Oneida County Youth Investment Initiative Fund
The Community Foundation, in partnership with Oneida County, is offering grants from $25,000 to $450,000 to support programs that help at-risk youth and reduce youth violence in Oneida County. Funding will support new or expanded programs that promote positive youth development and encourage collaboration among nonprofits, schools, law enforcement, and local government agencies.
Overview
The Oneida County Youth Investment Initiative invites nonprofits to apply for $25,000 to $450,000 to expand existing programs or create new programs that foster positive youth development, strengthen community ties, and reduce factors that contribute to youth violence. Preference will be given to programs that involve collaborative partnerships and demonstrate innovative approaches to prevention with other nonprofits, schools, law enforcement, and/or local government agencies.
Grant Information
Proposed programs must align with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth Violence Prevention Resource for Action Guide, which represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to prevent youth violence and its consequences. Strategies and approaches outlined in the Prevention Resource are intended to impact individual behaviors and the relationships, families, schools and communities that influence risk and protective factors for youth. Strategies and approaches are intended to work in combination and reinforce each for long-term impact and success.
Important Deadlines
- Submissions will be accepted Wednesday, May 13 - Tuesday, June 30, at 11:59 p.m.
- Award notifications will be made within 45 days of the submission deadline. Applicants will be notified regardless of whether they receive funding.
The Oneida County Youth Investment Initiative Fund supports projects and programs that meet the following criteria:
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Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, an organization with a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, government entity, or a faith-based organization seeking support for programs that address non-religious needs or issues, serving diverse constituencies without regard to religious affiliation.
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Applicants must operate within Oneida County.
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New programs in need of funding must begin no earlier than September 1, 2026. If the request is for an existing or ongoing program, all expenses incurred prior to September 1, 2026 do not qualify for funding. Requested funding can be applied to expenses through June 30, 2027.
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All programs should have identifiable and measurable outcomes with a definitive timeline for completion or outcomes achieved.
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Only one request per organization will be accepted.
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Proposed programs must directly support one or more of the CDC’s Youth Violence.
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Prevention strategies and serve at-risk youth under the age of 19.
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Applicants must demonstrate the ability to manage grant funds responsibly and collect data to prove measurable outcomes and effectiveness of grant funding.
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Preference will be given to programs that involve collaborative partnerships and demonstrate innovative approaches to prevention with other nonprofits, schools, law enforcement, and/or local government agencies.
Informational Session
Interested and eligible applicants are encouraged to attend an informational session at the Community Foundation office in Utica to learn more about the initiative and ask questions regarding submissions. Visit foundationhoc.org/events to RSVP by May 25.
- Date
- June 2, 2026
- Time
- 3:00pm - 4:00pm
- Location
- 2608 Genesee St, Utica