OCCE to offer grants for youth-led service projects
Through funding from Youth Service America, the Office of Civic & Community Engagement is able to support a handful of youth-led community-based projects in Winston-Salem. Available are two awards valued at $1,000.00 and six awards of $500. This opportunity is made possible through a larger collaboration with HandsOn NWNC and Forsyth County Young Leaders Program to increase youth service engagement in Winston-Salem.
We know that the youth in our city have budding ideas. We also know these ideas are less likely to be funded. We want to support youth-led projects so that we can all benefit from what grows out of them.
Proposals for the youth engagement grant are due by Monday, November 29 at 5:00 p.m. ET, and are reviewed by a collaborative team from the Office of Civic & Community Engagement, HandsOn NWNC, and youth from Forsyth County Young Leaders Program using the following criteria :
- Youth-led: Is there a youth (ages 5-25) leading the project?
- Issue-based: Is the issue to be addressed clearly stated? Does the plan adequately address the issue?
- Partnership: Is there a clear partnership between the youth and a community-based organization? How strong is the partnership? In what ways will the grant benefit the ongoing development of the partnership?
- Sustainability: Is the funding requested part of a larger, long-term initiative or goal? How will the funding support the strategic goals of the overall project?
- Operational Excellence: Is there a clear budget? How will success be measured?
- Alignment with Focus Areas/Community Needs: Does the project align with one of the OCCE strategic impact areas? If not, how does the project connect to community needs?
In addition, youth engagement grants must:
- Not be used to purchase alcohol or to engage in partisan political activity
- Be under $1,000.00 (Only two proposals will receive funding for $1,000. Six proposals will receive funding for $500)
- Clearly connect Winston Salem youth with community partners on a collaborative project/initiative
- Allow community-based projects to build capacity for future, continued work
- Provide reporting on how the money was spent by April 1, 2022, along with copies/scans of receipts
The Office of Civic & Community Engagement at Wake Forest will be holding a virtual interest meeting on Sunday, October 10 at 6 p.m. EDT for anyone interested in learning more about the Youth Engagement Coalition grant application process. In addition, a virtual grant-writing workshop will be held on Sunday, October 17 at 6 p.m. EDT. Anyone interested in attending the interest session must complete the YEC Grant Interest Form.