Youth
Our Program
We know that young people are engaged and want to act on the issues they care about.
We believe that empowering young people through meaningful leadership opportunities, intergenerational support, and access to essential resources expands the number and diversity of youth acting on issues they deeply value—ultimately enhancing outcomes for youth and entire communities.
Young people can contribute to meaningful change when they have the opportunity to self-identify the issues they care about and contribute to meaningful change, when they are supported with the resources and skill development that position them as leaders, and when society values them as contributors, influencing decision-making.
Our Program
We know that young people are engaged and want to act on the issues they care about.
We believe that empowering young people through meaningful leadership opportunities, intergenerational support, and access to essential resources expands the number and diversity of youth acting on issues they deeply value—ultimately enhancing outcomes for youth and entire communities.
Young people can contribute to meaningful change when they have the opportunity to self-identify the issues they care about and contribute to meaningful change, when they are supported with the resources and skill development that position them as leaders, and when society values them as contributors, influencing decision-making.
Our Focus Areas
Increasing youth awareness and access to opportunities in the Pacific Northwest
Strengthening local and regional networks for youth organizing
Bolstering evidence and best practices for greater investment and support
We seek to elevate youth as changemakers.
Increasing youth awareness and access to opportunities in the Pacific Northwest. Our funding helps create and sustain programs that provide skills training and leadership opportunities to young people so they can act effectively on issues they care about.
Strengthening local and regional networks for youth organizing. We bring together youth civic engagement organizations so they can build local, statewide, and regional coalitions based on shared interests and goals.
Bolstering evidence and best practices for greater investment and support. We fund research and evaluation activities to inform the work of our grantees and the youth development sector.
We seek to elevate youth as changemakers.
Increasing youth awareness and access to opportunities in the Pacific Northwest. Our funding helps create and sustain programs that provide skills training and leadership opportunities to young people so they can act effectively on issues they care about.
Strengthening local and regional networks for youth organizing. We bring together youth civic engagement organizations so they can build local, statewide, and regional coalitions based on shared interests and goals.
Bolstering evidence and best practices for greater investment and support. We fund research and evaluation activities to inform the work of our grantees and the youth development sector.
$18.8M of active grants in youth programming
Investing in organizations helping young people ages 13 – 26 develop their skills, find their purpose, and pursue their passions.
Working together to empower a generation of young people that are ready to lead
Supporting local, statewide, and regional networks for youth organizing in the Northwest, and advancing our community’s understanding for greater investment in the youth ecosystem.
Over 22% of Washington state’s population is 19 years or younger
Research shows that when youth are activated around their interests and passions, they gain the confidence and tools needed to engage with each other and the world.
$18.8M of active grants in youth programming
Investing in organizations helping young people ages 13 – 26 develop their skills, find their purpose, and pursue their passions.
Working together to empower a generation of young people that are ready to lead
Supporting local, statewide, and regional networks for youth organizing in the Northwest, and advancing our community’s understanding for greater investment in the youth ecosystem.
Over 22% of Washington state’s population is 19 years or younger
Research shows that when youth are activated around their interests and passions, they gain the confidence and tools needed to engage with each other and the world.
Featured Grantees
Grantee: Rhizome
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $619,700
Duration: 36 Months
Rhizome, which boosts civic engagement among high school students in several states, is training young organizers across Washington state to serve their communities through their Civic Service Fellowship.
Grantee: National Geographic Society
Geography: Global
Funding: $5,000,000
Duration: 49 Months
The Slingshot Challenge gives $10,000 awards to teenagers aged 13 to 18 for ingenious environmental solutions in five areas: cleaning the air, restoring the ocean, protecting nature, reducing waste, and addressing climate change.
Grantee: Children of the Setting Sun Productions
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $550,000
Duration: 18 Months
Children of the Setting Sun’s Tribal Youth Leadership program develops the next generation of tribal culture bearers. Their Young Tribal Leaders partner across generations to amplify Indigenous knowledge, wisdom, art, and culture to the community.
Youth News
Read the stories of the ordinary and extraordinary people making change every day, discover new funding opportunities, and explore other news from our grantees and team.
The 2026 Slingshot Challenge: A global call to action for youth and the environment
Now in its fourth year, the initiative provides a platform to foster transformative change
Seattle Children's Theatre expands One&Five program for Seattle Public Schools
Seattle Children’s Theatre (SCT) announces an expansion of their One&Five Program thanks to a generous grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation
Ten grants awarded to mobilize young leaders across Washington
Grantees are grounded in strong youth development practices
Keep in Touch
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Our Programs
Arts & Culture
Increasing access to diverse arts, cultural, and heritage experiences for everyone.
Environment
Protecting and restoring our planet’s biodiversity through scientific solutions rooted in community partnerships.
Arts & Culture
Increasing access to diverse arts, cultural, and heritage experiences for everyone.
Environment
Protecting and restoring our planet’s biodiversity through scientific solutions rooted in community partnerships.
Arts & Culture
Increasing access to diverse arts, cultural, and heritage experiences for everyone.
Environment
Protecting and restoring our planet’s biodiversity through scientific solutions rooted in community partnerships.
Arts & Culture
Increasing access to diverse arts, cultural, and heritage experiences for everyone.
Environment
Protecting and restoring our planet’s biodiversity through scientific solutions rooted in community partnerships.