Professional Development Grants is sponsored by Indiana Youth Institute (IYI). This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

Professional Development Grants - Indiana Youth Institute Youth Worker Well-Being Project Need data or research for a grant application, report, or program development? Explore IYI’s Data Hub for specific youth-related topics or dive deeper into your community’s data. Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book Find data about Hoosier youth in the Indiana KIDS COUNT® Data Book, IYI’s annual statewide snapshot of child well-being.

A snapshot of youth well-being in every Indiana county. National KIDS COUNT® Data Book The Annie E. Casey Foundation's National KIDS COUNT® Data Book includes national and state data across four domains — economic well-being, education, health and family and community — and ranks states in overall child well-being.

Annie E. Casey KIDS COUNT Data Center The Annie E. Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT® Data Center is a premier source of data on children, youth and families.

Dive into data indicators from across the country. Curious about a youth issue? Explore youth research and data by topics and subtopics.

Start your search by selecting a topic to see available indicators. Find local and statewide events featuring best practices and insightful perspectives from local, statewide, and national speakers. Annual in-person and virtual conferences and trainings that bring best practices and insightful perspectives from state and national speakers.

Local professional education trainings responsive and relevant to the challenges in the field. Networking opportunity for local leaders and youth serving professionals. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends from the field with national, regional, and local speakers who are experts in the field.

Youth Worker Well-Being Project Statewide effort to address individual youth worker well-being, workplace conditions, and root causes of stress in the sector. College & Career Readiness Services, trainings, program navigation, and resources for youth-serving organizations supporting youth on their postsecondary education journey.

Expert support for youth-serving organizations working to increase the effectiveness and capacity of their impacts. Strengthening Youth Programs in Indiana Helping Indiana youth-serving organizations promote the academic, physical, and social well-being of young people. Expanding quality mentoring programs, MENTOR Indiana is a valuable resource for youth mentoring organizations.

Supports for early activities in schools and communities increasing the postsecondary readiness of Indiana youth. Explore IYI’s funding for Indiana’s youth-serving professionals or organizations to support professional development or increase organization effectiveness. Virginia Beall Ball Knowledge Center Resources and research for people and organizations impacting the healthy development of youth.

Thousands more resources through the EBSCO Academic Search Complete, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, Sociology Source Ultimate, and Nonprofit Organization Reference Center databases. Use the link above to access the EBSCO database at no cost.

Indiana Ranks 29th in 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book as Indiana Youth Institute Urges Focus on Supporting Thriving Kids and Families; State Score of 566 is Above National Average College & Career Webinars AI in Action: Practical Tools for Career Exploration & STEM Pathways A weekly email newsletter with the latest youth development trends, IYI program news, and event updates.

Engagement Liaison Program Local connectors who offer support to youth-serving organizations. Connect with one of our expert speakers or learn about opportunities to speak at an IYI convening. Meet Your Outreach Manager Connect with Statewide Engagement for the resources to help you grow in your career, build your organizational capacity, and network with others in the field.

D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year IYI’s D. Susan Wisely Youth Worker of the Year Award annually recognizes a youth worker for their positive impact on youth.

Learn about the impact our award winners are making in their communities. All support given to IYI is used for the most pressing priorities – facilitating positive change for Indiana kids. A statewide vision that strengthens the web of relationships surrounding every child in Indiana by ensuring each has a network of at least FIVE supportive, caring adults by the year 2050.

College & Career Readiness As the demand for careers with post-secondary credentials continues to increase, starting college and career interventions early in a child’s life is essential. IYI’s College & Career Readiness Initiatives support individuals and institutions in their work to ensure all Indiana young people are prepared and positioned for success in their post-secondary educational journey.

LEARN MORE Learn more --> We offer professional education opportunities to expand your knowledge through webinars, conferences, onsite training, and virtual events that connect you to peers around the state.

LEARN MORE Learn more --> Indiana Youth Institute aggregates reliable, high-quality data and resources from state and national sources for youth workers and organizations working together to improve the lives of all Indiana children, especially those facing the greatest adversity. Click on a topic below to explore.

Learn more Learn more --> Households and Family Composition Neighborhoods and Communities Housing Stability and Homelessness Hunger and Food Insecurity College and Career Readiness Early Childhood Care and Education Kindergarten through Grade 12 School Climate and Engagement School Safety and Discipline Prenatal and Infant Health Youth Organization Support We support organizations to advance their work each day through practical and innovative approaches to increasing capacity, efficiency, and impact.

LEARN MORE Learn more --> The Youth Worker Well-Being Project is a collaborative statewide effort to address individual youth worker well-being, workplace conditions, and root causes of stress in the sector to promote comprehensive change in youth workers and invest in their well-being so they can provide the highest quality services for kids.

LEARN MORE Learn more --> Professional Development Grants Due to the overwhelming interest in our Professional Development Grants, we will no longer be accepting applications for the remainder of this fiscal year. The application will reopen on July 1, 2026 for opportunities beginning on or after August 1, 2026.

As a partner in your professional development, we provide modest funding to Indiana’s youth-serving professionals, enabling you to develop your professional practice to improve student success. IYI’s Professional Development Grants program offers financial assistance for youth workers to access continuing education that they might not otherwise be able to attend.

This award may be used for conferences, training, workshops, or tuition reimbursement and should be related to the applicant’s position and the agency’s mission. The grants are intended to improve the applicant’s ability to do their job and the agency’s ability to serve and support children and youth. Grant Amount: Up to $750, maximum of three awards per organization per IYI fiscal year (July-June).

This is a competitive grant and limited funds will be available for each review period. PLEASE REVIEW THE DEADLINE SCHEDULE BELOW. Applicants may apply in earlier rounds than suggested in the timeline, but no later than the round stated for the opportunity start date.

Grants are limited to three per organization per IYI fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). Grants are limited to one per individual per IYI fiscal year. Each grant is intended to allow one individual to attend one professional development opportunity.

Applicant must be a staff member, board member, or active volunteer of a tax-exempt organization that provides services to Indiana youth. The professional development opportunity must begin on or after the 1st of the month following the application window. Awards may be used for conferences, training, or college courses that focus on healthy youth development or nonprofit management.

Opportunities must be significantly related to the applicant’s position and the agency’s mission. Funds will not be awarded for events or training hosted by IYI. Click here for examples of eligible opportunities .

The maximum amount available to each eligible applicant is $750. Awards may only be used for the following expenses: Registration fee or tuition reimbursement AND/OR o ne of the following: Mileage is calculated as roundtrip from the place of employment to training location if the two are more than 30 miles apart. To claim airfare reimbursement, submit your application with a flight receipt displaying the price.

Purchasing airfare in advance is at your risk; IYI isn’t liable for non-refundable costs if your funding application is denied. Reimbursement covers only the flight price, excluding extras like baggage fees or in-flight purchases. Applications must be submitted via the online form below.

Upon completing your application, you will be redirected to a webpage verifying that your application was received. No further action is necessary. We strongly recommend that you gather all necessary documents and prepare your responses to the narrative questions in a separate document before beginning the online application.

Opportunity Documentation A screenshot of the conference details, such as a website screenshot or brochure. This must include all of the following : Date (s), registration fee, location, and general overview of the opportunity. Narrative Question Responses Applications will not be awarded if questions 2-5 contain narrative responses substantially identical to another applicant.

We ask in good faith that each applicant prepare and submit their own application. Download the Narrative Prep Template b elow . Travel Reimbursement Documentation If requesting, the following is required: Documentation indicating the hotel room rate, such as a conference brochure, hotel reservation quote, or invoice.

Receipt of airfare purchase. Document or image displaying the total number of roundtrip miles from the applicant’s place of employment to the opportunity. Proof of Tax-Exempt Status A copy of your agency’s IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter or, in the case of schools, government agencies, and religious institutions, your general sales tax exemption certificate (Form ST-105 or NP-1).

Applications will be evaluated based on the following: All required documents are present and accurate. Adherence to the grant eligibility guidelines Score of the narrative question response review meets or exceeds the minimum threshold of 20 points.

(See the scoring rubric linked below) Within 7 days of your award notification, you will be asked to submit a signed copy of the W9, ACH Authorization Form, and Bank Authorization for your organization. Bank Authorization can be a voided check (for checking accounts), blank deposit slip (for savings accounts), or a letter from the bank confirming the routing and account numbers.

Any forms providing the personal financial/banking information of the applicant will result in automatic denial of the award. We recommend gathering these forms while preparing your application to help expedite the process. Awards will be disbursed to the applicant’s organization via direct deposit.

Mailed checks will not be issued. Please allow 6-8 weeks for the receipt of funds from the date of award notification. Steps Required Post-Award All recipients must submit a signed form verifying their attendance at the funded opportunity within two weeks of attendance.

(See resources below) All recipients must complete the survey sent to you electronically within a month following your event. IYI Direct Deposit (ACH) Authorization Form IYI’s Professional Development Grant Scoring Rubric Attendance Verification Form Get in touch with an Outreach Manager. Connect to a network of professionals, resources, and events in your county.

Contact an Outreach Manager to learn more.