Application Deadline December 15

The Community Foundation of NCW is now accepting applications for the Helping Hands for Youth Grant – a new, one-time grant opportunity for K-12 public schools, nonprofits, and community-based organizations addressing unfinished learning and learning recovery due to the pandemic.

NPR, Harvard University, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently released a poll on the well-being of Americans in during the Delta variant surge. When it comes to their children’s education, 69% of households with children in K-12 last school year say their children fell behind in their learning because of the COVID-19 outbreak, including 36% of all households with children in K-12 reporting their children fell behind a lot and 70% of households whose children fell behind last school year believe it will be difficult for children in their household to catch up on education losses from last school year.

“We retooled our Helping Hands Grant in 2020 to support nonprofits who were serving critical community needs that were intensified by the pandemic” said Claire Oatey, director of community grants. “Between April of 2020 and August of 2021, the Community Foundation granted out $562,000 to local organizations. We had so much support from the community through donations to that grant program that we now have $100,000 available that will be devoted to address unfinished learning across the region by directing resources to help our youth recover and thrive.”

Grant awards will range from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the need and impact on youth, with $100,000 available to fund. Awards will be made in late January and are to be used by the end of the 2022-2023 academic school year. Special consideration will be given to applicants that address learning needs for under-served or under-resourced groups.

Learn More and Apply