Youth At Every Decision Making Table Grant 2026

The Youth At Every Decision Making Table Grant 2026 is a funding opportunity from Youth Service America, supported through an AmeriCorps MLK Day of Service grant. The program is designed to help eligible organizations across the United States create or strengthen formal structures that give young people meaningful opportunities to participate in leadership, community service, civic engagement, and organizational decision making.

Selected organizations will receive a $2,000 grant to develop a new Youth Council or similar youth leadership structure, or to expand an existing one. In addition to the grant funding, recipients will be expected to organize a Youth Leadership Summit around Martin Luther King Jr. Day and create continued opportunities for youth voice, leadership, and decision making through The Civic Season.

A total of $50,000 is available, with 25 citywide, regional, or statewide organizations expected to receive grants. Each grantee must also provide and document $1,000 in matching support, which can consist of cash or qualifying in kind contributions.

About the Opportunity

Youth Service America is a national organization focused on helping young people find their voice, take action, and develop civic and leadership skills through service. Its programs support youth led projects, community engagement, leadership development, and opportunities for young people to contribute to their communities.

The Youth At Every Decision Making Table Grant builds on this mission by encouraging organizations to move beyond occasional youth consultation and establish more consistent structures through which young people can influence decisions.

Grant funding can be used to support the creation of a new Youth Council or similar structure, or to strengthen an existing youth leadership group. The program is intended to help young people participate in planning, leadership, community service, organizational discussions, and other decision making activities.

The grant is connected to MLK Day of Service on January 18, 2027. Successful organizations will also organize a Youth Leadership Summit between January 11 and January 25, 2027, with the event encouraged to take place as close as possible to January 18.

The program also looks beyond the MLK Day period. Organizations are expected to create continuing opportunities for youth voice, leadership, and decision making through the remainder of the 2026 to 2027 academic year and The Civic Season, which runs from Juneteenth through July 4.

Opportunity Benefits

• $2,000 grant for each selected organization

• Support for creating a new Youth Council or similar leadership structure

• Funding to expand an existing youth leadership structure

• Opportunity to organize a Youth Leadership Summit

• Training related to youth voice and leadership

• Training in youth adult partnerships

• Training in community service project design

• Opportunities to strengthen ongoing youth participation

• Support for connecting young people with community service and civic engagement

• Opportunity to build longer term youth decision making structures

Grant Requirements

Successful organizations will be expected to:

• Create or expand a Youth Council or similar youth leadership structure

• Organize a citywide, regional, or statewide Youth Leadership Summit

• Hold the Summit between January 11 and January 25, 2027

• Engage at least 200 youth and adults through the Summit and related opportunities

• Provide training in youth adult partnerships, youth voice, youth leadership, and community service project design

• Create opportunities for continued youth participation after MLK Day

• Continue youth engagement through The Civic Season

• Provide and document $1,000 in matching cash or in kind support

• Participate in required YSA training

Eligible Organizations

The grant is open to eligible organizations in the United States. Organizations identified by Youth Service America include:

• K 12 schools

• Higher education institutions

• Out of school time programs

• Afterschool programs

• Positive youth development organizations

• Community based organizations

• Faith based organizations

• State governments

• Local governments

Organizations should have sufficient capacity to work with young people, establish or strengthen a youth leadership structure, organize the required Summit, and engage at least 200 youth and adults.

Required Application Information

Applicants should be prepared to provide information about:

• Organization name and type

• Contact information

• Mailing address and state

• Organization website

• Current programs and activities

• Experience working with young people

• Experience with youth voice and leadership

• Experience involving young people in decision making

• Plans for creating or expanding a Youth Council

• Goals for the youth leadership structure

• Youth recruitment strategy

• Plans for inclusive youth representation

• Preliminary Youth Leadership Summit plans

• Expected number of youth and adults engaged

• Plans for continued youth engagement

• Preliminary $2,000 budget

• Proposed source of the $1,000 matching support

How to Apply

1. Review the eligibility requirements and confirm that your organization falls within one of the eligible organization categories.
2. Assess your organization’s existing youth engagement and leadership activities.
3. Decide whether you will create a new Youth Council or strengthen an existing youth leadership structure.
4. Develop a clear plan for youth recruitment, including strategies for reaching young people who are traditionally underrepresented in leadership opportunities.
5. Develop preliminary plans for the Youth Leadership Summit around MLK Day.
6. Plan how your organization will engage at least 200 youth and adults through the Summit and related activities.
7. Develop a plan for continuing youth voice, leadership, and decision making opportunities through the remainder of the academic year and The Civic Season.
8. Prepare a preliminary $2,000 budget and identify the required $1,000 matching support.
9. Complete the Youth Service America online application with accurate information about your organization and proposed activities.
10. Submit the application by October 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time.