WACF 2026 Opportunity Gap for Children, Youth and Families Grants

WACF 2026 Opportunity Gap for Children, Youth and Families Grants is sponsored by Willmar Area Community Foundation. Supports programs addressing career on-ramps for success, engagement in K-12 education, high-quality early childhood education, safe and caring communities, and stable families and parenting.

WACF 2026 Opportunity Gap for Children, Youth and Families Grants - CommunityGiving WACF 2026 Opportunity Gap for Children, Youth and Families Grants Application Open: May 15, 2026 Application Deadline: June 30 at 11:59PM - Decision made by September 1 Foundation: Willmar Area Community Foundation The Opportunity Gap refers to vast and growing differences in opportunities available to poor and well-off children and families nationwide.

These include quality early childhood education, to Advanced Placement courses in high school, to sport and enrichment activities that provide mentoring, teambuilding and other life-long skills they need to be good citizens and good employees. The WACF seeks to make a variety of smaller grants to support the five building blocks to help our children succeed.

The focus areas include projects that address career on-ramps for success, engagement in the K-12 years, high quality early childhood education, safe and caring communities, and/or stable families and parenting. New or expanded programs/projects Capital funding can be requested during this round but only for projects that are solely focused on children, youth and families. Capital grants maximum is $20,000 one time for a project.

Eligible organizations: 501(c) 3 nonprofit organizations, schools or government entities.

Geographic Area: Kandiyohi County in Minnesota Funding Amount Range: $5,000-$20,000 A multi-agency partnership is intact to guide and implement the project The project is creatively solving an unmet need in the community AND funding will ensure the project is sustainable There are other funding streams intact to support the project; WACF cannot be the sole funder and in-kind support cannot account for more than 25% To determine if your project meets our criteria, please contact Sara Carlson for a time to discuss it further Addressing the Achievement Gap for our Youth Address access to quality early childhood programming and address barriers to access.

Projects that improve access to enrichment activities for low income and underserved children.

Projects that provide ‘on ramps’ for skills, training and experiences beyond a four year college prep focus including apprenticeships, skills training, innovative programming, etc. Projects are preferred that help build foundational, technical and soft skills that prepare young people for our future workforce and that help students with challenges to become productive members of our community.

Career On-Ramps for Success Engagement in the K-12 Years High Quality Early Childhood Education Safe and Caring Communities Stable Family and Parenting Looking for more resources about the Opportunity Gap? Check out these resources below. https://swifoundation.

org/what-we-do/grow-our-own/ Grow Our Own – Commitment to Our Kids https://www. dsacommunityfoundation. org/dr-putnam-records-duluth-specific-video Dr. Putnam on the Opportunity Gap http://www.

ourkidsseries. org/ Our Kids Series https://www. pbs.

org/video/grow-our-own-tpooxz/ Grow Our Own: Helping the next generation find success https://www. pbs. org/video/chicago-tonight-march-24-2015-american-dream-crisis/ Dr. Putnam speaking on Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis https://www.

amazon. com/Our-Kids-American-Dream-Crisis/dp/1476769907 Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis Are likely to make a clear difference in the quality of life for a substantial number of people. Propose practical approaches to resolve current community problems.

Address diversity and positive change in a constructive manner. (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy) Help nonprofit organizations manage themselves and their finances more effectively. Encourage cooperation and eliminate duplication of services.

Stimulate others to participate in problem-solving. Promote leverage for generating additional funds. A password is required to apply for this grant round.

To get the password, interested parties must view the Opportunity Gap webinar by clicking here . The password is given in this webinar. Submit application online using the CommunityGiving Grant Management System.

The Grant Advisory Committee will recommend applications for funding to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will make final funding decisions. Organizations may only submit one grant application per year per grant round.

All notifications about this grant will be through emails. Payout of Grants: Upon recipient of electronically signed Grant Agreement. Grantee Required Documents: Grant Agreement, Progress Report, and Final Report.

Required follow up documents will be submitted through the CommunityGiving Grant Management System. For questions about the online Grant Management System, please call Sherri at (320) 257-9715.

Typically, we do not fund: Religious organizations for religious purposes Please see our Funding for Faith-Based Organizations Policy Political organizations or political campaigns This generally includes organizations with a 501 (c)(4) status that can advocate for causes and propositions and endorse specific candidates.

Event sponsorship or annual fundraising drives Organizations seeking continued support beyond the initial grant year are welcome to reapply in subsequent grant cycles.

For example, grant funds should not be used to: pay off an organization’s loans, lines of credit, unpaid bills, or deficits, cover past due obligations, such as back taxes or unpaid rent, refinance existing liabilities, even if related to previously funded projects Projects that have already been completed Applications seeking reimbursement for past work, retroactive funding, or previously concluded programs and completed capital projects are typically ineligible.

Individual academic scholarships for post-secondary education Grants solely for the purpose of travel or conferences Specifically, we do not fund travel for staff of agencies or organizations Government funding that has been reduced or eliminated Our resources are primarily intended to catalyze innovation, support sustainable solutions, and build long-term capacity, rather than substituting for public sector obligations.

Applicants who are unsure of their project or program’s eligibility are advised to reach out to our local staff prior to applying. This helps maintain an efficient review process for all. Submit application online using the CommunityGiving Grant Management System.

The Grant Advisory Committee will recommend applications for funding to the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will make final funding decisions. All notification about this grant will be through emails.

Payout of Grants: upon recipient of electronically signed Grant Agreement. Grantee Required Documents: Grant Agreement and Final Report. Progress Report may be required if requested.

Required follow up documents will be submitted through the CommunityGiving Grant Management System. For questions about this grant or the online Grant Management System please call (320) 257-9715.