The YAC Grant Process:
Every year, the Barry Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council (YAC) grants thousands of dollars to local non-profit organizations that benefit youth.
There are several granting requirements:
- The organization applying for a grant MUST be a 501 c 3 (non-profit) organization.
- The organization must deal with youth issues and benefit Barry County youth
- The grant application must be written by a youth member of the organization.
There are also several ways that YAC gives out grants:
- Regular Grant Cycle: grant proposals over $300, such grants are reviewed twice a year: in the fall and in the spring.
- Mini-Grants: Grant proposals under $300, these can be reviewed at any time in the YAC year.
- Challenge Grants: YAC will sometimes “challenge” an organization to raise a certain amount of money, then grant some money to the organization.
- Matching Grants: YAC will sometimes “match” the amount of money an organization raises dollar-to-dollar.
An organization interested in applying for a YAC can receive a grant proposal form from the Barry Community Foundation. A youth representative from the organization must fill out the form; describing the organization, how many members it has, what the grant money will be used for, how the organization plans on spending it, and a budget. Additional paper work, including proof that the organization is non-profit, must also be included.
IMPORTANT: If the organization receives a YAC grant, they may only spend the money they way the proposed so in their grant. Otherwise, they must return the money!
Copies of the grant application are sent to each YAC’er up to one month in advance. They use this time to look over the grant(s). The next meeting, they discuss the strengths/weaknesses of each grant, and then vote on whether to fund the grant, and to what amount. Organizations that receive funding are notified by letter, and then a photo-op with check presentation is arranged.
YAC usually gives grants to organizations that:
- Do other fund-raising activities in addition to applying for a YAC grant.
- Will use the grant money in a way that will positively impact many youth
- Have not applied for a YAC grant before
- Use the Forty Assets Program For Healthy Communities
YAC usually rejects grants that:
- Will only benefit a small, specific youth population
- Do not include other fundraising efforts
- Have asked for YAC funds for the same activity before (most YAC grants are given on a one-time basis)
- Are not youth-specific
- Have parts of the application missing
Grant Evaluations
If an organization receives a YAC grant, they must also complete an evaluation, describing the out come of the program or activity that the grant money was used for. This grant evaluation must be filled out and returned after the organization has received the grant (one year maximum allowed). The evaluation should also include pictures, if there are any to show.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YAC GRANT APPLICATION
The Youth Advisory Council’s Mini-Grant Program ~ These grants can be submitted at any time.
BCF’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) has a mini-grant program. The intent of mini-grants is to introduce the concept of the Community Foundation and its purpose to Barry County youth. These grants, up to $300 for elementary and secondary level projects or programs, supply educational funding opportunities which will benefit youth through Barry County school systems.
The YAC sent Requests for Proposals (RFP’s) to each school in Barry County. The RFPs specified that proposals had to be written and submitted by the student(s), and then counter signed by an adult activity advisor, principal or teacher. Any grant request written by an adult was disqualified.
The YAC has received grants that exemplify their mission – “Representing the youthful voices of Barry County to better the lives of our generation and generations that follow.”
