Youth-Led

Grantmaking Project

We’re putting funding decisions where they belong: in the hands of Milwaukee’s youth.

Milwaukee youth know what their communities need most - and now, they’ll have the power to fund it.

The Youth-Led Grantmaking Project, launched in March of 2026, gives young people ages 14–24 the opportunity to direct funding toward youth-serving projects that matter most to them.

“This initiative is all about trust. We’re trusting young people to identify what matters most in their communities and to move resources where they’ll have an impact.”

Maria Hamidu, Youth Forward MKE Project Manager

Winning Teams

Youth Podcast

A youth-created and hosted podcast covering mental health, civic engagement, and community issues.
Project team: D’Adria Veal, Jackson Thao, Perry Perkins, Amber West
YardWork

A youth-created and hosted podcast covering mental health, civic engagement, and community issues.
Project team: Aisha Ayinla, Hla Kha, Kat Gutierrez, Zoe Rios
MKELove Summer Kickback

An event connecting youth to programs, internships and wellness resources.
Project team: Yori Toliver, Karina Morales, Tristan Latona, Asaya Thurmond, Gigi Cooks
Keep a Clean Mind

An initiative providing hygiene kits, self-care resources and outreach support to individuals experiencing hardship.
Project team: Sequoia Hardin, Emani Perkins, Abaigail Wilson
Break Through Your Trauma

A two-day wellness event using physical activities, reflection, and support to help youth process trauma.
Project team: Nevaeh Basema, Iveliz Hope, Cledor Bomba, Bianca Valleaz, Grant Reed

How It Works

This grant puts young people in the driver’s seat, giving them the resources to bring their ideas to life. We looked for projects with a clear community benefit, which were youth-driven, adult-supported, and aligned with our priority areas: youth leadership, mental health, data and research, and systems change. Applicants were able to get feedback, ask questions and strengthen their proposals before submission, making this a true learning and leadership experience.

Evaluation

Three young leaders - together with three adult partners - made up our Youth Review Panel. Together, they scored the proposals, provided feedback and recommended which projects should receive funding, ultimately allocating five $4,000 grants to deserving projects.

The Grantmaking Conference

The project kicked off with an in-person conference on March 28, bringing together youth applicants and adult mentors for a day of hands-on learning and collaboration. Participants built skills in grant writing and review, strengthened their project ideas and learned how real funding decisions are made. Youth left with authentic connections and a deeper understanding of how to foster change in the nonprofit space.

Grant Timeline

March 2026

A Youth-Led Grantmaking conference was held on March 28, followed by the launch of the grant application.
April 2026

Virtual office hours, where applicants had the opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback.
May 2026

All grant applications were due by May 3 at noon. Winners were notified at the end of the month.
June 2026

Milwaukee Succeeds releases grant funds to organizations and teams, and projects commence.
July 2026

Milwaukee Succeeds team checks in with each grantee on their progress toward grant execution.
August 2026

The project concludes at the end of the month, followed by a formal evaluation of the entire process.

Special Thanks

We’re grateful to the Milwaukee County Office of Equity for their generous $10,000 investment in our Youth-Led Grantmaking Project. Because of their support, we’re able to fund more ideas, tackle bigger projects and help young leaders make an even greater impact in their communities.