We’re on a mission to make working together for the common good the common expectation and common experience of every young person in America.
Youth Service America channels most of its grantmaking into youth-led service, civic participation, and volunteer mobilization, with a pattern that reaches from small youth grants to larger lead-agency awards. In the recent grants list, the two largest amounts went to broad internal grant lines in Washington, DC, while named partners received funding for state and local service infrastructure across the country. The foundation’s programs repeatedly connect young people to national days of service, including Youth Service Month, Global Youth Service Day, MLK Day of Service, and 9/11 service activities. The organization also uses grants to support youth leadership and community organizing models. Examples include a $22,500 award to GenerationNation in Charlotte for National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and Youth Service Zone Grant work, and a $20,500 award to My Sister’s Keeper in Highland Park for the same combined purpose. Other grants support volunteer centers, schools, civic education groups, and youth-development organizations that host service activities or train young people to lead them. Across the grant list, Youth Service America funds only U.S. recipients.
Youth Service America supports several linked cause areas rather than a single program silo. In civic engagement, it gave $14,000 to Young Women’s Preparatory Network in El Paso for National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant work, and $10,000 to Norte Vista High School in Riverside for a National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant. Its service-learning work shows up in youth-serving institutions and local intermediaries. The foundation awarded $19,500 to Perry Local Schools in Perry for a Youth Service Zone Grant, and $19,500 to Volunteer Center of South Jersey in Sewell for the same grant type. Youth voice and leadership also appear in program-specific youth grants. The Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants support awareness, service, philanthropy, youth voice, leadership, and advocacy events during Youth Service Month and Global Youth Service Day, with awards of $250, $500, or $1,000.
Youth Service America’s typical grant size sits in a narrow band: the 25th percentile is $7,250, the median is $9,000, and the 75th percentile is $12,875. The recent grants list also shows a mix of larger lead-agency awards and smaller local grants, including recurring program lines such as Youth Service Zone, 50by250 Lead Organizer, and National Days of Service grants. Some recipients appear in multiple years, including the United Way of Genesee County, which received grants in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation funds individuals through recognition and youth awards as well as organizational grants. It also accepts unsolicited applications for some named programs, including Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grants, We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day of Service Grants, and Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants.
$517K
$861K
$2.4M
$3.3M
Most grants fall between $7K and $13K, with a median of $9K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$9K
75th Percentile
$13K
About 3% of grants go to recipients in MD.
Steven A Culbertson
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Grantmaking is national, and the distribution of named recipients shows activity across many states. North Carolina appears most often by grant count, with examples including Charlotte and Winterville. Other repeated locations in the recent grants list include Baltimore, Maryland; Flint and Lansing, Michigan; and Houston, Texas. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 70 grants in the United States. The foundation’s headquarters are in Washington, DC, but only 3% of grants go to recipients in DC.
It funds youth service, civic engagement, volunteering, service-learning, youth leadership and capacity building, and hunger-relief projects through youth grants and programs. The active program list also includes National Days of Service, Youth Service Zone, ServiceVote, MLK Day of Service, and Global Youth Service Day.
The grant-size distribution is centered around small project grants: the 25th percentile is $7,250, the median is $9,000, and the 75th percentile is $12,875. Active youth-grant programs also include fixed awards such as $1,000 youth grants and Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes awards of $250, $500, or $1,000.
It funds individuals as well as organizations. The active programs include recognition and awards for youth service project leaders, alongside organizational grants for lead agencies, youth service zones, and local partners.
The top state by grant count is North Carolina. Recent recipients there include Charlotte and Winterville, while the foundation also gives broadly across the United States.
Yes. The active program list marks Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grants, We Serve to Remember 9/11 Day of Service Grants, and Hershey Heartwarming Young Heroes Grants as accepting unsolicited applications.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Other Grantees | Washington, DC | $266,692 | 2026 | All Other Grants |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of America | Atlanta, GA | $47,000 | 2026 | September 11th National Day of Service Grants |
| State of Michigan MCSC | Lansing, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants Youth Service Alliance Planning Grant |
| United Way of Genesee County | Flint, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | Youth Genesee Serves Subgrant |
| Arkansas MLK Commission | Little Rock, AR | $21,241 | 2026 | MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants |
| NJ Department of State | Trenton, NJ | $15,000 | 2026 | September 11th National Day of Service Grant Youth Service Alliance Planning Grant |
| Norte Vista High School | Riverside, CA | $11,000 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants |
| GenerationNation | Charlotte, NC | $11,000 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants |
| Global Citizen | Philadelphia, PA | $10,000 | 2026 | MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants |
| Executive Office State of Arizona | Phoenix, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | September 11th Day of Service Grant |
| The Leaders Readers Network | Canyon, TX | $9,250 | 2026 | MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants |
| CAVALRY | San Antonio, TX | $9,000 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants |
| John Marshall High School | Oklahoma City, OK | $9,000 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants |
| S C R A P Gallery | Cathedral City, CA | $8,200 | 2026 | MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants |
| Youth Leadership Institute of Erie | Erie, PA | $7,500 | 2026 | MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants |
| NEST4US | Ashburn, VA | $7,250 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants |
| Let s Thrive Baltimore | Owings Mills, MD | $7,000 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants |
| Montana F C C L A | Bozeman, MT | $6,500 | 2026 | MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants |
| Glued Inc | Stockbridge, GA | $6,000 | 2026 | MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants |
| SWAT Foundation Inc | Augusta, GA | $5,500 | 2026 | MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants Sodexo Stop Hunger Youth Grant |
| All Other Grantees | Washington, DC | $217,400 | 2025 | All Other Grants |
| United Way of Genesee County | Flint, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | Youth Genesee Serves Subgrant |
| State of Michigan MCSC | Lansing, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| Norte Vista High School | Riverside, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| Learn and Serve Tampa | Tampa, FL | $9,500 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants and Afterschool Program Grant |
| John Marshall High School | Oklahoma City, OK | $8,500 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| The Leaders Readers Network | Canyon, TX | $8,000 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| Montana F C C L A | Bozeman, MT | $8,000 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| S C R A P Gallery | Cathedral City, CA | $8,000 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| CAVALRY | San Antonio, TX | $8,000 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| Young Women of Promise | Winterville, NC | $7,500 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants and Afterschool Program Grant |
| After-School All-Stars Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $6,000 | 2025 | Afterschool Program Grant |
| Glued Inc | Stockbridge, GA | $5,500 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| A Better Chance A Better Community | Enfield, NC | $5,500 | 2025 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants |
| All Other Grantees | Washington, DC | $197,650 | 2024 | All Other Grants |
| State of Michigan MCSC | Lansing, MI | $29,500 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants and Youth Service Zone Grant and Harris Wofford Award |
| United Way of Genesee County | Flint, MI | $25,000 | 2024 | Youth Genesee Serves Subgrants |
| GenerationNation | Charlotte, NC | $22,500 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and Youth Service Zone Grant |
| My Sister s Keeper | Highland Park, MI | $20,500 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and Youth Service Zone Grant |
| Volunteer Center of South Jersey | Sewell, NJ | $19,500 | 2024 | Youth Service Zone Grant |
| Massachusetts Service Alliance | Boston, MA | $19,500 | 2024 | Youth Service Zone Grant |
| Engage Arkansas | Little Rock, AR | $19,500 | 2024 | Youth Service Zone Grant |
| Perry Local Schools | Perry, OH | $19,500 | 2024 | Youth Service Zone Grant |
| Volunteer Iowa | Des Moines, IA | $15,500 | 2024 | Youth Service Zone Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant and Harris Wofford Award |
| Young Women s Preparatory Network | El Paso, TX | $14,000 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant |
| United Way of the Plains | Wichita, KS | $14,000 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant |
| CAVALRY | San Antonio, TX | $14,000 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant |
| Amazing Testimonies | Gaston, SC | $14,000 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant |
| Maryland Civic Education Coalition | Baltimore, MD | $13,000 | 2024 | Youth Service Zone Grant |
| The 5th Inc Youth Development Group | Hollywood, FL | $12,500 | 2024 | National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant |
All Other Grantees
$266,692All Other Grants
State of Michigan MCSC
$25,000MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants Youth Service Alliance Planning Grant
Arkansas MLK Commission
$21,241MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants
NJ Department of State
September 11th National Day of Service Grant Youth Service Alliance Planning Grant
Norte Vista High School
$11,000MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants
GenerationNation
$11,000MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants
Executive Office State of Arizona
$10,000September 11th Day of Service Grant
The Leaders Readers Network
$9,250MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants
CAVALRY
$9,000MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants
John Marshall High School
$9,000MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants
S C R A P Gallery
$8,200MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants
Youth Leadership Institute of Erie
$7,500MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants
NEST4US
$7,250MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants
MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants
Montana F C C L A
$6,500MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants
Glued Inc
$6,000MLK Day Global Youth Service Day and September 11th Days of Service Grants
SWAT Foundation Inc
$5,500MLK Day and Global Youth Service Day Grants Sodexo Stop Hunger Youth Grant
All Other Grantees
$217,400All Other Grants
State of Michigan MCSC
$10,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
Norte Vista High School
$10,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
Learn and Serve Tampa
$9,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants and Afterschool Program Grant
John Marshall High School
$8,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
The Leaders Readers Network
$8,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
Montana F C C L A
$8,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
S C R A P Gallery
$8,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
CAVALRY
$8,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
Young Women of Promise
$7,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants and Afterschool Program Grant
After-School All-Stars Hawaii
$6,000Afterschool Program Grant
Glued Inc
$5,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
A Better Chance A Better Community
$5,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants
All Other Grantees
$197,650All Other Grants
State of Michigan MCSC
$29,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grants and Youth Service Zone Grant and Harris Wofford Award
GenerationNation
$22,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and Youth Service Zone Grant
My Sister s Keeper
$20,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and Youth Service Zone Grant
Volunteer Center of South Jersey
$19,500Youth Service Zone Grant
Massachusetts Service Alliance
$19,500Youth Service Zone Grant
Engage Arkansas
$19,500Youth Service Zone Grant
Perry Local Schools
$19,500Youth Service Zone Grant
Volunteer Iowa
$15,500Youth Service Zone Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant and Harris Wofford Award
National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant
National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant
CAVALRY
$14,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant
Amazing Testimonies
$14,000National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant
Maryland Civic Education Coalition
$13,000Youth Service Zone Grant
The 5th Inc Youth Development Group
$12,500National Days of Service Lead Agency Grant and 50by250 Lead Organizer Grant
Current and upcoming funding from Youth Service America that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Teams of 2–5 youth between the ages of 5 and 25 based in the United States. Projects should address a root cause of hunger and engage other youth in volunteerism.
Deadline: Application Deadline: December 8 (annual)
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