Youth Social Action Projects

Youth Social Action Projects is sponsored by Metro United Way (Louisville, KY based, but highlights youth success initiatives). This program empowers young people to tackle pressing community issues by giving them the opportunity to lead projects that involve and inspire others.

Metro United Way (MUW) is committed to cultivating opportunities for youth in our seven-county region to be leaders and change agents in their communities. Youth Social Action is a youth development approach that empowers young people to identify issues affecting their schools, neighborhoods, and communities and take meaningful action to address them.

Rather than viewing youth as recipients of services, Youth Social Action positions them as leaders, problem-solvers, and change agents capable of creating positive community impact. Through this process, young people develop critical life skills, including leadership, communication, teamwork, civic engagement, and decision-making, while gaining confidence in their ability to influence the world around them.

Within youth-serving organizations, Youth Social Action is implemented through structured opportunities for young people to examine community needs, research root causes, engage stakeholders, and design solutions. Youth work alongside caring adults who serve as facilitators and coaches rather than directors, ensuring that projects are youth-led and responsive to issues that matter most to participants.

This approach creates authentic opportunities for youth voice and leadership while strengthening connections between young people, their communities, and local institutions. Youth Social Action is deeply rooted in the principles of Project-Based Learning (PBL). In PBL, participants learn by engaging in real-world challenges that require inquiry, planning, collaboration, and action.

Youth identify a community issue, investigate its causes, develop a plan, implement solutions, and evaluate the results of their efforts. Through this cycle of learning and action, young people gain practical knowledge and skills while making tangible contributions to their communities.

The combination of Youth Social Action and Project-Based Learning creates meaningful educational experiences that foster civic responsibility, academic growth, social-emotional development, and long-term community engagement.

A successful grant application will clearly describe how your organization plans to engage youth in project-based learning supported by your staff and/or volunteers to research, plan, and implement a social action project.

Any organization/agency that works with/serves youth ages 12-24 can apply for up to $5,000 in funding to support a youth social action project in partnership with youth within their respective agency/organization/community.

Applications should demonstrate your ability to ensure equity within youth-adult partnerships, how youth are involved in designing the project, and a clear intent to ignite positive agency and organizational or community change. Once applications are submitted, there will be a two-step review process.

The first stage will be an adult review of all submitted applications to ensure they meet the minimum requirements of youth/adult partnership and social action project-based activity proposed in the application. Applications that meet these requirements will then be reviewed by young people who will score and make the final funding recommendations.

Based on their recommendations and feedback from our Community Impact Cabinet, agencies will be selected to receive funding. Only one application per organization will be accepted. ###### The grant review committee will include representatives from: * Metro United Way and The Book Works staff * A diverse group of young people who will be trained and supported by staff from the Book Works and Metro United Way.

**Application Open:** Wednesday, July 1, 2026 at 9:00 AM **Orientation:**Tuesday, July 7, 2026 **Application Closes:** Friday, July 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM **Awards Announced:** Friday, August 28, 2026 **Funded Partners YSAP Kick-Off Orientation:** Thursday, September 3, 2026 **Project Period:** September 2026 through June 2027. Watch the orientation recording and download the presentation slides.

### Eligibility Requirements To qualify for YSAP, your organization must: * Be a youth-serving organization working with Young People within the 12 – 24 age range in our service region. * Be a 501(c)(3) charitable organization or fiscally sponsored by one. * Attach a copy of your IRS determination letter or one from the sponsoring 501(c)(3) organization with a letter stating their willingness to be the fiscal sponsor.

* Provide services within Metro United Way’s Seven County Service Area: Harrison, Floyd and Clark Counties in Indiana and Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham and Shelby Counties in Kentucky. * September 2026 through June 2027 * Food/supplies to support project-planning meetings with youth * Youth stipends: Metro United Way strongly encourages compensating youth for their time, leadership, and expertise whenever possible.

* Direct project costs (NOTE: no more than 50% of funds can be used for staff personnel costs) ### Expectations of Funded Organizations If your organization receives the grant, you are expected to: * At least one representative from your organization must be present at the YSAP Kick-Off meeting. * Your organization must be responsive to communication and available to schedule check-ins with the Youth Success Team.

* Must submit a project plan to the Youth Success Team before completing your project. * Must complete a final report by June 30, 2027. * The applications will open on **Wednesday, July 1, 2026**and close **Friday, July 17, 2026.

** Please contact TJ Delahanty at tj. delahanty@metrounitedway. orgwith questions or requests for additional information.