IGNITING FUTURES: A Youth Justice Grant, launched in January 2026, is a grantmaking opportunity dedicated to funding youth justice coalition building.
Public Welfare Foundation, while continuing its investment in individual youth justice organizations, sought to foster coalition building because the coalescing of ideas, vantage points, and solutions can create instructive dialogue, build strength, and catalyze lasting change.
The Foundation received proposals from its partners across its ten jurisdictions and is excited to announce two 2026 IGNITING FUTURES Grant recipients:
Alliance for Youth Opportunity and Safety
Tennessee
Youth Law Center has been awarded $800,000 to co-lead the Alliance for Youth Opportunity and Safety, a newly formed statewide youth justice coalition. The coalition, co-led by Stand for Children Tennessee, Raphah Institute, and Southern Movement Committee will build up a statewide network of local organizations, stakeholders, systems leaders, and young people and their families for collaboration; develop a vision for youth justice and safety; and develop a communications strategy to advocate for systems change.
Michigan Center for Youth Justice
Michigan
Michigan Center for Youth Justice has been awarded $1,000,000 to lead a new statewide youth justice coalition. The coalition, co-led by Wayne State University Center for Behavioral Health and Justice and The Delta Project, will collaborate with local organizations, stakeholders, systems leaders, and young people and their families to leverage the state’s Child Care Fund, bridging the gap in youth-based services, expanding youth diversion options, and preventing deeper system involvement for youth across the state.
The Foundation also awarded a grant to Catalyze Justice to provide technical support and learning opportunities to the IGNITING FUTURES grant recipients.
“We know that communities with robust, united, and resourced youth justice coalitions are more prepared to advance transformative change, defend rollbacks, and sustain reforms,” said Thena Robinson Mock, Vice President of Programs at Public Welfare Foundation. “Through the IGNITING FUTURES grant, we are investing in those coalitions, expanding their capacity to build a truly just and safe future for young people. We hope to see our partners in philanthropy join us in this effort to resource local coalitions in youth and adult criminal justice.”
