Child and Youth Development

To help children and youth to thrive.

Most parents (75 percent) in Northern Virginia work full-time jobs, and 18 percent typically work more than 50 hours per week source: American Community Survey, 2015-19. Having meaningful afterschool and extracurricular activities can help build children and youth self-esteem, foster connections with adults in the community, and create safer neighborhoods.

To help children and youth to thrive, the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia makes grants with a focus in Child & Youth Development annually through the Community Investment Funds grant cycle.

The Child and Youth Fund is a component fund of The Permanent Fund for Northern Virginia, an unrestricted endowment at the Community Foundation that makes grants to help build a community that works for everyone.
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In 2018, Girls on the Run NOVA received a grant to expand into an economically disadvantaged school. Coach Lauren Daly Lauren sought out a program that could increase healthy habits and raise self-esteem to help students succeed. Soon she held the first Girls on the Run practice as Coach Lauren.

Fast forward to the present and the Girls on the Run team at Loch Lomond is about to complete their second season. This team of sixteen 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade girls are becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident as individuals, but also as a team connected to each other and their coaches.

— Testimonial provided by 2018 Child & Youth Development Grantee, Girls on the Run

Nonprofits: Learn More & Apply

For 2025, grant requests will be accepted from nonprofit organizations that offer after school programs for Elementary, Middle, and/or High School students focused on  creating a safer physical and emotional spaces for youth, supporting anti-bullying efforts, and providing resources that develop coping skills in youth.

Check out our GRANTS FAQs for 2025 information. 

THE 2025 GRANTS CYCLE IS NOW CLOSED.

See the list of 2025 Community Investment Fund grantees here. 

Criteria

• Applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations providing charitable or educational services. Local, state and federal government entities are not eligible to apply.
• This year, grant requests will only be considered for general organizational support. Applications for capital improvements, endowments, or scholarship awards will not be considered.
• Grants will be made to organizations providing services in Northern Virginia (Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, plus the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church and Manassas/Manassas Park).
• The 2025 Child and Youth Development Fund can include programs that take place during or after school.
• Summer programs are not eligible.
• Grant requests of $15,000 will be accepted.
• Organizations with budget sizes of $150,000—$4.5M are eligible to apply.
• Applications that are late or incomplete will not be considered.
• Only one application per organization will be considered.

Grant Application Portal

To apply or update a grant application, access the grants portal here:
Submit Applications or Review Past Grants Here

You will be instructed to set up an organizational profile before applying. If your organization has applied in the past, check with other staff members to get access to the organization profile already established. It contains grant history and past applications. Please do not set up a new profile unless you are sure your organization has not applied previously.

Please make sure you're subscribed to our Nonprofit News and Resources list to stay up-to-date on funding opportunities. 

Grant Cycle Timeline

January 8, 2025	Applications Open
January 8, 2025	2025 Grants Webinar - Recording Available!
February 1, 2025	Grant Reports Due from 2024 Grantees
February 5, 2025	Applications Due
April 2025	Applicants notified of funding status
February 1, 2026	Grant Reports Due from 2025 Grantees