Beginning in 2026, the SEMI WYFY Youth Advisory Board will distribute just over $2 million in grants to support out-of-school time and youth sports programs that incorporate youth voice, equitable access, and systems-level improvements. Funding decisions will be made by the SEMI WYFY Youth Advisory Board using a structured review process designed by young people.

To meaningfully increase youth voice across funded programs, proposals should demonstrate how youth input and leadership are embedded in program structure, culture and decision-making. Priority will be given to programs that demonstrate the following funding priorities: 

• Equity ensures all youth are centered, youth’s specific identities are considered and there is an unbiased distribution of resources for youth in programming.

• Safety as emotional, relational, in programming, and a created space of belonging.

• Tangible Resources, ensure tangible supports that remove barriers to participation, such as transportation, food, youth stipends, and materials.

• The need for youth to experience both Learning and Enjoyment in the program.

• Preparation for a future where young people can thrive. 

• The Role Adults Play by being adult allies who listen, support, and share power with young people.

• Youth Voice & Leadership as a non-negotiable experience for all young people in the program.

Our priorities represent what we believe defines a high-quality OST experience. We are looking for programs that actively reflect these values in their structure, culture, and decision-making practices. This means not only offering safe and joyful learning spaces, but also creating real opportunities for youth leadership, agency, and shared power. Applicants should use these priorities to guide the design of their proposals and demonstrate the desired impact.  

We are Southeast Michigan WYFY, a group of 17 youth convened by the Michigan Afterschool Partnership, who have reimagined the out-of-school time sector and will fund the reimagined vision in our region.

We began this initiative by focusing on intrapersonal reflection and inclusivity work that highlights the importance of identity, agency, and belonging. This newfound knowledge became the basis of our group's discussion and community values.

Through this work, we acknowledge our position of power and privilege to change the social systems around us. We want every young person to have equitable opportunities to develop within their afterschool experience. As we progressed, we envisioned our dream after-school programs and the values we hope each OST program embodies.

These priorities include: Equity, Safety, Tangible Resources, Learning and Enjoyment, Preparation, Adult Allyship, and, most importantly, Youth Voice and Leadership.

We hope we’ve captured the needs of our peers for out-of-school time and that adults will partner with youth and for youth! As a youth-led group, we designed this grant opportunity and will lead the review and funding decisions. 

Funds are allocated for youth programs that occur outside of school hours, specifically supporting young people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan (Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne). Funding will be released after all grant requirements and obligations have been signed and returned. 

For the purposes of this application, out-of-school time (OST) is defined as any youth-serving program that supports young people outside the traditional school day (e.g., before and after school and/or during summer). Examples are as follows, but not limited to: 

• Youth Sports

• Arts, Culture, and Enrichment 

• Leadership Development and Civic Engagement 

• Youth Workforce and Career Readiness

• Library and Recreation Program 

• Prevention and Restorative Initiatives

We believe these programs operate in a wide range of settings, including community-based 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, early childhood centers, and faith-based programs, collectively forming a critical part of Michigan’s youth-serving infrastructure. 

Eligible applicants include southeast Michigan-based organizations serving youth ages 5-18, including 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and schools. (Please note that, for purposes of this RFP, Southeast Michigan is defined as the seven counties of: Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne). The program must be located in one of the seven counties.

The SEMI WYFY members will award just over $2 million in funding through this grant opportunity. Individual awards may be up to $100,000. There is no minimum request amount. The intent of this funding is not to replace public funding, but rather to strengthen and leverage existing resources while increasing youth leadership and decision-making within programs. 

Programs must:

•  Serve youth ages 5–18

• Operate in Southeast Michigan (Livingston, Wayne, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne) 

• Provide programming outside the traditional school day

Legal and budget requirements that will be requested:

• Proof of nonprofit or fiscal sponsor status

• Legal structure

• W-9

• Program narrative

• Budget  

Ineligible Applicants or Requests 

The following are not eligible for funding through this youth-led grant opportunity: 

• Tackle football programs 

• School-sanctioned athletic teams  

• Requests for traditional sporting goods equipment 

• Multiple applications from the same organization (limit: one application per organization) 

• Multi-year funding requests 

• Endowments 

• Religious purposes 

• Attendance at or sponsorship of events 

• Schools not registered with the Michigan Department of Education 

The WYFY Reimagined OST Grant does not support requests for sporting goods equipment. Instead, we encourage organizations to apply directly to:

•  Good Sports — a national nonprofit providing brand-new sports equipment to youth-serving organizations. Link is an application form.

• Leveling the Playing Field, located in Detroit, Michigan, is an organization that redistributes new and gently used sports equipment to expand access in youth sports and recreation. 

  • Email at: semi@levelingtheplayingfield.org

• Request For Proposal Release Date: February 27, 2026 

• Application Live: March 6, 2026

• Grant Information Session: March 7, 2026 at 1pm

• Application deadline: April 10, 2026, 5pm *no exceptions

• Review Period: April 11, 2026 - May 9, 2026

• Decision notification period: May 25, 2026

• Grant Period: July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027

  
  

A grant information session will be held on March 7, 2026, at 1 pm. Click here to register.

All funded projects should clearly demonstrate a commitment to increasing and meaningfully integrating the With Youth For Youth priorities within the program or organization. This includes expanding youth leadership roles, sharing decision-making power, centering equity in access to programming, and providing tangible resources in ways that reflect youth input and influence.

We recognize that some programs may already have strong youth leadership structures in place, while others are working to build them. This grant is open to both. We are interested in supporting programs committed to strengthening youth leadership, whether by expanding existing structures or creating new ones. 

Application link

General Questions:

1. Organization Name

2. Date

3. Executive Director 

4. Contact person (if different from Executive Director)

5. Tax ID (if applicable):

6. Address: 

7. City/State/Zip

8. Phone #

9. Email

10. Project/Program Name

11. Geographic Area served

12. Printed Name and Title of Applicant 

13. Signature of Applicant 

Application Questions

1. Program Narrative: Describe your organization and the specific program you are applying for. What is your mission, what does your program offer, and who does it serve (include age range and number of youth)? What needs exist in your community, and how does your program address them? (300-400 word count)

2. What is your organization’s overall annual budget? What is your program's annual operating cost? What is your funding request for your program? (150-200 word count)

3. If awarded the WYFY Reimagined OST Grant, how will you use the funds to strengthen youth voice, leadership, and decision-making? What changes will youth experience as a result, and how will you gather feedback from youth about those changes? (350-450 word count) 

4. What tangible resources (such as transportation, food, and stipends) are currently offered within your program to support youth participation? What additional supports would you like to provide to strengthen access and engagement? (250-300 word count)

5. What is your organization’s staffing and leadership structure? Are youth currently involved in leadership or governance roles (such as advisory groups or decision-making bodies)? If not, are there plans to build these structures? (250-300 word count)

6. If awarded the grant, how will youth meaningfully shape program design, activities, and use of funds? (300-400 word count)

7. In your organization, what shared practices do the adult staff utilize to support the development of youth leadership? Where would you like to grow? (250-300 word count)

8. How does this program create spaces that promote comfort (emotional and physical safety), wellness (mental and emotional wellbeing), and belonging for youth? (250-300 word count) 

$100,000 

Funding Available

The SEMI WYFY members will award just over $2 million in funding through this grant opportunity. Individual awards may be up to $100,000. There is no minimum request amount. The SEMI WYFY Youth Board reserves the right to award full or partial funding based on the strength of applications and available funds.

After receipt of the grant and completion of the project, the grant recipient will be expected to share outcomes, results, and impact as requested by the With Youth For Youth board. 

As a youth-led grantmaking body, we value your feedback on our role as a grantmaker, including the RFP process, our communication with you, the funding and reporting processes, and any other aspect of our work together. In addition to the feedback, we would like to know: 

• What have we done well as a grantmaker?

• How can we improve as a grantmaker?

No one will be excluded from consideration for funding, regardless of, but not limited to, the following bases: age, disability, economic circumstance, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, spiritual beliefs, or national origin.

If you have any questions about applying, please contact Angelique Wilburn at angelique@miafterschool.org