Focus Area
Supporting Young People
Why We Care
The need to belong is fundamental to adolescent well-being and rooted in biology — feeling and being connected to others has always been necessary for survival. When young people belong, they feel safe, supported, respected, and accepted. A sense of belonging supports a range of benefits for young people, including positive mental health, academic engagement and performance, self-esteem and self-efficacy, and future trajectories of employment, education, and training. Conversely, not belonging is associated with social isolation, poor mental and physical health, school disengagement, antisocial behavior, and finding unhealthy alternative spaces for belonging.
The development of an integrated identity is critical to healthy adolescent development. Identity is a sense of internal consistency about who one is across time and across multiple social contexts (such as race/ethnicity, profession, culture, gender, and religion). It serves as an internal framework for making choices and provides a stable base from which young people can act in the world. Throughout adolescence, a young person’s sense of identity increasingly influences their decisions.
Helping young people develop a sense of purpose—a forward-looking perspective that guides actions and decisions—can build resilience, support mental health, reduce negative risk-taking, and provide direction and motivation. Young people need to successfully explore their unique talents and preferences, discover what they find most meaningful, and understand how they might make a positive difference in the world. Young people with a greater sense of purpose are happier, healthier, and more motivated to achieve a wide range of positive developmental outcomes.
When young people develop a sense of agency—a process through which they come to believe they are active agents in directing their lives—they can conceptualize a goal, develop a plan to pursue it, be confident in their ability to achieve it, and act towards their goal. Increasing youth agency benefits young people by building their capacity to become independent adults. This increased capacity can boost their confidence as they transition into adulthood.
What We Fund
To support young people in developing a strong sense of belonging, identity, purpose, and agency, we will fund organizations that create the conditions young people need to:
- Cultivate healthy, supportive relationships and social networks with peers, near-peers, and trusted adults
- Explore their values, interests, and goals
- Contribute in meaningful ways to others and their community
- Make good decisions and establish positive health behaviors (for example, manage stress in healthy ways, stay active, eat a nutritious diet, get an adequate amount of sleep, refrain from substance misuse, delay early sexual activity, and prevent STIs and unwanted pregnancy)
Application Timeline
This funding opportunity will re-open to applicants in August 2025.Â
We Are Here To Help
The Youth Health and Well-Being Philanthropy Leads are available to answer questions to determine eligibility and prepare your Part 1 Application.
Philanthropy Leads are assigned to specific counties. Please refer to our regional map to determine your primary contact, and then schedule a meeting with Lauren Czajka, Sarah Dutcher, or Steph Perez-Carrillo.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can my organization apply for Youth Health and Well-Being funding?
The Youth Health and Well-Being funding opportunity typically opens in the second week of October, with a Part 1 Application deadline in the second week of November. We strongly recommend that you subscribe to our newsletter to receive the most up-to-date deadlines and information on all funding opportunities.
How do I know if my organization is eligible to apply?
In addition to Caring for Colorado’s general eligibility, applicants must serve a minimum of 75% of young people living with low incomes OR explicitly serve at least 90% of young people who represent one or more of Caring for Colorado’s priority populations.
How does Caring for Colorado define living with low income?
Caring for Colorado defines living with low income as living at or below 260% of the federal poverty level, 80% of Area Median Income, and/or TANF eligible.
Why do organizations need to serve a minimum of 75% of young people living with low incomes OR explicitly serve at least 90% of young people who represent one or more of Caring for Colorado’s priority populations?
In alignment with our commitment to health equity, we prioritize populations who are experiencing the greatest inequities in health, well-being, and opportunity and who have historically faced the most barriers due to systemic inequity, racism, and discrimination. Learn more about our priority populations.
How does Caring for Colorado define adolescence?
What is the application process?
Caring for Colorado utilizes a two-part online application process. The Part 1 application is designed to provide grant-seekers with a quick, low-barrier opportunity to share basic information about the organization and proposed work. Staff reviews Part 1 applications to determine eligibility and alignment with the funding opportunity.
Organizations that submit a Part 1 application are notified about the status of their application within one month of the deadline. If an application is declined, the organization will receive an email from a Philanthropy Lead with a brief explanation of the decision.
Organizations that are invited to move forward in the review process will be asked to complete the Part 2 application, which is submitted via Caring for Colorado’s online grants portal. Part 2 applications will be reviewed within one month of the application deadline.
If an organization’s application does not move forward in the review process, a Philanthropy Lead will provide the opportunity to schedule a meeting to learn more about the decision. If an organization is asked to continue in the review process, a Philanthropy Lead will schedule a site visit.
Following a comprehensive team review process, Philanthropy Leads present grant recommendations to Caring for Colorado’s Board of Directors for consideration. Applicants are notified of grant decisions after the Board approves them.
Can I submit more than one application for the same funding opportunity?
Does my organization need to focus on all the strategies to be eligible?
Can I request funding for strategies in multiple Youth Health and Well-Being Focus Areas?
If I receive a multi-year grant in one Focus Area, can I apply for funding in another Focus Area the following year?
How do you define belonging, identity, purpose, and agency?
Please refer to our Glossary of Terms document for more information.
Does Caring for Colorado require grantees to measure the desired result of the specific funding opportunity?
Do programs need to be evidence-based?
Can I apply for a general operating grant?
What is the grant award range?
The annual grant range for this focus area is $50,000-$125,000. We will also consider multi-year requests, for up to 36 months.
Grant size depends on several factors, including but not limited to, the scale and scope of the proposal, other sources of funding available to support the work, and our available budget.
Does Caring for Colorado fund organizations they have not previously funded or are unfamiliar with?
Does Caring for Colorado consider collaborative applications from more than one organization?
Will Caring for Colorado review an application early if it is submitted before the deadline?
If our organization’s application is approved, what is the grant start date?
Is it possible to schedule a meeting with a philanthropy lead to discuss alignment with Caring for Colorado’s focus areas before we apply?
Yes! If you would like to schedule a short meeting with a philanthropy lead, please email the staff member assigned to your region. View Regional Map.
The team also hosts office hours when a funding opportunity opens. Please feel free to email us with your specific questions or visit the Apply for a Grant page on our website for more information.
Other Youth Health and Well-Being Focus Areas
Strengthening Families
We believe that experiencing secure and supportive relationships with parents and caregivers leads to greater health and well-being for young people.
Building Youth-Centered Communities
We believe that equitable access to services, spaces, and systems that are youth-centered, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed leads to greater health and well-being for young people.