Lenawee YOUTH Council Grants RFP – Written By: Ilsiia Shakirova

We are happy to announce that it is the time of the year when Lenawee YOUTH Council accepts grant requests from youth groups and organizations.

Lenawee YOUTH Council (LYC) is a program of the Lenawee Community Foundation where young people across the county grades 6-12 gather together to participate in community projects, volunteer, meet new people and learn. The meetings are currently conducted every other Monday on Zoom due to COVID-19. New members are always welcome!

LYC hosts a youth grant process each year where non-profits, local schools, or youth groups can receive awards for projects that will benefit Lenawee County youth. Projects must meet the following eligibility requirements to be considered: demonstrate community value, build youth assets, have a youth coordinator (age 12-21), involve youth volunteers, and benefit young people in Lenawee County.

Priority will be given to proposals that will result in the growth of the youth assets demonstrated by the Search Institute Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey. This survey serves as a tool to assess the health and well-being of middle and high school-age people. It does so by surveying seventh, ninth, and eleventh graders on 40 key areas that young people need to succeed.

Interested applicants should contact the foundation prior to requesting a grant. Grant applications are due April 1, before 4:00 PM.

Lenawee YOUTH Council members will review grant applications for eligibility and will make recommendations to be approved by the Lenawee Community Foundation Board of Directors. The decision will be carried out after taking into respect a variety of factors: already received funding, geographic area served by the project, number of beneficiaries, and youth assets that will be increased as a result of the project. Members will discuss all the details and create collective recommendations. Two LYC members will present the recommendations to the Board of Directors at the May board meeting.

A total of $25,000 will be awarded as grants. Applicants can request up to $2,000 in funding. Submissions may receive full, partial, or no funding.

Please reach out to Paula Trentman with any questions or concerns regarding Lenawee YOUTH Council or LYC Grant Application at (517) 423-1729.

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Ilsiia Shakirova is a Tecumseh High School student, Lenawee YOUTH Council member, and member of the Lenawee Community Foundation Board of Directors.