Boston: Youth Development Fund Now Open for Applications

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Wednesday, July 31, 2024 ~ Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the City's Human Services Cabinet have announced the opening of applications for the 2024 Youth Development Fund (YDF). This $1.5 million grant program aims to support non-profit organizations that provide high-quality and engaging programming for youth and young adults between the ages of 14 and 24.

The YDF is part of Mayor Wu's Connect, Learn, Explore commitment to youth, with a goal of increasing the availability of free youth programming in the city. The funding will be prioritized for areas that align with this commitment and provide a positive outlet for young people when they are not in school.

Applications for the YDF are now open until August 19, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. Mayor Wu expressed her excitement about this opportunity, stating, "We're working to make Boston a city where every young person has access to enriching experiences outside of the classroom." She also thanked the Office of Human Services for their work in launching this grant and looks forward to seeing the programs that partner organizations will offer.

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This year, the YDF will support non-profit youth-serving organizations through two tracks of funding. The first track is for small, emerging organizations with an annual operating budget of $200,000 or less. These organizations will also have access to free training and capacity-building workshops through the Emerging Organization Learning Community. This is the second year that this learning community has been offered by the Mayor's Office of Human Services.

Human Services Chief José F. Massó expressed his excitement about partnering with various youth development organizations to offer a diverse array of programming. He stated, "We want every family in Boston to be able to find fun, engaging, high-quality programs in their neighborhood."

The second track is for larger, established organizations with a budget greater than $200,000 but less than $5 million. These organizations must have a strong track record of engaging young people and achieving successful outcomes. Grants in this category can go up to $30,000.

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This year, the YDF grants will focus on five categories of programming that align with Mayor Wu's Connect, Learn, Explore commitment. These include sports (such as swimming and biking), gardening and culinary arts, visual and performing arts, and other youth development programming.

In the previous fiscal year, the YDF supported 88 grantees who provided programming in every neighborhood of Boston. This included sports, arts, academic support, after-school programs, and entrepreneurship opportunities. In total, these grantees served approximately 7,500 youth across the city.

One of last year's grantees, Benjamin Diaz from Fatherly Justice Association Corp., expressed his gratitude for the support he received from the Office of Human Services. He stated that the lessons he learned through the Emerging Organizations Learning Community were invaluable to his organization's growth and development. He also highlighted the long-lasting partnerships he formed with fellow grantees.

The YDF is a crucial investment in the future of Boston's young people and the community as a whole. With this grant program, Mayor Wu and the City's Human Services Cabinet are providing opportunities for youth to explore their passions and reach their full potential. Non-profit organizations interested in applying for this grant can do so until August 19th at 5:00 p.m.

Filed Under: Government, City

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