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: Washington Youth Alliance
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $500,000
Duration: 36 Months
Washington Youth Alliance’s Youth-Led Chapters aim to expand their chapter-based model across the state to empower high school-aged youth to engage in their communities and lead on issues that are most important to their generation.
Grantee: Powerful Voices
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $500,000
Duration: 36 Months
The Taking Root Healing Justice Initiative is a youth-led arts and culture program in King County that supports youth to celebrate their identities, build communities of support, cultivate creative expression, and lead on issues in their communities.
Grantee: Stonewall Youth
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $359,381
Duration: 36 Months
Stonewall Youth supports LGBTQ+ youth to survive and thrive. The Formidable + Fabulous program supports leadership and civic engagement for youth in Lewis, Mason, and Thurston Counties and provides them with the skills and tools to create change.
Grantee: Hopelab
Geography: National
Funding: $100,000
Duration: 24 Months
The Responsible Technology Youth Power Fund backs youth leaders and organizations driving the responsible technology movement and promoting a people‑centered digital future.
Grantee: Asians for Collective Liberation in Spokane
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $500,000
Duration: 36 Months
Asian Youth for Collective Liberation is a youth leadership and civic engagement program with the goal of training and empowering Asian/Asian American youth to lead efforts to improve the health and well-being of their community in Spokane.
Grantee: TeamChild
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $499,999
Duration: 36 Months
TeamChild’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB) will work with youth and intergenerational mentors to empower young people across the state to use their voices and lived experiences in the juvenile justice to improve systems that impact youth.
Grantee: Family First Community Center Foundation
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $300,000
Duration: 36 Months
In the heart of a historically underserved community, the Family First Community Center offers free programs for all ages and an on-site health clinic. It is a hub of recreation and connection and a safe space for young people to gather and learn.
Grantee: Nuestras Raíces Centro Comunitario
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $500,000
Duration: 36 Months
Latinos Unidos en Accion Alianza (LUNAA) will engage high school students in Adams, Grant, and Spokane Counties in civic engagement. Activities include leadership skill development, peer and intergenerational mentorship, and academic support.
Grantee: FEEST
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $499,772
Duration: 36 Months
FEEST’s youth organizing program supports leadership and civic engagement among students in Seattle and South King County to advocate for their needs in their schools and school districts to improve student wellness.
Grantee: Foundation for Youth Resiliency and Engagement
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $500,000
Duration: 36 Months
FYRE’s youth leadership program will provide young leaders across rural Okanogan County with the opportunity to develop leadership skills and cultivate their voices and perspectives to create change in their community.
Grantee: East African Community Services
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $500,000
Duration: 36 Months
LeadersAlive is East African Community Services’ youth leadership and civic engagement program that supports African immigrant and refugee youth in Seattle and King County to become confident leaders, engaged citizens, and changemakers.
Grantee: The Washington Bus Education Fund
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $500,000
Duration: 36 Months
The Washington Bus Education Fund’s high school organizing programs support base building, civic education, skill development, and coalition building for youth across the state with a focus in youth in King, Pierce, and Spokane Counties.
Grantee: AHSHAY
Geography: Pacific Northwest
Funding: $1,500,000
Duration: 36 Months
AHSHAY’s Fortifying Futures for Our Youth project convenes community members of all ages and other partners to generate ideas and strategies for bringing about a more just and abundant future free of youth homelessness and incarceration.
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
We’re excited to connect with you and share regular updates across our arts and culture, environment, and youth programs. Sign up to hear about new RFPs, grantee news, and updates from the Allen Family Philanthropies team.
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.