In addition to meeting our place-based criteria, Youth Development funding candidates must also satisfy the following.

Proposed projects must involve launching a new program or strengthening an existing one. This might include improving the quality of existing programs, increasing access to high-quality programs so they have a greater impact in a specific neighborhood, or increasing the capacity of proven organizations so that successful programs can be sustained over the long-term. We also support capital projects for established youth development programs when 50 percent of needed funds have been raised from other sources.

Cowell supports youth development projects that provide youth with:

• Challenging and interesting learning experiences
• Opportunities for leadership, decision-making, and responsibility
• Supportive relationships
• Physical and emotional safety

Projects should also have one or more of the following characteristics:

• Give youth a useful role in the community
• Use the local environment as a platform for learning, exploration, and action
• Directly or indirectly connect to other community improvement efforts
• Give youth an opportunity to provide service to others

Successful applicant organizations generally fall into the following categories:

• Community-based youth institutions such as Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, or local schools
• Issue-based youth programs that have a specific focus such as youth media, environmental science, arts, sports or leadership development
• Intermediary organizations that provide capacity building supports to specific youth-serving organizations or support for improving the youth development field overall

What We Fund
Youth Development Overview