Youth Development Grant Program

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 early childhood education
• 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

Priority considerations

In alignment with our organizational vision and funding priorities, 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 needs of those impacted by inequities, addressing root causes of inequities such as poverty or racism;
• Are led by BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and/or;
• Focus on BIPOC and other vulnerable populations.

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

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.

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, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.

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 is unable to provide direct support or scholarships to individuals and our grants cannot be used to cover travel costs, political campaigns, or lobbying.

Application timeline

The Youth Development Grant Program will reopen in fall/winter 2023. Please check this page for updates about RFPs, timing, and upcoming grantmaking cycles.

How to apply

Apply through our online grant application or by emailing your application to BCF. All applications must be received by the grant deadline.

Application support & technical assistance (TA)

We encourage applicants to contact us prior to submitting your application so that we may support you, as needed, in your submission.

Questions?

Please contact us at grants@brooklinecommunity.org with any questions before, during or after the application process. We are happy to discuss ideas prior to submission.