Mayor Michelle Wu and the Office of Human Services (OHS) announce applications are now open for the 2023 Youth Development Fund (YDF) fall grant. The YDF is a yearly competitive grant aimed at supporting non-profit organizations that work with Boston youth and young adults ages 10-25. A total of $1,500,000 will be awarded to Boston nonprofit organizations providing positive violence intervention, prevention, and response services throughout the city. Applications are now open and responses are due Saturday, Oct 28th at 4:00 p.m.
“Developing and protecting our youth by creating an engaging community is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a City,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “We are grateful to all of the non-profit organizations delivering violence prevention services in our neighborhoods, and look forward to providing continued support in building this community.”
“We are excited to be able to continue to support many of our non-profit partners in the work of building community and providing high-quality, safe and engaging activities for youth and young adults in Boston,” said Jose Massó, Chief of Human Services. “This robust network of programs meets youth where they are and is a key part of our violence prevention strategy.”
This fund aims to increase the number and variety of youth development programs intentionally contributing to metrics that prevent youth and young adult violence in Boston neighborhoods. The Youth Development Fund will prioritize the following types of organizations:
• Boston-based nonprofits in neighborhoods disproportionately impacted by gun or youth violence
• Youth-serving entities with an intentional focus on outreach and engagement of high-risk/proven-risk youth and young adults or other specified underserved youth population
• Organizations using the positive youth development framework and/ or meaningful youth engagement practices
There will also be a concentration on supporting activities that implement prevention strategies intended to shape individual behaviors as well as relationship, community, and societal factors that influence the risk for violence. Examples of evidence-based youth violence prevention strategies include but are not limited to:
• Strengthening youth and young adults’ developmental skills
• Connecting youth to caring adults and a safe space when not in school
• Creating protective community environments
• Intervening to lessen harms and prevent future risk
Last year’s YDF funds were allocated to 55 community-based organizations across Boston that, together, served youth and young adults in all neighborhoods of the city. In total, 6,334 youth were served and 85 percent of those served are youth of color.