Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) Mini Grant Funding

Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) Mini Grant Funding is sponsored by Urban Services YMCA, funded by the Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF) (City and County of San Francisco). The Youth Empowerment Fund provides grants for youth-led projects in San Francisco that address youth trends and needs, community improvement, or youth entrepreneurship.

Academic Support or School Completion We believe that young people hold the solutions. Open to Teens (13-18) and transitional-age youth (18-24). Apply for a grant of up to $10,000!

The Youth Empowerment Fund (YEF) , a program of Urban Services YMCA, is funded by the Department of Children, Youth and their Families (DCYF). For over 20 years, YEF has created opportunities for San Francisco ’s youth to become leaders and citywide change-makers. In the past decade, YEF has awarded more than $1.

3 million in grants to support youth-led initiatives. And we are committed to continuing our service to the city’s young people by providing them with resources to address the issues they see in their communities. We strive for youth grant makers to develop skills and confidence as leaders.

By enabling youth to plan and administer community grants, the program supports not only youth transitioning into thriving adulthoods but also keeps San Francisco a great place to grow up. YEF-funded projects address one or more of the following focus areas. YEF-funded projects address one or more of the following focus areas.

Youth Trends and Needs: Grants in this content area focus on projects that seek to address the evolving interests and issues of concern for youth in San Francisco. Community Improvement Projects: Grants in this content area focus on projects that seek to understand and address the root causes of community needs or issues. Youth Entrepreneurship : Grants in this content area focus on supporting youth in launching new business ventures.

YEF awards over $435,000 annually in grants supporting projects initiated and led by youth citywide. Young people in San Francisco can apply for funding up to $10,000 two times a year to support their ideas and vision addressing important community issues and needs. Apply for funding from $500-2,000 for a youth-led project!

Only projects who have never received a YEF grant will qualify. The grant will be limited to Materials & Supplies. App Release: Tuesday, 7/17/26 App Deadline: Monday, 8/31/26 by 12 p.

m. Mandatory Grantee Virtual Orientation: Wednesday, 9/16/26 at 5 p. m.

Onboarding Paperwork Deadline: Monday, 9/28/26 Projected Spending Begins: Thursday, 10/1/26* *Note: Spending may only begin when the Fiscal Sponsor’s paperwork clears, and grantees receive an official email notice from YEF Staff. This is just a projected date as a guideline. Financial End Date: Monday, 11/30/26 Financial Report Deadline: Monday, 12/7/26** **Note: All receipts and reimbursement reports will be due on Monday, 12/7/26.

Any submissions after the deadline will not be reimbursed. App Release: Monday, 8/3/26 App Deadline: Monday, 9/21/26 at 12 p. m.

Interviews: Week of 10/12/26 through week of 10/26/26. Wed, 10/14/26 – 4:15 p. m.

– 7 p. m. Mon, 10/19/26 – 5:15 p.

m. – 7 p. m.

Wed, 10/21 – 4:15 p. m. – 7 p.

m. Sat, 10/24/26 – 10 a. m.

– 5 p. m. Mon, 10/26/26 – 5:15 p.

m. – 7 p. m.

Wed, 10/28/26 – 4:15 p. m. – 7 p.

m. Mandatory In-Person Orientation: Saturday, 11/14/26 Onboarding Paperwork Deadline: Monday, 11/23/26 Projected Spending Begins: Tuesday, 12/1/26* * Note: Spending may only begin when the Fiscal Sponsor’s paperwork clears, and grantees receive an official email notice from YEF Staff. This is just a projected date as a guideline.

Financial End Date: Wednesday, 3/31/27 Grant End Date: Monday, 4/5/27** Financial Report Deadline: Monday, 12/7/26** **Note: All receipts and reimbursement reports will be due on Monday, 4/5/26. Any submissions after the deadline will not be reimbursed.

App Release: November 2026 App Deadline: Monday, 1/4/27 Interviews: January – February 2027 Orientation: February 2027 Onboarding Deadline: February 2027 Projected Spending Start Date: Monday, 3/1/27* *Note: Spending may only begin when the Fiscal Sponsor’s paperwork clears, and grantees receive an official email notice from YEF Staff. This is just a projected date as a a guideline.

Financial End Date: Saturday, 5/30/27 Grant End Date: Monday, 6/7/27** ** Note: All receipts and reimbursement reports will be due on Monday, 6/7/27. Any submissions after the deadline will not be reimbursed. YEF is not possible without the support of our Fiscal Sponsors and Adult Allies.

If you are interested in learning about ways to help our program, please reach out to YEF Director, Susy Dubon at [email protected] for more information. An Adult Ally is a mentor who provides guidance and support to the youth Grantees as they navigate the grant cycle. Adult Allies serve as one of the main points of contact for a youth project.

They do not take over leadership of their young people’s project, but they are another pillar of support to the Grantees. Some of the ways Adult Allies assist the youth are by keeping the young people accountable for the monthly reports and paperwork they are required to get done, attending meetings with YEF, and staying in the loop with the project’s progress. What is a Fiscal Sponsor?

A nonprofit organization or for-profit organization that manages grant funds on behalf of the project and provides financial oversight. A Fiscal Sponsor pays for a youth project expenses, and YEF reimburses the organization. What are the requirements for becoming a Fiscal Sponsor?

A Fiscal Sponsor must be able to pay for youth project purchases up front. They also must submit paperwork such as a Certificate of Insurance, W-9, and a Memorandum of Understanding. For a more detailed list of requirements, please click here .

The Community Funders are essential to the program’s success. They are the young people who oversee the grant making process by assessing community needs, determine how to allocate resources, and administer and support grants to their peers for youth-led social impact, community improvement, or entrepreneurial projects. Our Community Funders reflect the diversity of this beautiful city.

As young people who live and attend school in San Francisco , they are well-versed in the unique challenges people face in this everchanging city. ICA Preparatory High School Raoul Wallenberg High School Susy J. Dubon – YEF Director Amber Ly – YEF Specialist 1530 Buchanan St.

San Francisco CA 94115 Monday & Wednesdays: 1:00 p. m. – 4:00 p.

m. Tuesday, Thursdays & Friday: Available through appointments only 2025-2026 YEF Annual Report Learn more about the Youth Empowerment Fund.