Grants for youth and after-school nonprofits

Federal programs youth groups win

We rank programs by how many Tennessee youth groups won them. That means groups named Boys & Girls Club, YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters or Girls Inc., or with youth, after-school or mentoring in their name. Our award records come from federal audit reports (Federal Audit Clearinghouse) and USAspending.gov, mostly federal fiscal years 2023–2025. Most of this money came through Tennessee state agencies or a national youth group, not straight from a federal agency. Tennessee state programs and foundation grants from IRS filings are further down.

1. Juvenile Mentoring Program (program number 16.726)

   Juvenile Mentoring grants from the Justice Department's youth office (OJJDP) pay for mentors for kids at risk. Some Tennessee clubs got this money through their national group, like Boys & Girls Clubs of America, instead of applying alone.

   2 grants open or opening soon: OJJDP FY 2026 Multistate Mentoring Programs; OJJDP FY 2026 Mentoring for Youth Impacted by Opioids and Other... · 48 Tennessee awards on file

2. Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers (program number 84.287)

   21st Century Community Learning Centers pay for after-school and summer learning. Kids served must mostly come from schools with many low-income students. Nonprofits apply to the state Department of Education and must team up with those schools.

   No open grant right now. · 134 Tennessee awards on file

3. Child Care and Development Block Grant (program number 93.575)

   Child Care and Development Fund: federal child care money run by the Tennessee Department of Human Services. Youth groups that run child care for school-age kids can be paid for children whose families get child care help.

   No open grant right now. · 104 Tennessee awards on file

4. Child and Adult Care Food Program (program number 10.558)

   Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) pays for meals and snacks. After-school programs in low-income areas can get paid for the food they serve. In Tennessee you sign up through the Department of Human Services.

   1 grant open or opening soon: Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) – institution and... · 136 Tennessee awards on file

5. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (program number 93.558)

   TANF is federal family-aid money that the state controls. Tennessee's Department of Human Services has passed some to youth groups, sometimes through the Tennessee Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. Funded work must fit one of TANF's goals.

   1 grant open or opening soon: Families First Community Grant Program 2026-27 · 280 Tennessee awards on file

6. Summer Food Service Program for Children (program number 10.559)

   Summer Food Service Program pays groups to serve free meals to kids 18 and under when school is out. Tennessee's Department of Human Services approves sponsors. In 2026, applications were due May 1.

   1 grant open or opening soon: Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsor reimbursement · 53 Tennessee awards on file

Open and opening-soon grants for this work

• FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps - Bureau wide       · Bureau of Land Management · Due Oct 16, 2026 · 7 days left · $30K – $220K
• 2027 Youth Sports Mini Pitch/Lighting Activation Grant · National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) with Musco Lighting · Due Oct 23, 2026 · 14 days left · Up to $20K
• Youth At Every Decision-Making Table Grants (2027) · Youth Service America (YSA) · Due Oct 25, 2026 · 16 days left · Up to $2,000
• OJJDP FY 2026 Community and Schools Youth Drug Prevention Program · Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention · Due Oct 29, 2026 · 20 days left · Up to $750K
• Grants for youth school-to-career programs (Fall 2026 cycle) · NBA Foundation · Due about Oct 31, 2026 (estimate) · From $25K
• Youth Learn-to-Swim Grant · USA Swimming Foundation · Due Nov 15, 2026 · 37 days left
• Youth Garden Grant (2027) · KidsGardening · Opens Nov 9, 2026 · due Dec 11, 2026 · Up to $750
• Bookmobile Grants (children's book purchases) · The Lois Lenski Covey Foundation · Next round: due about Aug 15, 2027 (estimate) · $500 – $3,000
• McLeroy Foundation foster youth grants · The McLeroy Foundation · No deadline listed: see the official notice
• Youth Literacy Grants · Dollar General Literacy Foundation · Opening date not announced · Up to $5,000

Every grant that fits, as nonprofit with 501(c)(3) Foundations that fund this work Follow new ones by RSS

Tennessee programs that fund this work

• ALDI Community Gift Card Program (after-school and out-of-school youth programs) · ALDI US · Due Oct 31, 2026 · 22 days left
• PAL Grant Program (youth performing arts) · Performing Arts League (PAL) of Chattanooga · Due Feb 19, 2027 · 133 days left
• Community Grants (2027 cycle) · Variety - The Children's Charity of Eastern Tennessee · Opens Jan 1, 2027 · due Mar 1, 2027
• Summer Camp Grant Program · Shelby County Government (Office of Education and Youth Services) · Next round: about Mar 17 – Mar 20, 2027 (estimate)
• Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) sponsor reimbursement · Tennessee Department of Human Services · Next round: about Jan 30 – May 1, 2027 (estimate)
• SCC Bristol Grants · Speedway Children's Charities - Bristol Chapter · Next round: due about Jun 12, 2027 (estimate)
• SCC Nashville Grants · Speedway Children's Charities - Nashville Chapter · Next round: due about Jun 26, 2027 (estimate)
• Title II Juvenile Justice Federal Formula Grants · Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth · Next round: due about Jul 14, 2027 (estimate)
• Margaret M. and Harley H. Wachs Youth Leadership Fund · East Tennessee Foundation · Opening date not announced
• Youth Health, Education and Welfare Grants · DanPaul Foundation · No deadline listed: see the official notice
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) – institution and sponsor participation · Tennessee Department of Human Services · No deadline listed: see the official notice
• Youth Endowment Fund · East Tennessee Foundation · Opening date not announced
• Nike Mid-South Grant Program · Nike, Inc. (Nike Community Impact Fund, administered by Charities Aid Foundation of America) · No deadline listed: see the official notice
• PetSafe Brands charitable grants (animal welfare and youth development) · Radio Systems Corporation (PetSafe Brands) · No deadline listed: see the official notice
• Youth Development Foundation grants · MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation · No deadline listed: see the official notice

Foundations that funded Tennessee youth groups

From their IRS filings. Foundations that accept applications are listed first.

Tennessee peers: see who funds them

• Emerald Youth Foundation Knoxville · 57 foundations
• YMCA of Middle Tennessee Nashville · 41 foundations
• Boy Scouts of America Knoxville · 34 foundations
• Boys & Girls Club Union City · 28 foundations
• The Boys and Girls Clubs of Chattanooga Chattanooga · 27 foundations
• Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee Nashville · 26 foundations
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee Nashville · 25 foundations
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga Chattanooga · 22 foundations
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Memphis Memphis · 21 foundations
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee Knoxville · 20 foundations
• Girls Inc. - TN Valley Oak Ridge · 20 foundations
• Youth Encouragement Services Nashville · 19 foundations

Eligibility tips

• Nonprofits and faith-based groups can apply for 21st Century Community Learning Centers money in Tennessee, but they must work with the schools their students attend. Programs must mainly serve students from schools with many low-income students. Tennessee Department of Education
• Tennessee's lottery-funded after-school grant (LEAPs) runs for three years. You apply online in the Department of Education's ePlan system. Paper applications are not accepted. Tennessee Department of Education
• An after-school program can get paid for snacks and suppers through CACFP if it is in the attendance area of a school where at least half the students get free or reduced-price meals. 7 CFR 226.17a(i)
• Summer meal sites most often qualify the same way: the local school's attendance area has at least half its students approved for free or reduced-price meals. 7 CFR 225.2
• Foundations that funded other Tennessee youth groups are listed below. Who funded this group?

Checked Oct 9, 2026.