The Northern New York Community Foundation’s Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge is now open for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Donor Name: Stanford Arts
State: New York
County: Jefferson County (NY), Lewis County (NY), Saint Lawrence County (NY)
Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes
Deadline: 01/31/2026
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge began in October 2017 as an effort to engage middle school-aged children in the principles of community and philanthropy. That year, the Community Foundation selected 23 winning entries from more than 60 submissions by 7th- and 8th-grade students in Jefferson and Lewis counties, awarding grants to 19 nonprofit organizations totaling $10,000 in support. The Watertown-based nonprofit Stage Notes was a 2017-2018 Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge partner. The 2018-2019 Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge was expanded to also include 7th- and 8th-grade students in St. Lawrence County. Community Bank N.A., joined the effort as a program partner, providing a corporate gift to help underwrite grant awards.
Eligibility Criteria
- Students in 7th, 8th, and 9th grades attending school in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.
- Students who were selected to award grants in previous years are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply.
- Students must be available to personally meet with staff at their chosen charitable organization and present their grant. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the grant.
- Charitable organizations with current nonprofit 501(c)(3) designation located in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties are eligible to receive grant awards. An organization may receive ONLY ONE Community Spirit Youth Giving Challenge grant per year.
Judging
- A grant review committee will judge all entries, and a total of 10 students will be selected as winners to award a $1,000 Community Foundation grant to a nonprofit of their choice.
- Creativity counts! Students should research local charitable organizations of all sizes, scope, and mission.
- Your definition of “community” should be your own, not a dictionary citation.
Important Considerations
- Incomplete or illegible entries will NOT be considered.
- Students MUST include a current, personal contact phone number and non-school email address that they regularly check as a Community Foundation representative will contact students to coordinate visits to their chosen organizations.
- The Community Foundation’s Board of Directors will approve all grant awards.
For more information, visit NNYCF.
