The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth awards grants for creative and effective initiatives that empower and support teenagers in Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, and Woodford.

The Fund supports programs that benefi­t teenagers entering or enrolled in 6th through 12th grades (typically ages 12 to 18) including students at Mount Anthony Middle or High School and/or those who live in the communities served by those schools.

In 2024, the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth aims to support spaces, activities, and opportunities for youth to gather, connect, and feel a sense of belonging. The four priority areas of the grant program include youth-led or youth-focused events, programs, or projects that:

• Bring youth together, especially those that introduce a new activity and/or have a low barrier to access. Examples include:
  • Themed camp
  • Festival/celebration
  • Intramural sport
  • Casual club or extracurricular;
• Create, maintain, or expand spaces or places that allow youth to gather, connect, and share experiences in formal and informal ways;
• Provide opportunity and access for youth facing hardships;
• Encourage feelings of belonging and increase inclusion.

• First time applicants are encouraged to apply. Please be in touch if you have any questions or need help with the application.
• Grassroots organizations and community groups are encouraged to apply. Nonprofit organizations or community groups that do not have 501(c)(3) status may apply for grant awards if another tax-exempt organization, school, or municipality acts as a fiscal sponsor.
• An organization serving as fiscal sponsor for an Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth applicant or grantee does remain eligible to submit their own application for a different project.

All applicants to programs at the Vermont Community Foundation must meet the guidelines outlined in the General Applicant Guidelines and Requirements found on our For Nonprofits page.

Grants will be in the range of $500-$5,000.

Grant activities must take place between December 2025 and December 2026 to be eligible for funding.

Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth 2025 Deadline:

• Applications will be accepted between September 9 – October 21, 2025. Applications must be received by 5PM on Tuesday, October 21, 2025 in order to be considered.
• We anticipate notifying applicants of grant decisions by December 2025. Grant funds cannot cover activities that have already taken place; please keep the notification timeline and grant term in mind as you prepare your application. Grants can be used to cover activities beginning in December 2025 and extending through December 2026.

Notifications on approved and denied applications will be made by email to the email address used to submit the application. Notification timelines are approximate. If you have not received an email, you can check your organization’s email history in your Online Grants Manager account.

All applications must be submitted electronically. Visit the Resources for Grantseekers section on our For Nonprofits page to learn how and to register for a new account. Or, access your existing account.

You can view a PDF sample of the application here. To view and begin working on the application, login to the Online Grants Manager (OGM).

With questions about the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth and its grant program, please contact Jane Mulcahy.

• Email: jmulcahy@vermontcf.org
• Phone: 802-388-3355 ext. 381