The YSF provides seed funding to outstanding youth-led initiatives that promote long-term constructive relationships between people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
The Fund links small scale and local work to larger movements for social and global change.
It supports the development of young peoples’ organizations and other means for their work to have an even broader and deeper impact and to be expanded.
This year, there are two levels of funding available:
- Small grants: Community or local-level projects needing funding of up to US$20,000.
- Large grants: National or regional-level projects needing funding of up to US$30,000.
A Youth Selection Committee will identify projects that are deemed to be the most meritorious under each category of funding.
Eligible youth organizations from around the world are invited to submit projects.
Eligibility:
Applying organizations need to fulfill each and every one of the following criteria to be deemed eligible:
- Be a membership‐based youth organization (youth‐led or primarily youth‐serving) or a network composed of several youth‐led organizations;
- Be a non‐governmental organization (with the exception of national youth councils)registered in the country of operation as a charity, trust, foundation or association;
- Be operational for a minimum of 2 years with funding base and project implementation;
- Have a democratic governance structure, leadership nomination and consultative processes in formulating priorities and policies with members;
- Have the ability to demonstrate proper and consistent monitoring, evaluation and recordkeeping of their activities, including projects evaluation reports and financial accounts;
- Have a gender perspective/balance reflected in their staff, membership and activities;
- Have no adherence to or affiliations with violent ideologies or antagonism against any particular country, culture, religion or belief system, ethnic group, sex, etc.
- Did not receive funding under the Pilot Phase of the Youth Solidarity Fund as a youth organization can receive funding under the Youth Solidarity Fund only once.
Deadline: February
For more information and application, visit: Alliance of Civilizations Youth Solidarity Fund Website