Pacific Youth Foundation

Pacific Youth Foundation operates as a deeply specialized, ecosystem-centric grantmaker with a singular focus: strengthening Boys & Girls Club affiliates and youth-serving organizations in the Pacific Region. Unlike broad-purpose community foundations, PYF is best understood as a strategic partner to the BGC movement — providing both grant capital and hands-on technical assistance in fundraising, marketing, technology, and board development.

PYF's giving philosophy centers on organizational sustainability rather than one-time program funding. The foundation's signature Leaders in Training (LIT) program, which funded 14+ separate BGC affiliates across California and Hawaii in the database period, reflects a belief that equipping youth-serving organizations with leadership pipelines and professional development yields more durable impact than project grants alone. Similarly, the Resource Development Consultant and Advancement Coordinator grants — totaling over $1.1M to BGC Whittier alone across the dataset — signal that PYF invests in staff capacity, not just programs.

First-time applicants must understand that PYF has moved to an invitation-only model. Unsolicited applications are no longer accepted. Entry for new organizations almost certainly requires a relationship established through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America network, regional convenings, or a personal introduction to Allan Young (Managing Director) or Aaron Young (Director of Grants). Organizations outside the BGC ecosystem — even excellent youth-serving nonprofits — have limited path to funding without this anchor affiliation.

The typical relationship progression is: (1) establish connection through BGC network or LA County Alliance for BGCs; (2) attend or be invited to participate in the annual LIT Conference, which convenes approximately 25 participants from active partner organizations; (3) receive an invitation to apply via electronic application; (4) submit letter-form narrative with financial documents; (5) Board review and award decision.

Geographic focus is primarily Southern California — Los Angeles County affiliates dominate the grantee list — with meaningful secondary presence in Hawaii (7 grants) and Northern California. Virginia-based grants appear linked to national BGC network infrastructure. Organizations should note that the Managing Director (Allan Young) and Director of Grants (Aaron Young) share a family name, and combined officer compensation exceeds $700K annually, suggesting a professionally managed, relationship-driven operation where staff continuity means long-term relationships matter enormously.

Pacific Youth Foundation's grantmaking shows a clear contraction since a 2019 peak, with stabilization in the $929K–$1.2M grants-paid range from FY2020–FY2023. In FY2019, the foundation paid out $4.02M in grants against total giving of $5.36M — an unusual spike not repeated in subsequent years. From FY2020 through FY2023, grants paid ranged from $929,312 (FY2021) to $1,189,156 (FY2023). FY2024 total charitable disbursements reached $2,273,916, though this figure likely includes program-related expenses beyond direct grants.

Median grant: $25,000. Average grant: approximately $57,000 (across 64 grants totaling $3.65M in the grantee database). Range in FY2024: $333 (minimum) to $283,500 (maximum). The wide disparity between median and average reflects a two-tier structure: many mid-size operational grants ($25,000–$58,500) anchored by several large, multi-year investments in core partners.

By program type, based on 64 grants in the database totaling $3,645,062: - Leaders in Training (LIT): The most common program, funded at 14+ BGC affiliates across California and Hawaii, typically $36,800–$58,500 per affiliate per cycle. - Resource Development and Advancement Coordinator: Large multi-year investments concentrated at BGC Whittier ($771,962 across 6 grants) — these staff-capacity grants run $100,000–$225,000 per award. - Social Emotional Wellness (SEWI): $800,000+ to the Social Emotional Wellness Initiative across 4 grants, with the largest single award reaching $283,500 in FY2024. - General/operational support: $5,000–$27,500, granted selectively to smaller or geographically remote affiliates. - Capacity-building (STEAM, college-bound, board development): $15,000–$35,000, less frequent.

By geography: California accounts for 48 of 64 grants (75%), dominated by LA County, San Bernardino, and Southern California coastal communities. Hawaii holds 7 grants (11%), Virginia 7 (11%), with Maryland and Washington State at 1 each.

Assets have grown from $39.4M (FY2015) to $46.3M (FY2024) despite consistent distributions, driven by strong investment income ($2.08M in FY2023; $4.53M in FY2021). The foundation receives zero outside contributions — it is entirely endowment-funded, which provides predictability but limits responsiveness to urgent needs outside its defined ecosystem.

Pacific Youth Foundation sits among a peer group of private foundations with assets in the $46–47M range. Its narrow programmatic focus and invitation-only model distinguish it sharply from most comparable-sized funders.

PYF's effective grants-paid-to-assets ratio of roughly 2.5–2.6% ($1.2M grants / $46.3M assets) sits below the 5% minimum payout required of private foundations, though total giving including program expenses and officer compensation brings PYF into compliance. The Bullitt Foundation, a well-documented Pacific Northwest environmental funder with nearly identical assets, distributes more aggressively and maintains a more transparent, publicly accessible application process — a meaningful contrast.

What distinguishes PYF most sharply from asset-level peers is its dual role as both grantmaker and direct technical assistance provider. PYF staff actively assist partner organizations in fundraising, marketing, technology, and board development — an operational involvement that explains both the relatively high total officer compensation (~$703K annually) and the tightly closed application model. Organizations that fit PYF's ecosystem gain not just grant dollars but embedded expertise, a materially different value proposition than a pure check-writing foundation.

Pacific Youth Foundation's most recently available tax filing (Form 990 for FY2024) was submitted on November 11, 2025. Key highlights include 25 total grants awarded — up from 24 in FY2023 — with total charitable disbursements of $2,273,916, representing 83.7% of total expenses of $2,716,138.

The three largest FY2024 grants were: Social and Emotional Wellness Initiative ($283,500), Boys and Girls Club of Whittier — Resource Development ($223,900), and Boys and Girls Club of Whittier — Advancement Coordinator ($168,900). Together these three awards represent approximately 59% of estimated FY2024 grants paid, confirming PYF's practice of concentrating significant resources in a small number of core institutional partners.

Officer compensation continued to grow in FY2024: Aaron Young (Director of Grants) earned $231,700; Allan Young (Managing Director) and James Jim Shepard (Trustee) each earned $196,704; Evan McElroy (Treasurer/Trustee) earned $77,436 — total compensation of approximately $702,538, a 54% increase from $449,268 in FY2021.

The annual Leaders in Training conference remains PYF's primary convening mechanism, bringing together approximately 25 participants from six active partner organizations. International engagement continues through the World Federation of Youth Clubs (7 grants totaling $192,500), including support for Mexico City operations, national Club de Niños y Niñas de México network capacity, and a 2022 grant titled "Increasing Access & Building Community."

No new program announcements, leadership transitions, or strategic pivots were identified in web research for 2025–2026. PYF maintains a deliberately low public profile consistent with its invitation-only, relationship-first approach.

PYF's shift to invitation-only grantmaking is the single most critical fact for prospective applicants. There is no open RFP, no online portal for cold inquiries, and no documented pathway for unsolicited outreach. The entry point is entirely relationship-based, and only Chief Professional Officers should initiate contact with the foundation.

For Boys & Girls Club affiliates, the most direct path is participation in the annual Leaders in Training conference — PYF's primary relationship-building and partner-vetting venue. BGC affiliate executive directors should ensure their club is known to PYF staff, particularly Allan Young (Managing Director) at (310) 774-0057 and Aaron Young (Director of Grants). The Los Angeles County Alliance for BGCs appears to function as an effective referral channel: the foundation has made $195,000 and $94,000 grants directly to the Alliance, suggesting it serves as a coordination point for the broader LA-area BGC ecosystem.

Timing and eligibility screens are rigid: - The Chief Professional Officer must have been in their current role for more than 2 years. A new executive director at a previously funded club resets the clock entirely. - Applications cannot be submitted if a request has been made within the past 12 months. - Previously funded organizations must wait at least 24 months after their last award before reapplying. - The organization must charge youth less than 15% of its operating budget in program fees. This is a values-alignment screen — PYF explicitly supports organizations committed to low- or no-cost access for youth.

When invited to apply, proposals use letter form with complete narrative descriptions. Three documents are mandatory: IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, most recently filed Form 990, and most recent audited financial statements. PYF offers three deadlines annually: January 31, April 30, and September 30. The 2025 deadlines followed this exact pattern (01/31/25, 04/30/25, 09/30/25); 2026 deadlines are expected to follow the same schedule.

Language alignment is critical. Mirror PYF's own program names — Leaders in Training, Advancement Coordinator, Resource Development Consultant, Social Emotional Wellness — in your narrative. Proposals that demonstrate how your organization fits within PYF's existing ecosystem, rather than presenting a standalone program pitch, will resonate with the Board. Avoid generic grant-writing language; be specific about organizational capacity metrics, youth fee structures, and leadership pipeline outcomes.