The Youth Engagement Fund (YEF) is a donor-collaborative and grantmaking organization dedicated to investing in youth of color-led civic engagement (ages 16-35) in the South and Southwest. We work with over 50 youth-led groups fighting for change in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Texas.

We provide: 

1. Grants to youth of color-led nonprofit organizations focused on integrated voter engagement strategies including civic engagement, community organizing, and issue education. 
2. A dynamic capacity-building curriculum for youth leaders centered on what it takes to build and sustain meaningful social movements including grassroots mobilization, digital and media strategy, fundraising, and organizational development.
3. Coaching to support a pipeline of youth leaders, bring youth-led groups together at statewide convenings, and connect them to funding opportunities.

YEF practices Radical Philanthropy, which means cutting red tape to double down on investments in youth of color and center their voices in civic engagement. We are deeply committed to fighting the legacies of racism, colonialism, oppression, and the capitalist forces that often burn out young leaders, deprioritize activists’ mental health and healing, and alienate those without wealth or powerful connections. 

We’re intentional about integrating healing from racism and injustice into our work. We strive to transform philanthropic and organizational practices to promote the well-being of our staff and partners, care for our communities, and change philanthropy to center those who have historically been sidelined and cut off from resources. Our ultimate goal is to close gaps in funding, support, and power for the next generation of young leaders of color.