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 awards grants for creative and effective initiatives that empower and support Bennington-area teenagers. In 2024 and 2025, Vermont Community Foundation staff engaged directly with Bennington-area youth to better understand their current needs and interests. The 2025 grant priorities are grounded in these conversations and shaped by the voices of young people in the region.
In 2025, the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth aims to support spaces, activities, and opportunities for youth to gather, connect, feel a sense of belonging, or participate in or learn a new activity. The four priority areas of the grant program include youth-led or youth-focused events, programs, or projects that:
· Bring youth together, especially those that introduce a new activity and/or have a low barrier to access. Examples include:
o Themed camps
o Festivals/celebrations
o Intramural sports
o Casual clubs or extracurriculars
· Create, maintain, or expand spaces or places that allow youth to gather, connect, and share experiences in formal and informal ways.
· Provide opportunity and access for youth facing hardships.
· Encourage feelings of belonging and increase inclusion.
Beginning in 2025, the fund will consider both small ($500-$5,000) and large (up to $10,000) grant requests and will award no more than one large grant per year. Applicants who apply for and are not awarded a large grant will still be considered for a small grant.
The fund welcomes proposals for up to $10,000 for a capital project, a new program, or a large program or capital expansion that fits within the guidelines above.
Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 9, 2025. 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 1,000 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 $70 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. Give where your heart lives.
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