From realizing dramatic reductions in incarceration to increased investments in community-centered alternatives, youth justice organizations and leaders have proven that progress is possible when we are united around a common goal.
We stand at a pivotal moment. Although the youth justice field has realized decades of strong progress, the re-emergence of tough-on-crime narratives, policy rollbacks on hard-fought reforms, and shifting funding environments have set youth justice efforts on an unsteady path. Amid these challenges, Public Welfare Foundation remains unwavering in its support for those advancing the mission of youth justice reform across the nation.
Communities with robust, united, and resourced youth justice coalitions are more prepared to advance transformative change, defend rollbacks, and sustain reforms. That’s why the Foundation, while continuing its investment in individual organizations that are advancing youth justice reforms in key jurisdictions across the country, also seeks to foster coalition building amongst those in the field. The coalescing of ideas, vantage points, and solutions can create instructive dialogue, build strength in numbers, and catalyze real, lasting change.
With that strategy at the forefront, Public Welfare Foundation is excited to invite its active grantees and their coalition partners to apply for IGNITING FUTURES: A Youth Justice Grant. Selected organizations will receive funding to resource and bolster local youth justice coalition-building efforts. While Public Welfare Foundation values its grantee partners and their interest in this grantmaking opportunity, only a limited number of organizations will be selected for funding.
For those interested in learning more about IGNITING FUTURES, join Public Welfare Foundation for an upcoming informational webinar on Friday, February 13 at 11:00 AM ET.
How Public Welfare Foundation Defines Youth & Youth Justice
The Foundation defines youth justice reform as efforts to advance a fair and effective vision of justice, with a focus on ending the criminalization and incarceration of youth. The Foundation is not considering youth justice coalition work that is focused on broad prevention or general youth services for this grant opportunity (i.e. afterschool programming, direct services, and/or preventative mentoring programs). Proposed work must be for the purpose of driving meaningful change for youth directly impacted by the criminal justice system. For the purposes of this grant opportunity, youth is defined as young people under the age of 18.
Additional Eligibility Requirements:
- Lead applicants must be an existing grantee partner organization with an active Public Welfare Foundation grant.
- The proposed work must be for the purpose of strengthening or developing a youth justice coalition based in one of the Foundation’s ten priority jurisdictions.
- Lead applicants must apply in partnership with other organizations as a collective, representing diverse collaborations that include impacted youth and families, non-profit organizations and systems with aligned transformative goals.
- Lead applicants may apply jointly with organizations that are not existing Foundation grantee partners.
- Applicants must agree to participate in peer-to-peer learning sessions during the grant period.
Funds can be used for, but are not limited to: strategic planning support, coalition staffing, subgrants to partner/participating organizations, meeting and coalition events and convening, travel, consultants, and related programming. Funds cannot be used for lobbying or c4-related activities.
See additional information regarding the grant application process, funding details, and more below under Frequently Asked Questions.
The application deadline is Monday, March 16, 2026.
About Coalitions
How does Public Welfare Foundation define a coalition?
For this opportunity, Public Welfare Foundation defines a coalition as a group of partners and organizations working together toward shared youth justice goals. Proposals should identify coalition members and describe how they intend to work collaboratively.
Do we need to be part of a formally established coalition to apply?
No. Potential applicants are welcome to apply whether their coalitions already exist, or they are applying for this grant opportunity to build or formalize one.
What if we are still determining who will be part of the coalition?
Most coalition members should be identified within the proposal and confirmed to demonstrate that partnerships are meaningfully developed, even if the coalition has not yet been formally established.
How does Public Welfare Foundation define “diverse” coalitions?
For this opportunity, Public Welfare Foundation defines “diverse” coalitions as a collaboration that bring together individuals and organizations with different lived experiences, perspectives, and roles – including, but not limited to, impacted youth and families, non-profit organizations, and systems partners, who are working toward aligned goals.
How many organizations need to be in a coalition?
Proposed coalitions should include at least three organizations, including the lead applicant.
Do all coalition organizations need to be current Public Welfare Foundation grantees?
No. Only the lead applicant must meet the grant’s eligibility requirements.
Applying to & Managing the Grant
Do all coalition members need to contribute to the drafting and submission of the proposal?
Only the lead applicant, who should be a Public Welfare Foundation grantee, is required to draft and submit the proposal. Additional coalition members do not need to participate in the drafting and submission process.
However, the application must clearly describe shared buy-in and collaboration among coalition members, including each member’s specific roles, responsibilities, and meaningful contributions to the proposed work.
What are the responsibilities of the lead applicant?
The lead applicant is responsible for drafting and submitting the proposal via Public Welfare Foundation’s grant application portal. If the lead applicant becomes a grant recipient, they are responsible for compliance, reporting, and use of grant funds.
Can another coalition member manage the grant funds if awarded?
Grant funds from this opportunity will be paid to the lead applicant. If selected for the grant, the lead applicant is solely responsible for the grant’s financial management, including oversight of all grant funds, even when the grant funds are distributed to or expended by coalition partners.
The program budget proposal should clearly show how the lead applicant will allocate and spend grant funds across the coalition.
Grant Application Review Process
Is the IGNITING FUTURES: A Youth Justice Grant application process different from past Public Welfare Foundation grant application processes?
Applicants should follow the specific guidance and requirements for this grantmaking opportunity. In terms of the grant application’s tone and content, Public Welfare Foundation expects applications to follow a narrative style and level of detail consistent with prior grant applications.
How will proposals be reviewed?
Public Welfare Foundation will review applications based on alignment in three core categories:
- Coalition strength (relevant experience in youth justice, coalition diversity, and collaborative strength)
- Meaningful impact (potential for meaningful change); and
- Feasibility (clarity of vision for the coalition and proposed activities; likelihood of success).
Please refer to the eligibility criteria for main priorities.
What happens after the proposal has been submitted?
Public Welfare Foundation staff will review and evaluate all proposals. Selected grant finalists will be contacted for a follow-up call with Foundation staff. The Foundation will also request a sign-on letter from all coalition members referenced in finalists’ proposals.
All applicants will be notified of funding decisions by early April.
Funding Details
How many grants will be awarded?
Public Welfare Foundation does not have a fixed number of awards for this opportunity. The total number of grants awarded will be determined by the strength of the proposals received, the grant amount requested by selected applications, and funds available.
How long is the grant term?
24 months.
How large are the grants?
Applicants should request a grant amount that accurately reflects their anticipated needs to ensure the coalition’s success. Award amounts will be determined based on demonstrated need, proposal strength, and available funds.
How and when will we be updated on the status of our application?
Public Welfare Foundation will make final decisions in April. While all applicants will receive an update on the status of their application, applicants selected for funding will be notified directly.
When will the grant period begin?
The grant period is expected to begin in May 2026.
Peer Learning Sessions
What are the peer-to-peer learning sessions?
Selected coalitions will participate in virtual peer-to-peer learning sessions to share experiences, challenges, and best practices related to their funded work.
How often will the peer-learning sessions occur?
The schedule and frequency of peer-to-peer learning sessions have not yet been finalized. Details will be shared with grant recipients once confirmed.
Reporting
What reporting is required for grant recipients?
Lead applicants who are selected to be grant recipients must submit an interim narrative and financial report at the end of the grant’s year one, as well as a final narrative and financial report due two months after the end of the grant period.
