APPLY FOR A GRANT
Youth Making Change
Youth Making Change (YMC) is a youth-led grant-making program that was launched in 2008 in order to provide young 
people with the opportunity to engage directly in organized philanthropy (giving money). YMC is made up of youth ages 13-19 and gives grants (money) and technical assistance to projects that address issues and challenges directly affecting youth in Santa Barbara County. YMC Board members create and conduct an entire grant cycle from start to finish and then share what they have learned as grant-makers and philanthropists with their communities. Each YMC Board (one in
YMC Grant History
YMC Board
Each 15 member board is made up of teens ages 13 – 19 from different neighborhoods, schools, grades, academic levels and life experiences. Youth are encouraged to apply regardless of race, gender, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, physical/mental ability, ethnicity, language spoken, or immigration status. Board members learn about philanthropy as a tool to address issues facing young people in Santa Barbara County. They reach out to youth in the community to encourage them to plan a project and apply for money to carry it out. Board members review proposed project ideas and make decisions as a group about which projects to support. Each YMC Board (one in Santa Maria and one in Santa Barbara) gives out $10,000 in grants of various sizes ($500 to $5,000) to projects that impact youth. Through this process, YMC Board members develop important leadership skills. By analyzing challenges facing youth and considering solutions, YMC Board members learn skills like community outreach and public speaking, meeting planning, facilitation, program planning, effective listening, proposal evaluation and group decision-making.
Who can apply?
Santa Barbara County youth between the ages of 13 and 19 who want to: (1) work with other youth to make decisions about where money to help young people goes, (2) help youth and their communities, (3) learn about grant-making, program planning and group decision-making, and (4) gain important leadership experience, work in groups, express opinions, and have FUN!
Time Commitment
Board membership follows the school calendar and runs from July to May of the following year. There is one mandatory all day training late in July. Regular meetings are twice a month on a Thursday from 6pm-8pm. Other meetings include two four-hour events plus two additional Saturday meetings. There is also some independent work between meetings.
$300 Stipend
The program is voluntary, but members do get a $300 stipend in recognition of your time commitment. The stipend is based on participation throughout the board term.
When can I apply?
Board applications are released in April and are due at the month in May. If you would like to be added to the YMC board outreach list, please email Cristina at cgonzalez@fundforsantabarbara.org.
Apply for a YMC Grant
YMC 2012/2013 grant application available in the fall.
Basic Guidelines:
- Projects must be youth driven. Youth ages 12 – 21 should be leaders in all aspects of the project.
- Teens in the community must benefit from the project, not just the planning team.
- Projects must address a social issue or meet an actual need facing young people in Santa Barbara County.
- Projects must be located in Santa Barbara County.
- Youth -led groups must have an adult ally or a sponsoring organization, such as a school or community-based organization.
We Invite Applications From Youth-Led Groups Who Are:
- Addressing a social issue/problem or need of young people in the county;
- Working against discrimination based on race, sex/gender, age, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, physical/mental ability, ethnicity, language spoken or immigration status;
- Advocating for the rights of youth;
- Promoting the self-determination of youth (the act or power of making up one's own mind about what to think or do)
- Working toward eliminating youth violence and drug use;
- Working on improving the environment, especially organizing youth;
- Operating in a democratic manner, responsive to and directed by youth and the constituency being served.
Please see YMC Grant Application pdf version for COMPLETE guidelines and application process.
YMC GRANT APPLICATION 2011/2012 (with complete guidelines and instructions) pdf click here
YMC SOLICITUD 2011/2012 EN ESPAÑOL (con guias completas e instrucciones) pdf aquí
YMC Grant Application 2011/2012 WORD version click here
Need Help Planning Your Project? We want to help!
1. Download a PROJECT PLANNING WORKBOOK here!
2. CONTACT US to set up a time when we can talk to your group about things like how to choose an idea, create a time line for your project, write your essay, or fill out your budget.
YMC Grant Applications are available in the fall. Grants are disbursed in March and must be used by July 31st.
En Español
¡Atencion Grupos de Jovenes!
¿Quiere tu grupo hacer algo sobre los problemas que afectan a jovenes en tu comunidad?
¿Tienen una idea para crear cambio positivo para los jovenes del Condado de Santa Barbara?
Si contestaron SÍ a alguna de estas preguntas, tu grupo dirigido por jovenes puede aplicar para recibir una beca de Youth Making Change!
¡Consigan $500 - $4,000 para su proyecto!
YMC SOLICITUD 2011/2012 EN ESPAÑOL (con guias completas e instrucciones) pdf aquí
Youth Making Change (YMC) (Jóvenes Haciendo Cambio), empezado en 2008, es un programa que otorga de becas (dinero) dirigido por jóvenes con los fines de proveer oportunidad a jóvenes que participen directamente en la filantropía (dar dinero) organizada. YMC es compuesto de jóvenes de 13 a 19 años de edad. Ellos dan becas y asistencia técnica a proyectos de tratan de resolver los problemas que afectan directamente a los jóvenes del Condado de Santa Barbara. Miembros de YMC crean y dirigen un y ciclo otorgador de becas y luego comparten lo que han aprendido con sus comunidades. Cada Mesa de YMC (hay una en Santa Maria y otra en Santa Barbara) da $10,000 en becas de varias cantidades ($500 a $4,000) to proyectos dirigidos por jóvenes que impactan a la juventud del Condado de Santa Barbara. Youth Making Change es un programa del Fund for Santa Bárbara inspirado por la clase de 2006-2007 de Katherine Harvey Fellow del Santa Barbara Foundation.
Requisitos Basicos:
- Tu proyecto tiene que ser dirigido por jóvenes Jóvenes de 12 a 21 años de edad tienen que ser los lideres en todos los aspectos del proyecto.
- Jóvenes en la comunidad deben beneficiarse del proyecto, no solo el equipo planeando.
- Tu proyecto debe enfocarse en un problema social que enfrentan jóvenes o realizar una necesidad real para la gente joven en el condado de Santa Barbara.
- Tu proyecto se tiene que llevar a cabo en el condado de Santa Barbara.
- Tu proyecto tiene que tener a un adulto aliado o una organización que los respalde como una escuela o organización comunitaria.
Invitamos Solucitudes de Jovenes Que Estan:
- Enfocándose en enfrentar un problema social o necesidad de la gente joven en el condado;
- Trabajando contra la discriminación basada en la raza, el sexo, la edad, la religión, la capacidad física/mental, estado económico, la orientación sexual, la pertenencia étnica, la lengua hablada o el estado de inmigración;
- Defendiendo los derechos de la juventud;
- Promoviendo el auto-determinación de la juventud;
- Trabajando para eliminar la violencia entre jóvenes o el uso de drogas;
- Trabajando para mejorar el medio ambiente, especialmente organizando a jóvenes;
- Funcionando de una manera democrática, respondiendo y siendo dirigido por ellos mismos, tanto como el grupo beneficiado.
YMC SOLICITUD 2011/2012 EN ESPAÑOL (con guias completas e instrucciones) pdf aquí
Para mas informacion comuniquense con Cristina del Fund for Santa Barbara, 805-922-1707, cgonzalez@fundforsantabarbara.org.
What past YMC members, parents and the community are saying about YMC
YMC Member: “I enjoyed finding out some of the needs in the community and seeing the programs people have started to deal with them”
Parent: “I watched my daughter gain more self-esteem and become more assertive. She knows her voice is important and now takes steps to make sure she is heard”
Community Member: “The thing I love about this program: it makes it clear that our youth are NOT the future leaders of the world. Rather they are the leaders NOW. YMC allows youth the opportunity to lead, to get other youth involved in learning about and applying for grants, and allows our youth-led community development programs additional funding to better impact our youth.”
Grant Report Form
A final report is required July 31st or when the funds have been spent whichever comes first. These reports include a financial statement detailing expenses and a narrative of the project’s impact, effectiveness, problems, and plans to continue.
For a MS Word version of the YMC Grant Report Form click here.
For more information contact Cristina Gonzalez, Program Manager, at the Fund for Santa Barbara at 805-922-1707 or cgonzalez@fundforsantabarbara.org