Request for Proposals

Positive Youth Development Seed Grant

The Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC), part of VCU’s Division of Community Engagement, is pleased to offer seed funding to support community-driven programs that advance positive youth development.

Located on VCU’s Monroe Park Campus, MFYC fosters innovative, sports-based and life skills programming that strengthens youth development, expands access to higher education opportunities, and empowers adults to support youth success.

The Positive Youth Development Seed Grant supports collaborative projects that integrate the Youth Center in meaningful ways and demonstrate a clear plan for sustainability beyond one year.

See Full 2026 RFP Details

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Funding Overview

• Award amount: Up to 10 grants of $2,000 each
• Grant period: June 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027
• Application deadline: April 13, 2026 (11:59 p.m.)
• Apply: https://forms.gle/dAbBL73depjFeZfg7
  • See Full 2026 RFP Details

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Focus Areas

Proposals should support positive youth development and/or youth educator training, including:

• Empowering youth to broaden expectations and discover their talents
• Strengthening life skills through sports and healthy lifestyles
• Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Fostering best practices in youth development
• Providing professional development for youth educators

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Types of Programs We Encourage

Examples of programs that meaningfully integrate the Youth Center include:

• Youth workshops or classes (arts, STEM, coding, science, etc.)
• Community service projects with youth and partners
• Sports-based programming promoting teamwork and wellness
• Mentorship programs connecting youth with community and VCU mentors
• Technology and STEM initiatives
• Youth educator professional development and advanced certification support
• Family engagement programs

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Need Help Getting Started?

If you have an idea and want to talk through fit, eligibility, or partnership possibilities, we encourage you to attend an upcoming informational session: