Youth Endowment Grants Program

East Tennessee Foundation's Youth Endowment was created in 1987 to serve as a perpetual source of funds to address problems and issues affecting young people in East Tennessee. The fund's primary goal is to support the development of creative solutions which address behavioral, environmental and other factors that place children and youth at risk in our region.

The Youth Endowment awards two-year grants as seed money, to be used in developing prevention and/or intervention pilot programs, or expanding existing programs for at-risk children and youth. Proposed projects must address and prevent/reduce one or more of the following behavioral or life skill issues: anti-social behavior; school drop-out; alcohol and drug addiction; sexual and emotional abuse; teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases; eating disorders; or barriers to gainful employment.

Examples of possible projects include: anti-bullying program for students and teachers; leadership training for underserved youth; teen pregnancy outreach program; and counseling services for young victims of sexual abuse. Youth Endowment grant opportunities are available to all 25 counties in the Foundation's service area.

Grant info:

• NEW and simplified application process consists of two phases:
     Letters of Intent (LOI);and
     Invited full proposall
• All organizations that submitted letters of intent in November 2011 were notified in January 2012 of the status of their proposals.
• Only those organizations that were invited to continue the application process may submit a full proposal (Phase II).
• Two-year grant cycle begins in June 2012.
• Grants will generally range from $5,000 - $25,000.

Please click below for:
Youth Endowment Grants Program Overview 2011
Phase I: Letter of Intent (Directions and Cover Sheet)
Phase II: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)
Please note: The Project Budget Form can be completed online, but your application and required attachments must be mailed or delivered to the Foundation.

Report Forms for 2010 Youth Endowment Grants (All forms can be completed on-line, but please mail completed report forms with original signatures to the Foundation): 
Revised Project Budget
Progress Report
Final Report

For further information, please contact Jan Elston (865) 524-1223, toll-free at 877-524-1223 or by e-mail at jelston@etf.org.

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