The Teens for Tomorrow (T4T) Grant is a youth-led philanthropy initiative supported by the Quad Cities Community Foundation. It empowers high school students from Rock Island County, Illinois, and Scott County, Iowa, to learn about community needs, engage in fundraising, and allocate grant funding to nonprofit organizations. Through this program, young philanthropists develop leadership skills while making a tangible impact on the community. In 2025, at least $10,000 will be available in total funding, with up to $10,000 awarded per application.

The grant cycle opens on January 15, 2025, with a submission deadline of February 15, 2025. Award notifications will be sent in May 2025. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving residents of Rock Island County, Illinois, or Scott County, Iowa, and must address at least one of the designated focus areas: Affordable Education and Childcare, Food Insecurity, Supportive Housing, or Immigration Support. A total of 3-4 grants will be awarded, with a preference for requests that include operational funding.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the foundation’s online grant system. As part of the evaluation process, T4T members will schedule a site visit in March with each applicant. These visits, conducted by small groups of 3-5 students, will last no more than one hour and provide an opportunity for applicants to showcase their projects, answer questions, and give a tour of their facilities.

Grant applications will be assessed based on several criteria, including the relevance of the project to identified community needs, the anticipated impact on the target population, the clarity and feasibility of the proposal, the organization’s history of success, and its commitment to equity. Organizations receiving funding must submit a final report within six months of completing their project.

For further inquiries, applicants can contact Kaleigh Trammell via email or phone at (563) 326-2840. The program encourages nonprofit organizations to engage with T4T members and contribute to fostering a culture of youth-driven philanthropy in the Quad Cities region.