Prospective Grantee FAQ's
Are you currently accepting grantee applications?
No, SparkYouth is not currently accepting grantee applications.
Our next selection process will begin in Winter 2027.
To ensure an equitable process, we are not accepting phone calls or meetings to discuss funding at this time.
Other Youth Development Funders:
What are the qualifications for potential grantees?
Only organizations that meet all of the following criteria are eligible. Organizations must:
- Have as their primary mission the provision of direct services to low‐income children or teens for a period of time sufficient to enhance education or life skills and constitute a life‐transforming activity;
- Have an operating budget between $150,000 and $1.5 million per fiscal year;
- Be a certified 501(c)3 non‐profit organization;
- Be independent and not a subsidiary or branch of a national organization, unless they are a wholly independent program;
- Be located and operate within New York City;
- Be under 10 years old at application and have remained in continuous operation;
- Be working toward expanding the programing services either within the population served, or to include new populations of young people.
Can my organization apply for funding if the organization is over 10 years old and has a budget of over $1.5 million, but has recently launched youth programming?
While SparkYouth NYC appreciates the struggles all organizations face as they launch new programming, our mandate is to support and bolster emerging organizations with a primary focus on youth. An application from an organization over ten years old and/or with a budget over $1.5 million will be disqualified.
Our organization serves a community that goes beyond youth (ie we also serve adults, etc.), but we have a program/department/division focused exclusively on youth. Can we still apply?
Unfortunately, no. SparkYouth only supports organizations whose sole mission is to exclusively work with youth (1-24 years).
What is the size of a typical grant from SparkYouth NYC?
Because SparkYouth NYC raises funds each year from its supporters to distribute to the member organizations, the actual amount distributed varies from year to year, but has recently been in the range of $50,000‐80,000 per calendar year. We are unable to guarantee a particular grant amount year to year.
Can an organization apply to be a grantee more than once?
Yes. However, as a result of our requirement that organizations be under 10 years old at the time of application and our 3 year funding period, organizations generally only have the opportunity to apply twice.
What does it mean to be a SparkYouth grantee?
SparkYouth grantee organizations become a part of a cohort of innovative NYC nonprofits that receive 3 years of unrestricted funding, capacity-building support tailored to each organization’s needs (ie strategic planning, leadership coaching, Board support, fundraising training), and access to networking opportunities with the SparkYouth community. We are thrilled to offer this support, and in return, we ask that our grantees are active participants in the cohort and use the opportunities provided to strengthen their organizations.
