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GENNOW

Grant Application Instructions

Please read these instructions before you begin. They explain who is eligible, what you will be asked, the documents to gather, and what happens after you apply. We recommend reviewing the full document, then starting your application when you are ready.

Grant range: $500–$25,000 Intake: Rolling, reviewed in four cycles a year Apply once per quarter (each cycle)
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About the fund

The GENNOW is a trusted intermediary that connects corporate and philanthropic funders with the youth-serving organizations doing the work on the ground. Funders name the issue areas they care about and make a funding commitment. GENNOW reviews applications, verifies eligibility, and matches strong applicants with the right funder. Every grant made through GENNOW is flexible and nonrestrictive, so your organization can put the funding where it is needed most.

About this funding opportunity

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed continuously. Grant funds are awarded across four cycles each year. Applying during a given cycle does not guarantee funding within that cycle; a strong application may be kept under consideration and carried into a later cycle as funder portfolios and priorities align. An application can remain under consideration for up to 12 months from the date you submit; after that, you are welcome to reapply. Each organization may submit one application each quarter (each cycle), and may reapply in future cycles.

After you submit, you will receive a confirmation email with a reference number, and a GENNOW team member will follow up within 14 business days with next steps or any additional information needed.

Funding request

Organizations may request any amount between $500 and $25,000. Funding is flexible and nonrestrictive. We ask that the amount you request reflects what your programs can responsibly put to use within the grant period.

Who can apply

To be eligible, your organization should meet all of the following:

  • Be an independent 501(c)(3), or be fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization.
  • Serve K–12 aged youth and the communities around them.
  • Do work that aligns with one or more of our eight funded issue areas (listed below).
  • Be in good standing with your state, with a current tax filing and certificate of good standing. Fiscally sponsored organizations provide this on behalf of their fiscal sponsor.

Funded issue areas

Your work should connect to at least one of these areas. Many organizations span several, and you are welcome to select all that apply.

K–12 EducationCivic EngagementRecreationArts & CultureYouth Health & WellnessHousingHungerWorkforce

What we prioritize

All eligible organizations are welcome to apply. We give particular consideration to:

  • Organizations led by, and rooted in, the communities they serve.
  • Work in historically underfunded communities and rural areas across the country.
  • Programs that show a clear, practical plan for the youth outcomes they aim to create.
  • Organizations that do not receive significant support from large national funders.

What we do not fund

Our aim is simple: every dollar should reach young people as a clear investment with measurable outcomes, not overhead. We do not fund:

  • Staff salaries or general operating overhead. Grants support direct programming and the youth it serves, not payroll.
  • Capital improvements or new building construction. One exception: recreation-focused organizations may use funds to build youth facilities such as a ball field, court, or playground.
  • Individuals or for-profit ventures.
  • Political campaigns, lobbying, or partisan activity.
  • Work that falls outside a youth-serving mission.
  • Endowments or debt retirement.

How to apply

  • Create a profile or log in. Set up your organization in the GENNOW portal, or sign in if you already have an account.
  • Complete the application. Provide your organization details, select your issue areas, and answer three short narrative questions about the problem you address, your approach, and the outcomes you expect.
  • Attach your documents. Upload the items in the checklist below. Requirements vary by organization size.
  • Certify and submit. Review your responses, confirm they are accurate, and submit. You will receive a reference number and a confirmation email right away.

Application checklist

Please have the following ready before you submit:

  • Program narrative responsesThree short answers (the application provides suggested word counts).
  • IRS determination letter or fiscal sponsor letterConfirms your tax status.
  • Most recent state tax filingFiscally sponsored organizations submit this for their fiscal sponsor.
  • Certificate of Good StandingFrom your state’s Secretary of State.
  • Financial statement or auditRequired for organizations with an annual budget of $75,000 or more; optional if under $75,000.
  • Other supporting documentsOptional: program summary, board roster, letters of support.

Please do not include bank account or routing numbers. Summary financial information, such as your latest audit or annual statement, is all we need. Uploaded files are used only to review your application and are not retained long-term.

If your grant is approved

Grantees submit a brief report every quarter for the duration of the grant. Reports cover the number of young people served, activities held, how funds were used, and the outcomes you are seeing. You will receive a reminder in your portal dashboard and by email about 30 days before each report is due, so nothing slips through the cracks.

Questions

If anything is unclear, reach the GENNOW grants team at grants@gennowfund.org before you submit. We are glad to help.

Before you begin

Please check the box above to continue to the application.