The Greater Worcester Community Foundation is seeking applications for its Youth for Community Improvement Fund
Donor Name: Greater Worcester Community Foundation
State: Massachusetts
County: Worcester County (MA)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/18/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Priorities
The YCI cohort has identified the following priorities for this year’s grant cycle:
Educational Resources
- Seeking projects that expand access to education and representation, especially for underserved students. Examples include:
- College Readiness- Programming that supports SAT prep, scholarship application support, college trips, application support etc…
- Post- secondary & Career Readiness- Programming that supports job shadowing, internships, hiSet prep etc
- Civic Education: social justice, advocacy, youth-led initiatives, community projects
- Specialized Educational Services: ESL classes, free tutoring
Health & Wellbeing
- Funding initiatives that support youth mental and physical health. Priorities include projects focused on increasing access to Care in the following areas:
- Behavioral & mental health care
- Addiction rehabilitation & counseling
- Services for victims of domestic violence
- Navigating teen pregnancies
Basic Needs
- Supporting programs that provide essentials for vulnerable families and youth:
- Free meals for students (e.g., after-school, summer programs)
- Food/housing support for unhoused individuals
- Hygiene products and seasonal clothing
Environmental Action
- Youth-led projects that reduce pollution and protect community health. Examples include:
- Recycling, waste Reduction, and clean-up efforts
- Air/water quality awareness campaigns
- Climate action and conservation education
- Youth Voice
- All proposals must speak to youth voice, meaning that the project/program/organization engages young people in an authentic manner on the scope of work.
- Youth voice is the empowerment of young people through leadership roles, holding decision making power, and/or involvement of youth in program organization.
Funding Information
Total project budgets under $40,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Projects must be led by organizations who are a 501c3 or have a fiscal sponsor.
- Organizations must be based in Worcester County. The project must benefit residents of Worcester County.
For more information, visit GWCF.
