The S.H. Cowell Foundation makes grants to build and support youth development programs because they provide a springboard for youth to develop the life skills that will carry them successfully to adulthood.

For some, youth development programs equate to homework help or after-school diversions. At Cowell, youth development means much more.

Cowell supports and fosters programs that offer enrichment, exploration, and skill-building activities. Rather than focusing on activities to occupy young people “at risk,” this approach encourages the possibility and opportunity inherent in all youth.

Cowell is especially interested in projects that involve youth in program design and leadership, and encourage the development of creative and practical skills not generally captured in school achievement tests. Instead, youth are challenged to conduct in-depth inquiry, put on complex performances, or create products for actual use that achieve the same standards of quality expected of adults.

Within this framework, Cowell supports programs that have a reciprocal relationship with their community. This means that young people engage with the local environment and community for learning and volunteer opportunities. It also means that the program connects youth with the local people, places, and supports they need to thrive.

Finally, Cowell supports programs that offer an inclusive and inviting environment, one suited for all the young people in a given community.

Youth Development Funding Criteria