Applicants are invited to apply for the Carolyn Foundation Grant Program.
Donor Name: Carolyn Foundation
State: Minnesota and Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/15/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The goal is to fund organizations providing high-quality youth development for underrepresented youth ages 13-18, grades 7-12, in New Haven, CT.
They take a two-pronged approach to:
- Core Partners: Through an invited grantmaking process, they support a core group of youth development partners who have distinguished themselves for serving target population; and
- Youth Development Grantees: Through a responsive grantmaking process, they support community-led youth development organizations where leadership and staff reflect the demographics and shared lived experiences with the young people they serve.
Programs that align with funding criteria are programs that include the following researched-based best practices:
- Provide high-quality youth development or leadership training as described on the Youth Engagement Continuum.
- Culturally relevant programs where the leadership and staff reflect the young people they serve. Youth benefit from seeing leaders who look like them and share lived experiences.
- Relationship-rich programs that develop deep, meaningful, and supportive relationships between young people and caring adults. Organizations with stable, well-trained staff will be rated more highly than those with revolving staff and volunteers.
- “High Dosage” developmentally appropriate youth development programs: Programs that meet often, for a significant time, and for an extended duration will be rated more highly.
- Youth voice and choice programs that empower young people to develop agency, independence, and empowerment.
- Long-term programs where young people can begin in middle school and continue participating and remaining connected over multiple years.
Funding Information
Grants are typically $5k-$20k
Geographical Areas
Minnesota (and the Indigenous Nations sharing the same geography), the City of New Haven, and the City of Minneapolis).
For more information, visit Carolyn Foundation.
