contact us prior to submitting your application so that we may support you, as needed, in your submission. Please reach out at any time to the Program & Partnerships team at grants@brooklinecommunity.org or 617-566-4442.
We also welcome you to review and utilize the recently released Understanding Brookline research publications which include the Understanding Brookline: Economic Inequality in Brookline Report and the Understanding Brookline Community Indicators Database.
Questions
Please contact us at grants@brooklinecommunity.org with any questions before, during or after the application process. Our mailing address and phone number are listed in the footer of this page.
