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2026 Youth Development Fund (YDF)

The City of Boston's Office of Human Services offers the Youth Development Fund to support programming throughout the city.. Grants will be awarded up to $30,000 per organization and are intended to increase the number of high-quality out-of-school programming opportunities for youth throughout the city, focusing on sports, arts education, and growing a green generation. 

Overall, this year’s grants will support over $1.6M in Connect, Learn, Explore program areas, ensuring that Boston youth have access to youth sports, arts education, and opportunities to grow and cook their own food. These investments are made to support activities and organizations that promote positive youth development, including leadership skills, mentoring, and constructive peer relationships.

The Youth Development Fund is divided into two tiers: Tier One, Emerging Youth Development Organizations, which must have an organizational budget below $200,000; successful applications in this category will receive awards of up to $10,000. The second tier, Established Youth Development Organizations, requires applicants to have organizational budgets between $200,001 and $5 million, and successful applicants in this tier will receive awards of up to $30,000.

The Tiers of the Youth Development Fund

Tier One

Emergent Youth Development Organization

Awards up to $10,000 to organizations with a budget of less than $200,000. 

Starting a new nonprofit can be challenging and often requires support to run programs. This grant offers a cohort of emerging nonprofit organizations access to capacity-building training and grants of up to $10,000 to support their programming. Up to 20 organizations will be invited to our Emergent Organization Learning Community.

Emergent Youth Development Organization’s Requirements: 

  • Must have an organizational budget lower than $200,000 (based on the most recent tax year).
  • The organization must be in at least its second year of operation. (Established before January 1, 2024)
  • Must serve youth ages 14-24
  • The program must serve Boston youth
  • The program must be located in one of Boston’s neighborhoods
  • The program must operate on an ongoing basis throughout the 2025-2026 school year. 
  • Willing to participate in monthly learning community sessions 
Tier two

Established Youth Development Organizations

Awards up to $30,000 to organizations with budgets between $200,001 and up to $5 million.

This grant opportunity is available to medium-to-large-sized youth development organizations with a strong track record of engaging young people and achieving successful outcomes. Organizations with a budget over $5 million are not eligible to apply. 

Established Youth Development Organization’s Requirements:

  • Your program achieves positive youth development outcomes 
  • Contribute to the Emerging Organizations Learning Community by: Participating as an expert speaker on a designated subject, hosting a session, or mentoring an emergent nonprofit leader.
  • Must serve youth ages 14-24
  • The program must serve Boston youth
  • The program must be located in one of Boston’s neighborhoods
  • The program must operate on an ongoing basis throughout the 2025-2026 school year. 

A look Back

Last year’s grant cycle supported 99 organizations across the City of Boston. This commitment increased access in sports programming in the areas of sports, swimming, arts, growing food and biking. This year’s YDF allocation provided $550,000 for community-based youth sports programs, $400,000 for arts programming, and $170,000 for programs that introduce youth to cooking and growing their own food.

The Office of Human Services is committed to ensuring the youth in our city have a wide range of options for out of school time during the academic year.

Take a look at last year's grantees!

Meet the Grantees

About Human Services

The Mayor’s Office of Human Services (OHS) cabinet oversees 6 departments and offices that are all striving to create a healthier Boston. The mission of the Human Services Cabinet is to provide equitable access to high quality services, resources, and opportunities so that every Boston resident - especially those with the greatest needs - has what they need to thrive. In pursuit of this mission, the department in the Human Services Cabinet meet residents where they are - in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities - to break down barriers to critical resources.

We provide a wide array of critical programs and services. We also advocate for systemic change to tackle root causes of some of our most pressing challenges in the City.

 

"We are excited to be able to continue to support many of our non-profit partners in the work of building community, and providing high-quality, safe and engaging activities for youth and young adults in Boston. This robust network of programs meets youth where they are and is a key part of our violence prevention strategy"

— José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services

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