Funding now available for programs supporting Bennington-area youth

Vermont Business Magazine Grants are now available to support dynamic and innovative youth programs in Bennington, North Bennington, Pownal, Shaftsbury, and Woodford through the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth at the Vermont Community Foundation.

The Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth will award grants for creative and effective initiatives that empower and support Bennington-area teenagers, particularly those facing challenges and limited access to opportunities due to economic distress, disengagement from school, mental health issues, racism, gender identity, disability, legal status, or other reasons.

In 2023, the fund will prioritize projects that:

  • Elevate youth voice, leadership, and empowerment in the community and youth-serving institutions, especially of historically marginalized youth;
  • Provide opportunity and access for youth facing hardships related to poverty, marginalization, violence, and other traumas;
  • Expand youth engagement in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) activities and increase youth exposure to STEAM careers; and/or
  • Advance youth workforce development and rural entrepreneurship.

Grant awards will be in the range of $500-$3,500. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, 2023. Please visit vermontcf.org/ofsy for more information or to apply.

The Vermont Community Foundation was established in 1986 as an enduring source of philanthropic support for Vermont communities. A family of more than 900 funds, foundations, and supporting organizations, the Foundation makes it easy for the people who care about Vermont to find and fund the causes they love. The Community Foundation and its partners put more than $60 million annually to work in Vermont communities and beyond. The heart of its work is closing the opportunity gap—the divide that leaves too many Vermonters struggling to get ahead, no matter how hard they work. The Community Foundation envisions Vermont at its best—where everyone can build a bright, secure future. Visit vermontcf.org or call 802-388-3355 for more information.

1.27.2023. Vermont Community Foundation