The Skillman Foundation

The insights of Detroit youth guide The Skillman Foundation’s priorities and strategies. While we solicit youth input and insights in many ways, our President’s Youth Council is a formal structure to do so. 

Our youth council serves as advisers and grantmakers. Each year, they have the opportunity to experience grantmaking firsthand, determining what they’d like to fund and how to select and notify applicants.

2024 President’s Youth Council Grant Opportunity

This year, the President’s Youth Council is accepting grant applications from Detroit-based and/or Detroit-serving organizations that are youth-led or that increase youth leadership and voice. 

The youth council is designing this grant opportunity from concept to completion, from determining what programs they wish to fund to designing their decision-making process.  

While all applications from organizations that are youth-led and support Detroit youth to develop their leadership and voice will be considered, youth council members are particularly interested in helping to identify and support grassroots organizations.

Eligibility Requirements

There are some eligibility requirements to keep in mind before you consider applying for a President’s Youth Council grant. Your organization must:

• Be a 501(c)(3) publicly supported charity with a designation of 509(a)(1) or (2); or, you may apply through a 501c3 charity serving as fiscal sponsor or fiduciary.

• Be based in Detroit or serve Detroit youth.

• In policy and practice, offer opportunity and service to all, regardless of age, race, creed, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and ethnicity. 

How to Apply

• Note: Our youth council felt strongly that the application should be as simple and inclusive as possible. We are available to provide support throughout the process. Below is an overview of the application. Brevity in your responses is welcomed and appreciated.
• Grant applications must be submitted electronically using the online form by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Decisions will be announced by December.
• The application form asks for information about your organization and its work, focused on how it’s increasing youth leadership and voice in Detroit. You’ll have the opportunity to upload artwork, video, or images that help demonstrate your organization’s work. This is not a requirement, but an offering for those who prefer communicating through these forms of communication.
• As you complete your application, we recommend copying the questions below into a Word document and saving your responses there. Then, you can paste them into the quick application form once final to avoid losing your progress. You can submit the application multiple times, if needed. Upon submission, you may email President’s Youth Council Coordinator, Harmony Rhodes, at harmonyjrhodes@gmail.com to request a PDF copy of your submission.
• Click here to apply. 

Once you are inside the application, you will be asked to provide the following information:

1. Name of organization
2. Does your organization engage youth leaders in Detroit?
3. What is the mission of your organization?
4. Briefly describe your organization’s key programs and population served.
5. Highlight major achievements, the impact of your work, and what makes your organization unique.
6. Briefly describe how your organization is youth-led.
7. How does your organization’s activities and programs contribute to the development of youth leadership skills?

Attachments you will then be asked to upload to include the following:

1. Operating Budget for Current Fiscal Year
2. Optional upload of additional/non-traditional information.

Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by the President’s Youth Council, with technical support and guidance from Skillman Foundation staff. The youth council will provide the final recommendations for grants and ensure the process aligns with their current priorities. Skillman Foundation staff are on handy to answer questions or offer support as needed. 

Need Help?

• For questions related to the content of your application or eligibility requirements, contact President’s Youth Council Coordinator Harmony Rhodes at harmonyjrhodes@gmail.com. 
• For technical assistance with the online application, contact Tara Cooper at tcooper@skillman.org.