Youth Action Committee

2013  YAC Grants Now Available

The Capital Region Community Foundation’s Youth Action Committee (YAC) has approximately $40,000 in grant funds available for youth-serving nonprofits in the greater Lansing area. Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded in April 2013. The Youth Action Committee will review all applications based on the following criteria and priority areas listed below:

1.      Organizations eligible for funding:

a.  Public or nonprofit private school, or a registered student organization within the school with the school acting as fiscal agent, in Ingham, Eaton or Clinton County,

b. Nonprofit charitable organization serving Ingham, Eaton or Clinton County youth which has a current 501(c) (3) designation by the IRS, or

c.  Governmental entity serving tri-county youth

2.      Projects that leverage of the greatest possible amount of activity with a maximum grant of $2,500. This may be done with volunteers or by attracting additional funding from other sources.

3.      Proposals that involve area teens in each phase of the grant process- planning, proposal writing and implementation.   

Funding Priority Areas:

Along with programs that encourage and support the development of youth assets, applications that address youth issues identified in the YAC 2011 Youth Needs Assessment will receive priority for funding. The following issue areas ranked highest on the Youth Needs Assessment:

          1. Bullying

          2. Stress and Social Issues: low self-esteem, career/college pressure

          3. Employment Opportunities

Applications must be submitted online along with eight hard copies sent to CRCF at 330 Marshall St., Suite 300, Lansing, MI 48912. Application deadline: January 31, 2013. Contact Ashley Gulker with questions. Download the Request for Proposals letter below in the attachments section or in the right hand downloads section.

What is YAC?

The Youth Action Committee ("YAC") is an advisory committee of the Capital Region Community Foundation, and grants money through the Community Foundation to fund and promote programs that help youth in the tri-county area. These young people range in age 13 - 18 and currently represent 16  high schools in the tri-county area. YAC members develop team-building and leadership skills through both meaningful and fun activities.

The main purpose of YAC is to decide, as grantmakers, where the Youth Fund dollars will best be put to use to help the youth of the tri-county area. Last year the YAC granted $44,150 to non-profit organizations in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. The YAC also granted $3,630.51 in mini-grants to elementary schools.

Community service projects, that take place about every other month, are popular among YAC members.  Past activities include working at a food distribution center, serving meals at a soup kitchen and hosting holiday parties for foster children.  Through all their activities YAC members learn about volunteerism, philanthropy and community service.

The YAC is committed to involving a wide range of youth to represent the geographic, socio-economic, ethnic and educational differences in their community.

There are more than 1,500 young people from across the State of Michigan who are involved in granting money from the 86 permanently endowed youth funds established as a result of a challenge grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Our local YAC has an average of 25 members.

YAC meetings are held at the CRCF Office at 330 Marshall Street, Lansing MI 48912, generally on the 2nd Monday of each month from 6-8 p.m., September thru May. 

This is a fun way for high schoolers to meet and interact with their peers from other area schools, and there is no cost to be a member. All we ask is a time commitment and a willingness to help make a difference in the lives of other youth in our community.

For more information you may call the Foundation at (517) 664-9858.  To apply to be a YAC member, please download the "YAC Membership Application" (below).  After filling it out please send to the Foundation offices as instructed.

YAC 2011 Tri-County Youth Needs Assessment

Every three years the YAC conducts a Needs Assessment to youth in the tri-county area. This information provides us with insight into the critical issues facing area youth. Data collected also informs our funding priorities, so that our grants make the largest impact in the community.

• YAC members- click here to access the electronic needs assessment.
•  2012 Needs Assessment Results can be downloaded below