The Call Me Maybe Funding Challenge is a grant initiative launched by Young Futures, a project of the New Venture Fund, to address the ongoing challenges that cellphone use poses in school environments, especially among pre-teens and teens. Recognizing the diverse needs of schools and student populations, this funding challenge supports community-rooted solutions that address phone use during instructional time in nuanced and practical ways. The initiative invites applications from nonprofits and educational entities that prioritize student voice and leadership in shaping and implementing solutions.

The application period for this opportunity opens on March 19, 2025, and closes on April 9, 2025. Applicants are required to complete an eligibility quiz to gain access to the application. Once qualified, applicants must register and apply through New Venture Fund’s online Grantseeker Portal. A preview of the application becomes available upon account creation. All written and verbal correspondence must be conducted in English, and applicants must ensure that the proposed projects are not intended to support lobbying activities.

Eligible applicants must be U.S.-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status, including schools and school districts, or organizations working under fiscal sponsorship. Each application must identify a dedicated leader who is coachable, collaborative, and willing to participate in the Young Futures Academy. Youth involvement is central to the program; applicants must involve students in the design, execution, and evaluation of proposed solutions and have policies in place for minor protection. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how they will reduce cellphone distractions and/or enhance social connection in educational settings.

Key dates for this challenge include a virtual prospective applicant information session scheduled for March 31, 2025, and finalist interviews between April 28 and May 9, 2025. Selected grantees, known as YF Innovators, will be announced in July or August 2025. Following selection, grantees will participate in Young Futures Academy programming from October 2025 to February 2026, which includes an in-person retreat planned for October 2025.

While specific award amounts and the number of grants to be issued are not stated in the available information, applicants can consult the full Request for Proposals (RFP) and related documentation, including a Minor Safeguarding Information Sheet and FAQs, for further clarity. For questions not addressed in the FAQs, applicants are encouraged to email team@youngfutures.org.