The Youth Endowment Fund of the East Tennessee Foundation provides grant funding to support creative, impactful solutions to challenges faced by youth within the Foundation’s 25-county service area. The purpose of the fund is to promote programs that enhance the well-being and futures of young people by addressing early childhood education, drivers of health, and the prevention or mitigation of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

The 2025 application cycle opens on April 15, 2025, and closes on May 12, 2025, by 6:00 p.m. Grants awarded through this program are for a two-year term, running from August 1, 2025, through July 31, 2027. Awards of up to $20,000 are available to organizations whose missions and programs primarily serve youth.

Eligible applicants must either be organizations dedicated primarily to serving children and youth or organizations that can clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of their youth-focused programs. While grants are generally reserved for programs operating within the Foundation’s 25-county East Tennessee region, exceptions may be made for organizations based outside the area if their programs provide direct, significant benefits to residents within the service area.

The grant application process is managed online, with applicants provided tutorials and access to necessary forms through the Foundation’s grant portal. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the Grantmaking Team—specifically Ashley Siferd Butler, Director of Competitive Grants, or Brooke Anguiano, Grantmaking & Operations Associate—with questions or for technical assistance.